The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-01-22 00:00:00

isoner.—But you know I was deranged at that tiet a ie Chairman then consulted with his brother magi rate! the punishment to be inflicted upon the prisoner, and i! ng sentence he remarked—"l should have thought, pr r, that the imprisonment you formerly underwent, woe been a sufficient warning to induce you to abandon th; le of life. You are a man of very considerable and ve!l intellect, and the address you have displayed in this affair s yoti to be a clever man. Your offence has rendered TO to be transported for life, but the court will not go tlial h, although they have had considerable difficulty 11 ❑g to that decision. Your conduct in gaol has been ye and you have displayed so much address in committi >ffence, that we cannot do less than sentence you to ported for fourteen years. MISCELLANEOUS. INCE Pozzo nt BORGO is reputed to possess great weal winter a nephew of his Excellency's, a Captain in the E 1 Guard of France, was united to the daughter of ' de Crillon, upon which occasion Prince Pozzo di Bor the bridegroom a fortune of 1,500,000 francs (about .C6O, ng,) with the promise of as much more after the Ambas demise. report has been going the round of the papers for so past that his Grace the Duke of Wellington had brok s establishment, previously to, and with the intention o 4 abroad. We have already contradicted a rumour 0 übj ect, which had found its way accidentally into our o ins, and we are now enabled in the most positive nianne mat this contradiction, having obtained authentic infer In that no such reduction has taken place in any brans ; Grace's household.—Morning Post. r Grace the Duchess of Buckingham has been serious! iosed during the past week, at her residence, Avingto near Winchester. We are happy to say, however, th e last accounts her Grace was better.—Portsmouth Her NSERVATIVE CLUB.—The inhabitants of Bath have fo , the example of those of Bristol, and have formed a large; Lig . hly respectable Conservative body, the first object, or i is to declare that the present members for that city are' ie men of their choice, but that their principles are it t opposition to the views and feelings of the great majoril e people, and to make arrangements to secure, at the no on, the return of men of totally different politics anti' ;re likely to stand forward in defence of the constitution vowed enemies of innovation and destruction.—John Baal ree brothers, miners, in the employ of Messrs. Guest ani A Dowlais, have lately received an unexpected bequest 0 1 , 00.—Bolton Chronicle. s expected that the King and Queen of the Bel c'ians ,„ a trip to this country in the spring, and sojourn for a shoe at Claremont. e amiable and accomplished daughter of the Countess d nde is about to be united to a foreigner of distinctio ag a high situation at King. Leopold's Court, Monday last a furious attack was made on W. Fishbourn Esq. (agent to the Duke of Buckingham), who, with all r-agent and a servant, were returning in a jaunting-c Clare Island to Old Castle, (county of Westmeath) ' aft sting the Duke's rents in the neighbourhood of the forme ng through a plantation two shots were fired at him fronl ty of four in ambush, who afterwards sprang across the as if to intercept him at a turn in advance. Mr. Fish' le, however, drove on and escaped. Several people who'll, A on the road refused to have anything to do with joining' n pursuit of the villains, so he wisely hastened to 01 0 e. The Westmeath Journal states that orders had been! at the neighbouring chapels for the two preceding Sun' not to pay more than a certain rent to the Duke's agente, hat the Rev. Mr. Burke, parish priest, had spoken of Mr• rourne at Tullystown chapel, only two miles from the above sh, on both occasions in terms of the most shocking , &c. Dutch King's answer has arrived in the mail-packet, ttwood, and consists of a counter-project, which it is pro to submit to all the Five Powers, although one of - them has lly withdrawn from the conference. Upon the whole we reason to believe that, with an air of approach and mode the new proposals are concocted in the same bad faith pirit of procrastination which have, attended these nego as on the part of the King of Holland from first to last. be of Monday Evening. ;COVERY OF FOSSIL REMAINS.—An antediluvian skele f the ichthyosaurus genus, has recently been discovered 3edford. The skeleton itself was found lying in a hori , position, embedded in clay, and, rin the opinion of ouel cant, was evidently a marine deposit. At present it is only Ily uncovered, but the length of the whole may be judged Yom about 12 to 14 feet. It is a curious fact, that in the mi te neighbourhood of the skeleton was found a number of stones, although none are discovered in any other part of me bed of clay. There is a fossil specimen of the same I in the British Museum . — Northampton Mercury. ng the members returned to the new House of Conimons, er than eighty are sons of. peers.—So much for the pre ' " diminishing the influence of the Lords in the Com- House," for the construction of the Reform Bill . ! LATE ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS FOLEY.—The late Ad 3ir T. Foley, who died at the Admiralty, at Portsmouth, ursday, was commander-in-chief on that station, and term of service would have expired on the Ist of April ad been in a very feeble and delining state of health for 'me past. He was one of the heroes of the Nile, where manded the Goliath, 74, and had the honour of leadingthe ision (after the Culloden grounded, near the island of r, by outsailing the Zealous, which for some time dis the point of honour with him), and anchored close to snch ship Conquerant. He was one of those who pot — the early friendship of Nelson, and commanded the nt, 74, at the battle of Copenhagen in 1801, on board ship Nelson shifted his flag from the St. George during iguniary conflict. Of Captain Foley's services, in his to the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Hyde Parker, Nelson s, "To Captain Foley, who permitted me the honour of ; my flag in the Elephant, I feel under the greatest obli-, his advice was necessary on many and important occa [ring the battle." In the partial engagement between 1 Hotham and the French fleet in 1,94, Captain Foley tiled the St. George, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Parker, and was constantly employed during the law it Thorns Foley was an Admiral of the White, and a Commander of the Bath. The gallant band of heroes in the deceased was one) who commanded the ships omposed the fleet at the battle of the Nile, in 1798, .ere considered the elite of the British navy, are fast the stage of life. We believe the following only now y, 1833) survive:—Admiral Lord de Saumarez, Sir B. ll Carew, Sir Davidge Gould, Sir D. E. Darby, and [. Hardy, who commanded the 3lutine brig. Admiral is in his 76th war. He united himself, July 21, 1802, Lucy Anne Fitzgerald, (youngest daughter of James, leinster,) who survives him, by whom he had a nu , issue. His remains will be interred with military in the garrison chapel, at Portsmouth, on Wednesday >Pi ARTISTS IN THE COUNTRY—OR Wednesday last, 'ho gave his name Edward Bailey, and described -him nationer resident at Lewes, was eommitted for trial to ngham House of Correction, charged with stealing , parel from the Bull Inn, at Bourne. It appeared that lad been left by a young woman who araived there by tha Monday preceding, and had to walk from thence y, about five miles distant. On the way she was over the prisoner, who said that he was going to Stamford, d gladly accompany her ; but having, in the course of ion ' learned the circumstances under which she had ox, he quitted her near the village, and retraced hie he Bull Inn at Bourne, where he obtained possession the prisoner's person were. fonncl several letters, an , , the had just written was obtained from the post-offick addressed to a woman in London, informing her that r had escaped from H n, (supposed to mean ion,) and that if he could live over Sunday, he in prigging the parson's plate." This was supposed to the Hey. Mr. Hutchinson, of Pinchbeck, who had re etter, purporting to come from a clerical neighbour, g him to officiate for the latter on the following Sun.- e prisoner, in his letter to his female friend, requested o send him a supply of mix, or counterfeit coin. It tained that an attempt was made on the Sunday to ev. Mr. Hutchinson's house, and that gentleman has [tided the prisoner as Edward Brown, who once lived ?ice. )TE OF A PAINTING.-At the sale of paintings 00 instant, at Porncostle, the portrait of Archibald, krgyll, by Ramsay, was offered, and in answer to as mv a small injury to the canvass had happened, the r related the following anecdote :—The portrait had in a bed-room, which was on one occasion occupied, le dothestic ; the girl, fancying that the Duke 0. 1 ul her too closely whilst she was dressing, became , and seizing a poker aimed a blow with the intent of le. Duke's eye out; the poker missed the eye, but the canvass close to the face.—Stamford News. MR. RUTHVEN, M.P. FOR KILDARE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sla,-1 take the earliest opportunity of expressing my regret, that my letter, in your paper of Friday last, should have con tained a misstatement regarding Mr. E. Ruthven, whose ad dress to the electors of Kildare I transmitted to you. I now find that Mr. Ruthven is member for Kildare, and not, 46 I believed him to be, for the County of Waterford; and that the statement of his having been defeated in the former and returned for the latter county is, consequently, unfounded. I have, therefore, to request, that in justice to Mr. Ruthven, (whom I know only by his election address,) as well as to your own reputation for honourable conduct,, you will give insertion to this prompt avowal of my unintentional misstatement. —I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Liverpool, Jan. 21, 1833. AN ENGLISHMAN. WEST INDIA SLAVERY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,--I am aware, in touching on the momentous question of West India Slavery, I am entering on a subject of much nicety, and, at the present moment, of vital importance to the com munity at large. Fully impressed with the difficulty of the task, I seek only to offer observations as a neutral party, un trammelled by the prejudices, and unbiassed by the interests of others. In seeking out justice, we must look neither to the right or to the left, but proceed onward in an undeviating course, forgetting all minor considerations in the attainment of our purpose. The excitement created by the late public dis •cussions on this subject, rendered for a short period suc ceeding it, all observations useless, both parties were convinced of the truth of their own observations, and both as strenuously rejected every argument which tended in any manner to sub vert those opinions, however unfounded or unjust That ex citement has now partially subsided, and thinking men are ewe inclined to listen and weigh the arguments of both parties ere they proceed to pass a judgment upon the claims of either. • The principal division of sentiments arises generally on the justice and propriety of "immediate emancipation" of the slave population in the West India colonies. The coincidence of ' both parties, that "Slavery in itself is an evil," leaves but the questions—ls emancipation, without first compensating the planter, just? Would the measure of immediate emancipation be beneficial or injurious to the negroes? Of the first I shall only at present offer a few observations, leaving the latter for the subject of a future letter. Under the direct protection and encouragement of the laws - of these realms, property first became embarked in the slave Population of the West India colonies. Those laws were framed by the Lords and Commons, and sanctioned by the Crown. Wanting nothing therefore to complete their validity, they be came the root from whence sprung the title of property vested according to their, institutes. Resting secure that "Lea est tutissimi cassis, sub clypeo legis nemo decipitur," the holders of such looked not forward to a period when they would be de manded to surrender that which they had acquired under the direct sanction of a wise and clement government. But of late years there has arisen a feeling of malevolence against the owners of slave property, and one portion of the community (and by no means a small one) have been loud in their demands for a legislative act for forcible manumission. An act of such a nature, by destroying the tenure of property, vested in the holder by the laws of the land, in opposition to the wishes of the holder, end without remuneration, is, I maintain, in itself invalid, being a manifest injustice, wanting the support of the moral principle of honesty, and as a law directly opposed to its own Maxim. " Lex nemini operatur iniquum nemini facit inju !jam." Upon the union of the moral and natural law human saws depend, and as justice is the principle of moral conduct, laws, when they once pease to be possessed of that attribute, being contradictory to moral duty, cease to be any longer our guides. In unjustly robbing the subject of what belongs to him, in opposition to laws framed purposely for his protection, the community are guilty of an act of equal criminality as of one individual defrauding another. Human laws cannot, Without vitiating themselves, enjoin any act contrary to I the divine law, the former being only " rules of conduct" 1 tor the better enforcement of the latter; and at the divine law expressly forbids us to appropriate to ourselves what belongs to others, no one I presume will contend, that strip- Ping the Planter of his birth-right, in opposition to his own Wishes, though authorized by the supreme power in any state, is not an unjust taking away what belongs to ano ther, and as such, in direct opposition to the divine precept Which we are bound to obey ? In wresting from the owner Isis property, in opposition to his wishes, and without remune rating him for his loss, we . axe laying down a precedent which may at a future period be made a rule fcr justifying aggressions kora closely connected with ourselves. The security which the subject places upon laws formed only frit. the protection of his person and his property, must necessarily by such an act be oonsiderably shaken. • Laying aside neighbourly feelings, Ithich would incline us nevertheless to a milder judgment, as a nation we ought to be guarded how we cast a stigma upon our laws, by making them subservient to any other end than that Of justice. That slavery is repugnant to the feelings of our nation, and to the spirit of our laws, each individual is proud to confess; but in removing the evil, let caution direct us in oer counsels; let moderation be opposed as a barrier to that °Yerwhelming desire of change, which looks not to the means, nor the consequences, so thatthe momentary desire be satiated; ‘od let the nation in her desire of emancipating the slaves of • the West Indies be careful, lest that which she confers, in the !tent of its being a blessing to its possessors, become a curse. The cry for forcible manumission has now greatly subsided for a short period—the nation, stirred up by party hirelings, say be induced to threaten harsh and unjust measures, but We every where perceive the spirit of a milder and more upright Poli cy spreading its influence ; and I doubt not but tjiat the day il at hand when the measures proposed for the emancipation of t he Slaves will be such as will induce the Slave Owners them *elves to become its advocates. Whether immediate emancipation, if granted, would be ad -I'ontageous or otherwise to the Slaves themselves, I will leave . 4°l ' a subject of enquiry in a future letter.--I am, &c. Jon. lith, 1833. E. A. THE CURRENCY. IV THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STAND.AIRD. 1 3111,—At the present eventful period, when the desire for Mange and innovation, under the more fascinating name of te form, engages the attention of all classes, the spirit of agita ,,oll no longer consents to "let well alone," but, amongst other 'Pies, calls loudly for changes in the state of our currency. It is, therefore, my intention to consider how far any changes t Practicable, and if practicable, whether such would be bene "eials or likely to answer the objects of those wh o a d voc at e ul the. To, arrive at correct conclusions, it is necessary first to con fider the present state and nature of our currency, with the tauses which have produced and support that state; and, then, e changes required, as far they as can be ascertained, and what ft% the probable results to be expected, were it practicable to take and carry such changes into effect. It is a well-known fact, that, although a large proportion of 4 fr present circulating medium consists of Bank and Banker's promissory notes, restricted in amount to five pounds and up- P 41111 1) yet, as they are all payable in gold on demand, our legal 13 ii 1111 — , : 0-ii I ` t e .ine'' i c eolin ILIt I' ll ,l u t i oll• fool , ' s fr`V, ill th I ess; s hal O. , Aloe. . THE FIRE IN LANCELOT'S HEY, &c. The immense . pile of buildings which, on Monday evening, contained property to the amount of £200,000 1 and which was, on Tuesday morning, a black and smoking ruin, stood between the New Quay and Lancelot's Hey. The Liverpool reader need not be told, that the New Quay is a street which runs parallel with the Prince's Dock, from, which it is divided by a blank wall only, and that Lancelot's-hey is another street which runs parallel with the New Quay, the back of the houses in one touching the back of the houses in the othei. The space between both streets is, or rather was, tilled by a vast pile of warehouses without yards. About nine o'cleck on Monday night, as Burnett, the watch man, (No, 108,) was going his rowans, he thought he smelled fire, and mentioned his apprehensions to Mr. Pritchard, the baker, in Queen-street. Mr. Pritchard also thought the same, and both went round to satisfy themselves, but they could see nothing to justify their suspicions. About five minutes before the clock struck eleven, William Murray, a . young man who lives in Queen-street; discovered that an office in Mr. Wilson's warehouse was on fire, and he called the watchman. Burnett sprang his rattle, and Murray ran to ring the bell at the Parish-office. Before the watchmen could collect, the fire burst through the windows of Mr. Goudie's* Passengers office, and the windows of the warehouse above them, and, with amazing rapidity, the flames seized the windows of Mr. Molyneux's warehouses, which overlooked the narrow passage between Mr. Wilson's of te and Mr. Goudie's office. At the same time the fire had made its way. from Mr. Goudie's office into the paint stores of Mr. Thomas Croston, jun., and the in flammable materials it found there increased its fury. At first it was reported, that the fire originated in Mr. Croston'S store; but such is not the fact. Mr. Crostou was prohibited by Mr. Wilson from lighting a fire and, for three weeks before he had never had even a light in his store. But Mr. Goudie's and Mr. Croston's offices were on the second floor of Mr. Wilson's warehouse, Mr. Croston's, at the end next the New Quay, anti Mr. Goudie's, next Mr. olyneux's warehouses, the communi cation between them consisted of a slight brick partition, in the middle of which was a window closed up with boards. It was a singlar feature of this fire, that it made its way against the wind, instead of with it. The wind blew pretty strongly all the time from the south and eastward, and tl o fire commenced at first, as a sailor would express himself, in the extreme point of the leeward. The last warehouse which was burnt was wholly separated from the others about two feet, and stood southernmost of all the rest. Notwithstand ing the state-of the wind, the heat emanating from the mass of burning premises proved so intense that the warehouse caught fire, and was also destroyed. By this destructive fire,—more destructive than any fire its Liverpool since that in the Goree,—there have been destroyed 14 warehouses, ' 9 dwelling-houses, and, among other property, 12,000 bales and bags of cotton, 15 rooms of bonded and free grain, 700 hhds. of sugar, together with large quantities of flour, indigo, palm oil, spirits wine, ram, ashes, &c. The amount of property destroyed cannot be less than £200,000. For instance, the 14 warehouses are estimated at £2OOO each, 9 dwelling-houses at £2OO each, and merchandise in each warehouse at the average of £12,000. The account will then stand thus : Warehouses £28,000 Dwelling-houses 2,000 Alerchandise Total £198,000 • On this property insurance was effected to the amount of £150,000; and, at a meeting of the agents for the different offices, it was estimated, that the various offices would have to make good the sums attached respectively to each in the fol lowing list: Sun • £25,000 Phcenix. 34,000 Imperial Royal Exchange 5,000 West of England. 15,000 Leeds and Yorkshire 3,000 Atlas 4,000 In addition to this sum, the London "Union is, we understand, in for a considerable sum, but the amount we have not heard.. The property destroyed is reported to have - belonged princi pally to the following houses :—Cropper, Benson, and Co. ; Rathbone Brothers and Co. ; Ewart, Myers, and Co. ; Moly neux, Taylor, and Co. ; T. and H. Littledale and Co. ; George Green and Co.; C., W. and F. Shand; Beckwith and Hutchinson ; J. and J. lackson ; Gibbs, Bright, and Co. ; Collmann, Lambert, and Co. ; Gibbons and Healing; Hollins head and Tetley; W. P. Bushby ; W. Nevett; P. Marrow; W. L. Wolstenholme; Robert Greenham; Webster; Blease.—Journal. • Mr. Goudie has addressed a letter to the Editor of the .Albion, in which he states, that there was nothing in his office of a-nature to unite, and that " five hours previous to the commencement of the fire he locked up his office, and can make affidavit, that not seen the least appearance of fire was in the grate." He adds, " that he has nothing to do with passengers, either as agent or broker." Globe. . ' X 2,500 Alliance 9,000 Norwich Union l,OOl Protector B,OOO Manchester Guardian . 1,500 ANOTHER ALARMING FIRE.—On Friday evening, about eight o'clock, another fire, which at one time presented an alarming appearance, and threatened the most destructive consequences to the valuable property in the neighbourhood, broke out in Cable-street. The premises in which the fire ap peared were those of- Mr. Benjamin, a dealer in marine stores, on the right hand side of Cable-street, a little below South John-street. Mr. Benjamin and his wife had, gone, it appears, to the Liver Theatre, to witness the performances for the bene fit of Mademoiselle Celeste ; leaving their pwn premises shut up. About eight o'clock the neighbours perceived smoke issu ing from the third or upper story of the building, which was principally filled with bales of rags, and other combustible materials. As soon as it was discovered that the premises were on fire, an alarm was given, and a messenger was sent for Mr. Benjamin. In the mean time the neighbours broke open the door, and proceeded to the upper room, where they found several bales of rags in a blaze. They exerted themselves by throwing out whatever goods they could lay their hands on, but owing to the rapidity with which the flames increased, very little was saved. The West of England and Norwich engines were speedily on the spot, and took their stations in front of the premises, while that of the "Royal Exchange proceeded to the rear. As usual, however, there was no water to be had, and the engines were consequently unable to proceed. At length the water-cart from Vauxhall-road arrived with a butt of water, but as the fire, by this time, had acquired an alarming ascen dancy, this scanty supply afforded a mere sprinkling. The rapidity with which the building and its contents were con sumed, was truly extraordinary. The flames burst from every window almost across the street, and threatened the houses opposite with immediate destruction. The sky was brilliantly illuminated ; and as the sparks ascended over the brush manu factory of Mr. Marsden, the greatest-fears were entertained for the safety of those extensive premises, as well as for the other splendid buildings in South. John-street. After the lapse of half an hour or three quarters, a full supply of water was obtained from the mains, and the engines,. which were ad mirably played, speedily succeeded in extinguishing the fi . am es . The whole of the premises of Mr. Benjamin, however, with their contents, were, by this time, destroyed, and the flames had begun to extend to the dwelling-houses on either side, when they were happily arrested. The poor people, however, resid ing in these houses, have sustained a considerable loss by the hasty removal of their goods and furniture, and by the deluge of water poured upon them by the engines. Mr. Benjamin's loss is estimated at from £3OO to £4OO, and we regret to say that no part of his property was insured. The building be longed to Mr. Beckett, of the American Passengers' Office, and neither, we understand, was it protected , byinsurance. The greatest praise is due to Mr. Parlour and Lieut. Shipp', who were immediately on the spot . , as well as to the firemen and all the parties engaged in subduing the fire. Mr. Dawson, of the. Manchester office, was also present, and by his judicious direc tions proved of essential service. This is the fourth serious fire which has occurred in the town within the last eight days.. We do hope that the attention of the municipal authorities will, at last, be turned to the subject of an efficient joint fire and police establishment. The celebrated Careme' has died just at the moment that he was about to publish . a news work upon the culinary art. ' Our gastronomists consider it remarkable tha M. Careme has died during carnival.—French Figaro. " OUT OF PLACE."—The situation of the Whigs, at the present moment, is crtAinly somewhat paradoxical. They are all, it is true, snugly stowed away in the - conifortable bertha of government; and 'it is universally admitted, teat they are out of place.—Whig Dresser,. Ni. 3. 11.11111111111111111.1111 -Asto , e , 4p enatt , a , k 1 fe F asti greet THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. currency is gold, as silver can only be tendered to a limited ex tent. The circulation of paper money is, therefore, a measure of optional expediency and convenience for facilitating pay ments, and supplying the want of a sufficient quantity of gold to meet general payments. Inland bills of exchange, as well as foreign, form an extensive and important branch of ac commodation in the larger scale of payments, but they are not strictly to be included in our currency. During the progress of the last war, although the trade, commerce, and navigation of the country, became .in its pro gress more extended and beneficial than at any former period, leaving annually a considerable balance of payments in our favour, this balance was not only consumed in the payment of large subsidies and loans made at different periods, to foreign powers, together with the heavy expences incurred for the support of our fleets and armies abroad, particularly of the last in Spain and Portugal; but, further, large additional sums were required to meet these disbursements, which were provided for, first by the exportation of our stock of bullion, and then of the chief part of the gold and silver that formed our circulating medium; in consequence, the suspension of cash payments by the Bank of England, was enacted for a li mited period, afterwards repeatedly extended, and their notes made a legal tender in all payments, which was productive of an extended creation and circulation of paper money, .thus encouraged and protected by the suspension of cash payments. It is also well-known, that in the commercial inter - course between two countries, the rates of exchange will be against the one that imports more in value than she exports, and she has therefore a balance of payments against her that must be made in the precious metals, unless her trade with Other coun tries leaves a balance in her favour, which, in that case, is set off to meet the . deficiency; and, if sufficient to do so, she is thereby enabled to retain her gold and silver; but if in her ag gregate intercourse the balance is against her, it is only by means of the precious metals she can provide for that balance, and when these are exhausted, her imports must be limited by the value of her exports. It is true, that at a certain sacrifice, specie or bullion may be transferred from a country where it is scarce, to another where it is more abundant and of less value, for temporary speculative purposes, by influencing the ex changes; but this can only be persevered in for a limited period, until the object of the parties has succeeded or failed ; and that being to support an artificial state of exchange in the country, which has a balance of payments to make good, it follows it cannot be of long duration. By our heavy national continental payments, England was, as I have stated, thus drained of her bullion and metallic cur rency, and compelled to substitute a protected paper one in its stead; but this currency could only be used for internal pur poses; and as the difficulty of meeting foreign payments in creased, the exchanges became more against us; as buyers could not be found on the continent for bills drawn to make them, the relative value of gold to our paper money was there fore enhanced, and as the demand for exportation and conse quent scarcity of gold increased, it—disappeared from circula tion, and in that manner and proportion, our-paper currency was depreciated; the price of gold in paper greatly exceeded the mint price owing to the heavy balance, of payments which was to make good. • In this state our currency remained until some time after the peace 'took place, when these foreign national payments having ceased, and the value of our exports 'continuing to exceed that of our imports, the balance of payments was again turned in our favour. From that period to the present time the balance of trade has generally been so; in the interval considerable foreign loans and speculative engagements entered into by in dividuals in other countries, together with extensive importa tions of foreign corn, made at periods of deficiency in our home growths, have interrupted the accumulation of these an nual balances, yet their amount gradually increased, and as bills on England in sufficient amount for remittance could. no longer be found, the deficiencies were necessarily made up by the transmission of gold and silver which filled our coffers, and restored our metallic currency. During the suspension of cash payments, and up to a late period, the circulation of paper money, particularly of one and two pound notes was permitted, and carried to a great extent. The readiness with which these notes were received into circu lation, and the willing confidence placed in those who issued them during the scarcity of gold, became unbounded on the part of i the public, the parties who issued them, thus encou raged by the protection given them from cash payments, and tempted by the profits ; they considered they were receiving, be cause less scrupulous in their investigation of the nature of the securities they received in exchange, and went on increasing this circulation to an extent far exceeding the amount of their available or convertible funds; thus spe culation of every kind was fostered and encouraged;— paper money, as it became more and more abundant, fell in price, as compared with goods or real property, which were proportionately enhanced up to 1825, when speculation and con fidence in every form and shape reached its climax; then re flection interposed, confidence was shaken and withdrawn, and the bubble burst which paper money had thus created. Near one hundred country banks, as they were called, suspended their payments; the securities they had received in exchange for their notes were unavailing, and no funds were forthcoming to pay them—in consequence great, general, and individual dis tress ensued; the value of goods and property became greatly depreciated, that of money enhanced, and credit received the severest shock ever experienced in the country from any previ ous commercial convulsion. As the country recovered from this distressing and untoward state, the change in the state of our foreign payments continued to produce a regular and large importation of gold and silver, which being sold to the Bank, and transferred to the mint, was brought into the circulation of the country. This supply has continued to go on, and has now been received in such quan tity as amply to supply the circulation of• England for all pay ments under five pounds, or for larger when required and preferred to Bank notes. It is evident that in the present state of our fo reign commercial relations, gold and silver cannot be . experted to any extent, because it is not required for foreign payments , neither can it be allowed to remain unproductive of benefit in large quantities in the coffers of the Bank, or Qf private indi viduals, and only a comparatively small proportion is required by the working gold and silversmiths; the only vent and bene ficial employment is therefore converting it into current coin at the mint price for circulation, which is the course adopted. I find I have exceeded the extent of an ordinary letter, I shall therefore conclude for the present, intending to resume my subject for your next or following , publication.—Yours, &c. January 21, 1833. MERCATOR. CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY AT DOVER.—We have just seen the prospectus for the formation of a Conservative society at Dover, which has already received the sanction and support of all the leading men in the place. This document states that, in consequence of the inroads that have been made of late in the English constitution, it becomes the duty of all good sub jects to unite in maintaining order in the state, and that, although the members will readily obey that which is now become the law of the land, they will steadily resist, and they call urn their fellow-countrymen to do the same, all further innovations in the national institutions, and all further attacks upon pro perty, that has been so severely shaken by recent measures. Subscriptions are to be raised among the members in aid of this establishment, one object of which is to assist deserving persons among the operative classes; those, we should hope, only of those classes who do not connect themselves with political unions, or other lawless associations of the same nature. We understand that similar associations are likely to be formed in other parts of Kent.—Landon Standard. LOCAL. HIGH. SHERIFF.—We understand that Sir John Gerard, Bart., of New Hall, near Warrington, has accepted the office of High Sheriff of this county, for the ensuing year. The Theatre Royal, Manchester, opened last evening under the management of Mr Lewis; stage-manager, Mr. Clarke; prompter, Mr. Lloyd. Sheridan Knowles's nt-wplay of the Hunchback is to be performed, in which the authav_luniself will enact the part of Master Walter. Mr. Vandenhoff, Mr Maud, (late of the Yorkshire circuit,) Mr. Baker, and• Miss Ellen Tree are engaged. It is rumoured, we know not with what truth, that our Theatre Royal is to open shortly. COACH ACCIDENT.—On Thursday morning, as the Bristol and Liverpool mail was proceeding on its way to the former city, after leaving Chepstow-bridge, in turning a corner, it up set ; but happily , notwithstanding there were many passengers both inside and outside, no one was materially injured; one gentleman only receiving a slight wound on his head. HOUSE ROBBERY.—On Friday morning, at eleven o'clock, at the house, No. 58, Devon-street, as the family were occupied up stairs, making the beds, some thieves entered at the back of the house, over the wall, the kitchen door being incautiously Left open, and robbed the house of eight silver spoons, and several articles of wearing apparel, &c. No clue has yet been discovered of the perpetrators. STURDY BEGGARS.—A few evenings ago, about six o'clock, a gang of fellows, who styled themselves Hard-ups t _ perambu lated the streets in the vicinity of the circus and 'Williamson square, knocking at the doors of several of the inhabitants, and demanding a Christmas .box. Upon questioning their right to such demand, they immediately commenced a volley of abuse, and, in several instances, broke windows,, and threatened what they would do on some future occasion. One of the ring leaders was a fellow who was lately in jeopardy on account of killing a man in a pugilistic contest. Dr. SQUIRES, we find, has retired from the contest for the situation of physician to the Infirmary and Lunatic Asylum. 'The reason he assigns for withdrawing as a candidate are creditable to his high sense of honour, and his conduct on this occasion must raise his character, professionally as well as in dividually, in the public estimation. We perceive that Dr. Squires was recently elected President of the Liverpool Medical Society. REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE.—On Tuesday last, the annual meeting of the subscribers to this institution was held at the Savings'-bank, Bold-street. Lord Stanley presided, and among the movers and seconders of the various resolutions were the Rev. J. J. Hornby, rector of Winwick, J. W. Patten, one of the members for the county, and W. Hulton, Esq , of Hulton park. Lord Skelmersdale, the president, was, we understand, unable to be present, from indisposition. The report read was of the most gratifying kind. From it we learn that the num ber of females now under the care of the Refuge is twenty, all of whom are very promising. Thirty-three have left since the last meeting in January, 1831, of whom twenty have been dis charged with favourable characters to enter into service, or to return to their friends. Since the establishment of the Refuge in 1823, the number of admissions have been 174, of whom one half have been restored to a respectable footing in society. l 'rhe funds were stated to have much improved during the last two years, although still inadequate to meet the expenditure. One striking fact in proof of the utility of the institution, was adduced in the report, namely, that the committee have now in their possession a list of the names of ten females, formerly inmates of the Refuge, who are now in respectable places in this town, in which they have remained one, two, or more years, to the satisfaction of their employers. PARISH AFFAIRS.—A rate of 2s. 4d. in the pound, for the re lief of the poor and other purposes for the service of the year 1832, was allowed by the magistrates on Saturday, and was pub lished in the churches yesterday. The increase of the rate this year, we are informed, is caused by the short produce of the rate of the preceding year, owing, in some degree, to the pre valence of cholera, as well as to the extraordinary expenditure consequent upon that awful visitation. We understand, that the very unusual delay in laying this rate has arisen from the desire of the Churchwardens and Select Vestry to include the new valuation of all the property in the town, upon the equit able principle of the fair annual value, which has been some time in progress, and was completed on Saturday, by Mr. John Stewart. It is, we believe, the first time the parish has been valued throughout upon one principle, which will remove the inequalities and discrepancies so often complained of, and will equalize the assessment upon the rate-payers. A rate of 2d. for the churches and clergy was published at the same time. We apprehend, that a number of persons who take an interest in thtelective franchise were lately disappointed by forgetting the payment of rates, which renders them inelligible to vote on pa rochial as well as on political occasions; we would, therefore, recommend early attention to that indispensable and important requisite. STATE OF THE LABOURING POPULATION.—John Fenton, E9. ' M.P., and John Fielden, Esq., M.P., are canvassing the parish of Rochdale, in crder to ascertain how many of the poor inhabitants are living on 2s. per week. CAUTION TO OWNERS OF WAREHOUSES AND OTHERS.—On Thursday last,- a Coroner's jury returned a verdict of " Man slaughtei." against Mr. Stocks, a very extensive merchant, in Back George-street, Manchester, and, a porter in his service, named Blackshaw, in consequence of a respectable female, named Alice Tatton, having lost her life by the falling of a pack from the teagle of Mr. Stocks, on the sth instant. Mr. Stocks was not present when the accident occurred; but it was proved that he had been repeatedly told of the danger to be appre hended from his teagle. ASSESSED TAxEs---Not content with rating, hundreds of ten pounders to the inhabited house duty, from which they have hi therto been exempt, the servants of our liberal ministry have, in innumerable instances, been raising the assessments of houses both in Manchester and Salford. The publicans, we are told, have been especially marked out as victims to this stroke of li beral policy, in some instances an advanoe of 50 per cent. hav ing been made on the last year's assessment. The appeal days are fixed, and we have no doubt the commissioners will have ample employment in reconciling the appellants to this new state of things,—Manchester Courier. COTTON WEAVERS' MEMORIAL.—At a meeting of the weav ers' committee, held at the Queen Anne Assembly Room, Bolton, on Wednesday evenin„, ,, last, it was moved by Walter OTarroll and John Ashton, that a memorial be presented by the members of the borough of Bolton, to the President, Vice- President, and Commissioners of his Majesty's Board of Trade, stating that, in the session of 1831, the weavers sent a petition, signed by 10,670 individuals, to the House of Commons, pray ing for the tax upon the raw material of cotton goods to be ta ken off, and a ditty imposed in its stead, upon yarns for expor tation. The present memorial is of a similar tendency, and, amongst other matters, it states, that the average nett earnings of the weavers, men, women, and children, does not exceed 2s. Sid. per week, and the average wages of the men do not exceed 4s. per week. The memorial concludes by praying, that, in the contemplated changes of the commercial policy, the board will keep in mind the principle of fostering and encouraging the productive industry of this country, which object,-in the opinion of the memorialists, can be best effected by abolishing all taxes upob raw material, and as far as may be upon food, and in lieu thereof, by adding to the taxes upon all articles of luxury and foreign. manufacture. We understand that most of .the gentle men connected with trade in this town, and, especially, the sup porters of Mr. Bolling and Colonel Torrens, coincide in opi nion with the memorialists.--Manchester Courier. A WOMAN KILLED BY tIER HUSBAND.—An Irishman, named William Dugan, was committed to Lancaster Castle, on Satur day last, to await his trial at the next assizes, on a charge of killing his wife. At the inquest, which was held on Saturday last, before W. S. Rutter, coroner, the following facts were stated. Dugan and his wife lodged in a house in Portugal street, and have for some tine lived very uncomfortably toge the!. About twelve o'clock in the night of the Ist instant, he returned home in a state , bf intoxication, and not finding a light in his room, he sent ,the deceased out to get a candle. She went away for that purpute, and, on her return, she found that he had thiown his trowsers on the fire in order to make a light. When she saw this she cried' out, "Oh, you villain, are you burning your trowBers t" "Yes," replied he, "and I'll never give you an opportunity of pawning another pair." The people in the house the n heard him make a rush, as though he was laying hold of her, anti directly afterwards she either fell or was thrown from the , top to the bottom of the stairs. The landlady of th 'house, without paying aily attention to the female, imme diat y ran into the room, and told Dugan that he had murdered th woman, but the only answer she received was a blow on the face. Another of the lodgers, named Terence Murphy, then attempted to secure him, but the infuriated wretch seized an iron "bakestone,'! which was in the room, and threw it at Murphy, with such violence as almost to break his nose. The fellow was at length secured by two watchmen, and taken to the lockups. When the landlady v ent down stairs, she found the unfortunate woman sitting on a chair, and complaining that she was very much hurt. She was admitted as an out patient of the hifirmary, and died on the 10th instant. The body was examined. by Mr. 011ier,_who stated to the jury that three of her ribs were broken, and that one of them had pene trated the lungs, which caused her death. The jury returned a verdict of " manslaughter."—Manchester Courier. ..., WAREHOUSES.—We understand, that Messrs. Williams and Edwards, jun., of Rumford -street, have invented a method of building warehouses, at a trifling additional cost, so as to pre vent their total destruction by fire, as recently witnessed in Liverpool. By their plan, the necessity of taking down the walls would be avoided, and, consequently, much time and ex pense saved; in clearing the ground, cleaning the materials, &c.: nothing more would be required after a Are than to refit the interior. Their method may be well worth the attention of persons about to build warehouses.