The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-03 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1852. tanbarb. necessary, for the sake of the unfortunate, adds salt and /iberpoot .;) savour to a charitable act." In conclusion, I may call attention to an interesting literary production about to app ar—a " History of the Whir Administration since 1830, by J. A. Roebuck, Esq." This is to be published on the 10th instant, and is said to Monday Morning. he one of the most caustic reviews of the day, upon the Tea last few days have produced a somewhat large crop I blunders, the broken promises, the imbecile performances, and the egotistical sel fi shness, nepotism, and general of speculations as to the future, rather than of f a cts f r om w in a c s aii! o a r ci s t o y m o o f t i i l m itt e tfactir, with which the write r hi m s e lf which any definite judgment may be formed. The Mi- I associated, and of whose characters and nistry has been weakened by the retirement of the Mar- talents few men are so able to take accurate measure as quis of Normanby from the position of ambassador at himself. The book is sure to be extensively read, both Paris, a resignation which is believed to have been occa- from curiosity, and from the o r i g i na l hi s t or i ca l i n f orma ti on which it must nerecasrily contain. sioned by the expulsion of Lord Palmerston, but how or under what circumstances remains to be accounted for. COMMERCIAL AND MUNETARY NEWS. His Lordship, Lordship, it is admitted by all parties, is one of the MONDAY N/GHT. few adherents of the Whigs who possessed the confidence The past week has been rather more animated in busi of the country ; and his refusal to cooperate with his old risu ra ff a i r s , ltli e equanimity atthe sameot;te political rumours continue to friends any longer, deprives them, consequently, not only Cabinet Couecils, resignationthe o c ; P I i , t o a r l d i st . Normanby,Theva various of the prestige of his name, but of the sympathy which his other incidents which have lately transpired, all tend t o support raturally attached to them. It is felt that their throw doubt and uncertainty upon the future career of the Ministry. The Produce Markets have conti n u e d to circle is narrowing to the point of explosion ; a nd people m anifest improv ing symptoms, and importers begin to are watching for the final moment, without bestowing a indulge the hope that prices have seen the lowest point of thought upon the chances of their escape by some shrewd the season. The business going forward in Sugars has , been rather extensive. Coffee is also very steady. Much trick of finesse. attention is directed towards the approaching spring sales In the meanwhile, every preparation has been corn- at Amsterdam. The general tone of the Cotton Market pleted for the opening of Parliament by the Queen in per- has been very firm since this day week ; sales on Tuesday son. The noble apartments of the new Palace of West- were unusually large, and prices, bef ore th e c l ose , were fully k per lb. dearer , so that at th e B ro k ers ' wee kl y meet minster have received extra decorations, and been ren- ing the value of fair Cotton was quoted at sd. for Up lands, dered more gorgeous than ever, to give eclat to the scene ; 51. for Mobil e , an d 5451. for Orleans. Th e t o t a l mount and London is filling for the season, and beginning to be of the week's business was nearly 70,000 bales. On more animated and cheerful, than at any time since the tSrsatduerdnA;antilli.t() Cambria, there was l not so much activity in the close of the Great Exhibition, and the departure of the Orleans extend to thelst t h e o te legraphic e fag:: January, c when advices the from marketis-evi sight-seers from all nations, whom the World's Bazaar had receded, under the influence of the Asia's advices, to congregated in modern Babylon. the extent of nearly ; a cent per lb.' Even the Ministry seem to have been seized with an of T E l n te . r l e an is d. stil , l r a he gr a e m at ou a n la t ut o la n c lio e o n f ? s api r ta a l te i r n t t h he Bank active zeal for business ; and latterly Cabinet Councils b e f ore k nown. Th e weekly return in greater th a n ev e r active zeal for business; and latterly Cabinet Councils before known. The weekly return in Friday's G n az e e v t e te r have been of almost daily occurrence, and of unusual du- gives the following results when compared with the pre ration. The subjects of deliberation cannot, of course, be vi7,7lllvc wee k deposits £4,768,121 ; Increase .... £52,968 positively known. They are believed, however, to have Other deposits reference, in the first place, to the condition of the Go- —n Rest 3,249,662 ; Increase .... 1,960 On the oth er side of the account— vernment itself, shaken as it is by the ejection of Lord Government securities. 13.269,098 ; The same as before. Palmerston and the desertion of Lord Normanby. With Other securities Notes unemployed .. regard to the first, it is confidently stated that he will not Th e amount of notes in in circu l ation ' is £ 9 0.640 . .410, being defer beyond to-morrow evening the explanation which a decrease of £397.925 ; and the stock of bullion in both he intends to give the country as to the treatment he has to t c s r t 6 m 3 7 ,, nt7 is £17,933,524, showing an increase of received. And the nature of that explanation is signifi- In the ewe t r e l yn partcom p o a f r e t d h e cv i p t a h s t t h w e e p e L e c p e r ;l e i ensg in re t o u u r r n . shnre cantly foreshadowed. It has been affirmed on the part of market sympathising with the flatness of the funds, the Premier that the Foreign Minister had committed public securities declined materially • but the extreme himself by approving the late coup d'etat of M. Louis enu o e T i t m o o t n h e e y e a x g t a e i o n t o er th e e t het decline. t are actionof Napoleon Bonaparte, almost as soon as it had been business done, however, has been but small, though ex' per effected, if not before; and that by doing so, he had de- haps somewhat larger than during the previous week. At he account just passed,coptangoes were light, and stock graded this country into an instrument of continental ! FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. in some cases scarce f or d e li ver y. The traffic list through despotism. Lord Palmerston's friends deny that his out is favourable, all the returns showing an increase over Lordship had any intimation of the business in hand, until last year. To-day we have a quiet market, prices showing the morning after the President had effected his purpose, a decided tendency to advance. A large business continues when M. Walewski, the French ambassador in London, whicht to hed gold mai n mine tai n theirshares; oo the steadily ta prices ic es ofdp cur e chief llocal o a f , waited upon him, informed him of what had transpired, stock shares, gas shares ar e asked for an advance, and and submitted documents alleged to be proofs of the Royal Assurance shares are beginning to exhibit some threatened conspiracy of the " Mountain" party to over- t s yi o n o t s o . m s r o o f n a (IT move n u e p k w a 1 r( 1 1 6 4 W l7 e l 6 a ti n l e 7 x this d d i a t y to 's q n u e o w . throw law and order, and to set up a Red Republic. Of quarters, 3k 31 3 3 lfin ; Lancashire and Yorkshire stock, course, under these circumstances, the English Minister, 62ki; ditto fifths. 71 11-16 , 1; Midland stock.ssl I 6 5161; when asked as to the disposition of the Government of Sh. stock. 31k ; East Lancashire, 151; Dover stock, •21k; which he was a member, replied frankly that E ng l an d had 2ni 5.16 2n: • Caledonian, 15k; East York and North Midl an d e Sheffield and Goole N..' Eastern Counties, 7 3-16; no wish or desire to interfere with the internal affairs o f Whitehaven and Furness, 5. any foreign government. On the same day, moreover, The corn trade has been very steady, and although the the same agent—before any official accounts had reached eqteecntetdofdubusine t s h s transacted . has k been smaller ,ho than that o u e e r c s ed4rl g we v e ery p e r o ic o e fi deo v t e as continued toir London of the scenes which had been enacted in the to advance. n a n n z d h e streets of Paris—waited upon Lord John Russell himself, position will not sell unless at very full prices, being rendered him a similar narrative of the exigencies and strongly convinced that a further rise is at hand. 'proceedings of the French President, and re ce i ve d a pad Trade in the manuf ac t ur i ng di s t r i c t s i s health- with the exception of the en g i neers an d mac hi n ists, y'and, the' tic assurance of the good feelings of Engl a nd. art i zans and operatives generally are well employed. In If this be the fact, Lord John Russell will have some the monthly circular of Messrs. M`Nair, Greenhow, and difficulty in convincing the public that the dismissal of his t l e t n f d n e g o , r just s r l o u e d t , h w e e fi r fi , n t e f l o ; t hi n ? l o o r w s i o n g w r e a s m d a o r k w s o : w — a T r(i l i g e old colleague arose out of any sudden compunction of his b oth as y to priee g and demand ; g ht since then, and from the own for the fate of liberty in France, or any hasty con- arrival of the Pacific—which, from her advices as to version of Lord Palmerston to the propagandism of abso- cotton, produced considerable activity in the Liverpool lute power. But let the explanation come off when it Ttrartkaer;ticalecco o m o p p a r n o o w g i t h t 0 a r j i gl ad ; e a r '' c leoro in h o ev g al g u n e er c a l may, the inquiry will be a rigid one, whether Lord John firmness has been observable, and producers have been able himself has not rather made a desperate effort to conci- to realise rather better prices than they were able to secure Hate the affections of Russia, Austria, Naples, and the at the period referred to. All the mills are working full time, and the manufacturing interests of the district may Pope, than to express any sentimental attachment to pure generally be considered to be in a sound and healthy con- Republicanism in France ; or to freedom and constitu- dition. Many complaints, as there will always be, of tional government in any part of Europe. an opposite character, greet the ear—and not with o ut In the second place, it is said that the frequency of the reason, in many instances, we firmly believe—still, as aforesaid, the general condition is of a sound and healthy recent Cabinet Councils has arisen out of the difficulties character. Though we see it stated in some quarters presented by the Prime Minister's promised Reform Bill. that the country trade is healthy and active, a smaller With respect to the scope, extent, principles, and details portion of truth, we believe, was scarcely ever embraced. of this measure, he and his colleagues are alleged to he se- Our information is carefully produced from parties riously at odds. This, probably, will, in some degree, ac- who are most competent to form an opinion ; and the count for the conflicting versions of the main provisions result negatives and falsifies the statements referred intended to be embodied in the bill, which have within to. Less, we believe, was scarcely ever found to be doing the last few days obtained currency. One statement po- at this season of the year. There is. however, nothing sitively avers that it is intended wholly to disfranchise mater ally important in such an inactive state. Ile sea- Caine, Chippenham, Totness, Harwich, and St. Albans, son and the general expectation that cotton goods may be with three other boroughs not named; and that many lower, together with the facilities afforded by railway tra - other small places are to have larger constituencies given veiling—so very different to what they used to be—and at them by amalgamation with neighbouring towns and a much lessened expense too—naturally induce more fre villages ; while London, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, are quest visits to this market, and to create in the minds of to have additiona lrnembers, in proportion to their popu- the retail dealers a desire to economise, and render more lation. Another version, which professes to be still more productive their capital, by holding smaller and better authentic, is that " there is to be no enfranchisement assor'ed stocks. We believe that in the hands of all such. nor disfranchisement so far as regards localities. There stocks are unusually small. will not be a single change in the seats ; no new metro politan boroughs; no more representatives for Manches ter and Liverpool; none for the score or two of large towns now unrepresented ; and no obliteration of the names that have brought on the Reform Act the odium of having created more corruption than it destroyed." All that is intended to be done, if the authority above cited be correct, is to swamp, by enlarging, the existing consti tuencies. The £lO household suffrage is to be reduced to a £5 tenure ; and to the £5O tenants-at-will in counties are to be added the £2O tenants ; while the boroughs that have acquired notoriety before committees of the House of Commons, are to receive an indefinite number of part ners from the surrounding districts. It may be doubted whether such a bill would be palata ble to any body of men in the kingdom. Even the ultra radicals can scarcely relish it, for it embraces nothing that In the annual Timber Circular of Messrs. Duncan and Ewing, after briefly reviewing the position of trade and commerce during the year,and alluding to the losses incur red by importers generally, they remark that " Importers who have been carrying on business in the various descrip tions of Wool have eiperienced a favourable exception. The supplies have, daubtless, been large, yet the demand has been great, and on the whole, considering the de pressed state of other branches of commerce, prices generally have been comparatively well sustained since the Import season commenced, they are still moderate, and may be considered as safe rates." We regret that we have not space to do more than merely allude to the elaborate and excellent circular of Messrs. A. F. and D. Mackay. Suffice it to say, that it contains a vast amount of useful information on the Timber Trade in all its branches. they have ever asked for; but still excludes the vast ma jority of their body throughout the northern counties of England, and the most populous districts both of Scot land and Ireland. The Freetraders, as a body, are tole rably certain to look upon it as anything but a boon. They could barely keep their balance at the last general election, when the political system which they advocate had scarcely been felt injuriously by the working classes ; and now that employment has grown scarcer and scarcer, and wages have undergone a progressive decline, so as to be below the reach of an adequate supply of the " big loaf." a flood of £5 householders can scarcely fail to sink them into insignificance. At the same time the agricul- The improvement which had manifested itself in the Wool trade, in the beginning of the year, has been in some measure checked by the unsettled aspect of political affairs, both at home and abroad, there h"s, however, been a fair demand for most descriptions of Wool during the past month, and prices well supported ; on the 29th ult. 3680 bales were offered by public auction, comprising Australian, Spanish Frontier, Lisbon, Oporto, Egyptian, East India, and sundry low Wools. The result of these sales may be considered satisfactory ; we had a full atten dance of the trade, and an active competition for most descriptions, establishing a slight advance on the closing rates of last year. turists must needs look upon the £2O tenant propOsal as one especially intended for their annoyance, if not for the demolition of all the influence they ever possessed in the representation of the kingdom. But it is very probable, after all, that the bill bas not yet assumed its final shape—not even that form in which it will be presented to thelegislature. The Whigs cogitate long and change their minds often ; and, even when at last The principal business done here last week in Wool was at the public sales held here on Thursday, when a good assortment of low 'Wools and about 600 hales colo nial were offered. Colonials being much wanted, sold readily at. an advance of about Id. per lb. over the last London sales. East India, Oporto, &c., realized about former rates. The demand for Irish has been less ani mated of late, and prices are easier. . are rarely certain whether it a horse-shoe or a hiss." They they produce a measure, th is ultimately to make The following reports embrace the latest transactions n the will leave the matter to parliament to do what seems good LIVERPOOL PRODUCE MARKETS in the way of tinkering their defective workmanship, and be perfectly content at the end of the session, if they have COTTON.—The market since Friday's weekly report has not been so active, but prices generally have been well maintained. On Saturday. 10,000 bales were sold, of which speculators took 1,000. To-day, the Cambria's accounts had the effect of inducing a more quiet feeling. The demand was less extensive, and holders more anxious sellers, so that buyers had a more abundant choice, and in the current qualities of American the usual advantages of a dull market. The sales were 6,000 bales. The sales of Saturday and to-day include 10.000 American, at 41d. to 51d. ; 700 Egyptian, at 6d. to 9d. ; 500 Pernam and Maranham, qd. to 61d. ; 300 Bahia, sad. to 514. ; 2,000 Surat, 21-d. to 4d. per lb. The imports since Thursday are 30,000 bales. added the Customary number of pages, abortive or other- wise, to the statutes at large. - - With respect to the state and prospects of the ministr' the speech made by Sir Robert Peel at a dinner given li); the Mayor of Tamworth, on Wednesday evening last, has created a strong sensation among the friends as well as the opponents , of the administration ; and especially those pa . siages which referred to Lord John Russell himself, as being at once the agitator for Parliamen tary Reform and guaranteeing the result; while the colonies are groaning under mal-administration ; the ser- vice of the admiralty is inefficient, though entailing reckless - expenditure of the public money ; and the need that is universally felt for economical financial reform. The cabinet be described as not merely tottering, but debased SUGAR.—There has been an improved feeling in this market, and the lower qualities are decidedly dearer; including Saturday's sales, the business comprises 440 hhds. Antigua at 30s. to 31s. 61, 2,300 bags Benares at 345. to 375., 1,000 bags yellow Cossinore at 39a. 6d., 550 bags Dates at 28s. 6d., 1,350 mats Mauritius at 295. 6d. to 325. 9d., and 50 hhds. Porto Rico at 335. to 345, per cwt. MOLASSES.—A large business has been done in this article. We note sales of 1,100 puns. Barbadoes at 12s. 9d. per cwt. RUM.—The sales are about 120 puns., chiefly Jamaica, at previous rates, including 20 puns. Leeward at Is. 6id. per gallon proof. COFFEE.—Market dull; no sales reported either on Saturday or to-day. Rica.—There is a good inquiry of 1,000 bags Bengal, offered by auction this morning. 300 were sold at 10s. to 10s. 6d. per cwt. in bond. SUNDRIES.—We have also to report 250 bags Saltpetre at 245., 500 bags Sago Flour at 14s. per cwt., 100 tons Campeachy Logwood at £5 15s. to £5 17s. 6d. for direct, and £5 10s. for indirect ; also 80 tons Barwood at £2 15s. per ton. to the promotion of personal interest,—a family coterie governing the State. They had forfeited the confidence of the country, and should give place to others A liberal conservative policy, which would be supported by public opinion, should be inaugurated; and men should recognise as their leader one well known to all parties by the name of Stanley. The prolonged cheers which greeted the speaker at the close of his address, were better than any verbal comment that could be offered. Among the on this of the week, it will have been seen that persons who profess to be well i n f orme d on the sub j ect, state that , notwithstanding the decline of a cr y w hi c h almost amounted to a panic, respecting the warlike inten tions of Louis Napoleon, and the danger of an invasion of England, the army is to be increased by about 10 , 0000 men, by raising the several regiments of the is alleged 450 to 1,000 rank an d file. This recommendat i on alleged to have emanated from the Duke of Wellington, and to have been adopted at a precautionary measure only.. It will not be out of place, perhaps, to notice here the announcement of a theatrical performance at Drury-lane, for the benefit of the survivors, and the widows and orphans of those who had the melancholy hap to be in volved in the awful catastrophe of the steam-ship Amazon. Her M ajesty has given her pat r o nage t o t h e pro j ec t, and a considerable number of influential persons have promised their support. The intended exhibition, nevertheless, has already met with severe criticism, both in the press and in private society, as being dictated by morbid aspi rations for notoriety and display, rather than true philan thropy ; as a thing altogether in bad taste, an d d eserv i ng reprenension, for its anomalous mixture o f l ev i ty w i th recollections of the deepest and most unutter a bl e p a i n an d woe.. The Times, on this head, has thrown out a good suggestion :—" That every one who might otherwise have attended the performance at Drury-lane, should contribute the Wee of his ticket, —why not more, i f consistent with his means ?—and quietly stop away. To be charitable is excellent; to be charitable in secret, we are told, is still better. To deprive ourselves of a pleasure, or even of a JUTE has been in good demand, and prices are rather dearer, but we observe that the exports of this article from Calcutta continue on a most extended scale ; but probably the low price of Common, £7 to £8 per ton, will cause it to be uQpit rnnre extensively than ever known. THE LIVERPOOL ENGINEERS.—A deputation, consist ing of the Mayor, Thomas Littledale, Esq., and Messrs. Hugh Ifornby and J. B. Lloyd, two influential members of the Town Council, have consented to wait upon Messrs. Forrester and Messrs. Fawcett, master engineers, in order to effect some arrangement between them and the work men, about thirty-six in number, whom they have dis charged, and refuse to re i nstate i n their shops unless they renounce all connexion with the Amalgamated Society. This the men are unwilling to do, as they would thus have to forego their claim to assistance from the funds of what they contend is a benefit society. We understand 1 that the deputation is to meet the employers on Thurs day nest. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The second annual meeting of the Chamber of Corn. merce took place, yesterday, in the Board-room, in Ex ' change Buildings ; Mr. Hugh Hornhy, Vice-Chairman of the Association, in the absence of Mr. T. B. Horsfall, the President, occupied the chair. ,The attendance at the early part of the proceedings was numerous, but at the close very few gentlemen were present. Mr. HORNBY, on taking the chair, expressed his regret that their valued and esteemed president, Mr. Horsfall, was precluded, through the effects resulting from his late accident, from being present on this occasion, and occu pying that position which his qualifications so well entitled him to. The Chamber of Commerce had lost much through the late unfortunate casuality to Mr. Horsfall, particularly by Mr. Horsfall not forming one in the late deputation to London ; however, he (Mr. Hornby) was glad to say that their mission had been successful, and Government would not oppose the re-appointment of the Parliamentary Customs Committee. Mr. Hnrnby then called upon the Secretary to read the Report of the Coun cil of the Chamber to the general members. Mr. MONSON accordingly complied. The Report was an exceedingly lengthy document - , chiefly forming a resume' of the contents of the previous quarterly ones. The Council recorded their sense of gratification at the lete visit of her Majesty, but more especially for the interest manifested by her for the commercial prosperity of the port, in her grievous reception of the address of the Chamber. The subjects named in this report may be classed, for the sake of perspicuity, under two heads :- Ist, matters of general interest to the commercial com munity; 2nd, matters of a local character. Under the first division the Council would refer, — L To the Improvement of the Custom-house System and Regulations.—About the close of MO a movement, entered into by the other mercantile associations of the town, resulted in placing the whole subject of Custom-house Reform in the hands of this Chamber, and such a weight of influence was brought to bear on Government, by means of petitions from London, Liverpool, and other large seaport towns, that, on the motion of Mr. Mitchell, a Parliamentary Committee was con ceded to inquire fully into the subject. The Council having matured their consideration of the local grievances and incon veniences inflicted by the present system on the trade of Liverpool, were now prepared to support their case generally by evidence in the Parliamentary Committee at the ear lest opportunity. The leading change. in respect of Liverpool, which these recommendations contain, is the formation of a Local Board, comprised of the head officers of the Customs here, with enlarged powers for disposing of cases of infractions of Customs Regulations, or of disputed duties up to a certain amount ; and with increased discretion for expediting and facilitating the business of the port. The report then alluded to the Towns Meeting on the subject of Customs Reform, anti set forth the result of the deputation appointed to wait upon Lord John Russell. 2. c.minerci a i Law and Tribunal of Commerce.—This im portant subject continued under attention. A conference had been held with a deputation from the Law Society of the town, at which complete unanimity was expressed in respect of the evils of the present system of the administration of the law. Touching the best remedy, however, (tit ersity of opinion existed. A sanguine belief prevailed among professional men, that the chief grounds of complaint will disappear as soon as the sweeping reforms in the practice of our present Law Courts, recommended in the late report of the Common Law Commission, are car. ied into effect by means of legal enact ment ; hut it is greatly to be feared that mere internal reforms within our Law Courts, as at present constituted, would prove but palliatives, and will not thoroughly get rid of the expense, delay, uncertainty, and danger of defeat of justice which cha racterise the present system. The Council would merely reiterate their conviction, that the organisation of local tri bunals with compulsory powers, within certain districts, for the adjudication of mercantile disputes. -.resided over by expe rienced men of business, would confer a most important and ' lasting benefit on the trading classes,and would not necessarily detract from the dignity or the occupation of the higher tribu nals of the land. 3. Patent Law Amendment.—The directors hal no further progress to report on this subject beyond what was noticed in the last half.y , arly report. They had only to mention, in addition, that, while considering the late bills, they requested Sir Thomas Bir h to press upon Government the desirableness of providing against manufacturers being charged with fees which may be so high as to becume prohibitory, or otherwise adverse to British interests. 4. Abscondii , g Debtors Arrest Bill.—The Council were happy to say that the bill promoted by the Guardian Society of this tow❑ had become law, and that great benefit has resulted from 5. Ocean Penny Postage.—A memorial, founded on the recommendation of the Postal Commi tee, had been forwarded to Government praying for a qualified trial of the scheme. 6. International Postal Money Order:.—ln answer to a memorial on this subject, a reply has been received from Mr. Labouchere, stating that the Board of Trade will communicate with the Treasury on the subject. 7. Abolition of the Thosia Company; and 8, Reduction of the Sound Dwes.—These subjects are again to be brought forward on the re-assembling or Parliament. 9. Railway through Egypt —The matters in dispute between the Sultan and the Pacha of Fgypt, which threatened top event the construction of the railway from Alexandria to Suez, had been amicably settled. 10. Smuggling at Shangbai.—On this matter Government had taken the requisite steps in the matter. 11. Abolition of the duty, on Soap.—A. memorial in favour of this was forwarded to the Treasury, 12. The Council have alsnmemOrialized Parliament in favour of the protection of British interests in Venezuela, more parti cularly with reference to the false imprisonment of an English resident which lately took place there. Under the second head, comprising subjects of a more local character, are. 1. Postal Matters.—The committee on Postal communica tions reported that the subj ct of obtaining an earlier despatch from London, by the mail train, had been brought before the attention of the Postmaster General ; a later despatch of the afternoon mai., hence to the north of Scotland, was receiving the favourable attention of the Postmaster General ; that the Postmaster General had been solicited to provide against the delays which frequently occur in the transmission of corre spondence, arriving by way of Southampton, but as yet the Council had been unable to induce his lordship to make any alteration in the existing arrangements; however, every exer tion would be made to prevent such delays in future. 4. No notification has, as yet been made public respecting the plan suggested by the Postmaster for giving greater security in the delivery of letters at the Postoffice, in favour of which a reso lution was passed at the last quarterly meeting. However, the subject is under consideration by the authorities. 2. Central Baggage Depot. —Plans for a baggage depot, at the south end of the l'rince's Dock, to be prepared by Mr. Hartley, had been seen and approved of by the directors, and, no doubt, would soon lie carried into execution, and give ample accommodation for this purpose. 3. TI e Export Trade.—The Special Committee to whom this subject had been delegated have received from several members of the Chamber much valuable information. and they hope, in a short .ime, to put such suggestions before the Council as would tend to place this port on an equality, as regards dock facilities, with any other in the kingdom. 4. Merchant Seamen's Act. —With respect to the disputed jurisdiction of the stipendiary magistrate, in the case of desertion of a vessel nearer to the Cheshire shore than on the Lancashire side, the Council regretted that the legal opinion left the matter unsettled and unsatisfactory; and the necessity of an alteration in the law had became urgent. The directors trust, therefore, on the first occasion when the provisions of the Seamen's Act come under Parliamentary revision, the rectification of the point will not be omitted. 5. Quarantine Ilulks.—A report from the Conservators of the river, stating that there is no other site in the river avail able for the lazarettes, the Government declined to comply with the prayer of the memorial. _ 6. Emil ration Depot.—Early in the past year the Council petitioned the Fmigration Commissioners for the appointment of this port as a Government Emigration Depot ' • and they have to inform the Chamber that the necessary works for that pur pose are now in progress at Birkenhead. 7. Anticipated Removal of the North American Mail Service from Liverpool —The co-operation of the Chambers of Com merce at Manchester, Glasgow, and other places, has been solicited in favour of retaining the North American Mail Ser vice in Liverpool. 8. 7'he want of increasd Dock Accommodation for the Tim ber Trade; 9. 't he bills for alteration in the management of the Dock Estate; 10. 'I he Bylaws relative to the use of Fires on Shipboard, are matters which received the attention of the Council, but which do not call for particular notice. Befo;13 closhig their report, thedirectorsbegged to record their thanks to the members of Parliament for the borough and the southern division of the county for the important services which they have at all times rendered to the chamber. They likewise desired to repeat their thanks to J. Graham Gilbert, Esq., for his valuable present of a portrait of Canning, now in the board-room. Mr. STITT, the treasurer, then read the statement of the accounts of the association. Mr. CH ARLES HOLLAND, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, observed that he was sure he need not express his concurrence, as well as the concurrence of the meeting, at all that had been said in regard to their esteemed president. In the infancy of an institution like the present, a great deal depended upon the qualifications of the gentleman selected to preside over it during its commenrement and progress ; and he felt sure that they must all admit their selection in this respect had been highly fortunate, for in Mr. Horsfall they bad found a man of great commercial experience, of high standing in the commercial world, and who brought with him a ripe experience of judgment to bear upon all questions brought betore the notice of the chamber. He felt sure that they should all tender to Mr. Horsfall, and to his family, commiseration for his late misfortune, and express a fervent hope for his complete con valescence. He (Mr. Holland) had now to congra tulate them not only on maintaining their position, but upon having established a further advance in public opinion. They had now the satisfaction of knowing that the Chamber of Commerce in Liverpool embodied in itself the feelings and sentiments not only of all the various commercial associations which had traded specially under their superintendence, but likewise it embodied the public feeling of the commercial world in its favour ; and whenever that chamber approached governmnnt, or any public body, it did so with a moral strength, backed by public opinion, which ren dered its operations exceedingly influential. It might truly he said that the chamber had been eminently suc cessful. He would not dwell upon any particular sub ject in the report, but there was one matter of such paramount importance to the commercial community— he meant the question of custom-house reform—that he felt induced to make one or two observations respecting it. He was happy to think that that chamber had stood so prominently forward in taking up the gauntlet which had been thrown down by the custom-house officials, and he trusted that the chamber, representing the commercial eeling of Liverpool, would never relax in their efforts in obtaining a reform in the custom-house system until they had obtained a practical realization of sound and thorough reform, which should admit the principle that it is not necessary, even for the sake of her Majesty's exchequer, that merchants should, prima facie, be dealt with as dishonest until they were proved to be the reverse ; but that the interests of the exchequer and their interests, if encouraged, would be found to be identical. He was glad to see, at the late public meeting, the principle of res• ponsibility taken up in the manner it was, by the argu ments in favour of the establishment of a local board , where they could affix a responsibility so highly desirable, and so essential to the interests of the port. There was another important subject which continued to claim the attention of the chamber. He alluded to the establish ment of tribunals of commerce, where commercial ques tionsin dispute could be teltisfaetorily settled. As at present constituted, our tribunals did not afford the relief needed —great difficulties surrounded the question, and they were bound to deal with it with caution, to avoid any false step being taken. Not only had there been a report of a com mittee appointed to deal with the subject of pleading, with retard to common law, but it would be noticed that there was every probability that that Augean stable, the Court of Chancery, would be subjected to a similar process of investigation during the ensuing session. There were other subjects, which be would not now dwell upon, of a local character; in reference to these generally, he trusted the chamber would devote its best energies. There had been a special committee appointed for sug gesting to the D,ck Committee any means by which facilities for the export and import trade might be expe dited. Any gentleman who would go to the Cheshire side of the river, and observe the preparations there made, and the many appliances of machinery for the discharging of vessels, &c., would come to the conclusion that the very primitive modes now in use on the dock quays on this side should be much improved on and increased. He would conclude by congratulating them upon the posi tion which the Chamber of Commerce enjoyed both with regard to our own community and the country generally. Liverpool was bidding fair to become the emporium of Great Britain ; and, by a union of all the commercial in terests of this great town, they should continue to increase in influence and importance, and bring them to bear upon every commercial interest throughout the country. He begged to move the adoption of the report and accounts. (Applause.) Mr. CHARLES ROBERTSON seconded the resolution. Although but two years old, the Chamber of Commerce might already he considered full grown. It was unneces sary to say anything in favour of their association, as it had already commended itself to the support of the com mercial community, and he had no doubt but that it would meet with a still larger measure of patronage; and, instead of having, as at present, some 413 or 500 members, there would shortly not be a single commercial house in Liverpool who would not become enrolled. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. BOUGH moved the second resolution :—. 41 That, as there is reason to believe that the Government will not oppose the re-appointment of the Parliamentary Customs' Committee, this Chamber strongly urges upon its members the importance of furnishing such evidence as may lead to an amelioration of the Customs' laws and regulations, the better to adapt them to the commerce of the country." Mr. Bouch then, in a discursive speech of considerable length, took a review of the origin of the inquiry with regard to Customs' reform, and instanced a variety of cases strongly illustrating the great evils resulting from the want of such reform and the necessity there existed for a thorough revision of our Custom-house regulations. He thought they ought to he able to pursue this question without giving rise toany acrimonious feeling beingcreated. If the Board of Customs was to be changed, no doubt it would involve a serious question as to those who now filled so important a position as Commissioners of Customs; but what they had to do here was, to solicit the aid of the chamber, and the commercial community generally, to be furnished with evidence with which to go the House of Commons. Mr. Jour; As KIN seconded the resolution. Credit, he said. had been given to Mr. Sherlock for the assistance which lie was said to have rendered in the cause of Cus toms' Reform. fie (Mr. Aikin) did not deny that err dit might be due to that gentleman ; but he felt satisfied that if they intended to effect any great measure of reform, they must not look to the assistance and co-operation of Cus tom-house authorities, or to gentlemen connected with the technical difficulties of this reform. Mr. Aikin then iterated some of the arguments which he had heard at the town's meeting, and referred to several instances which he then gave in illustration of the position taken by him on that occasion with regard more particularly to the evils arising to the transit trade. Mr. FoawooD, in a speech of considerable length, argumentatively showed, from instances cited, the great evils needing reform in connexion with the Customs and our general commercial regulations. Mr. CASEY, at the request of the Chairman (Mr. Holland, who bad undertaken to act for Mr. Hornby, that gentleman having to leave town for London) offered some lengthy remarks on the evils resulting to commerce arisinz out of the excise duties, and gave many pertinent instances in the soap trade, with which he is connected, showing the imperative necessity there existed for a total reformation in the excise laws. If more freedom of action was afforded to their operations, soap could be manufactured much cheaper than at present, and it was but fair to expect that our home consumption would greatly increase. He re quested of the council to appoint a special commission to go fully into the matter of excise grievances, with the view to some ulterior proceedings being taken. Mr. M'FIE then addressed the meeting on the subject of postal regulations. With regard to the mail.station at Holyhead, he had the privilege of being present at the Greenock Chamber of Commerce, and he there learned that, after searching inquiry being made, that its position was not calculated. Mr. M'Fie then, at great length, entered into the subject of the necessity of a great alteration being made in postal regulations, more especially as regarded the com m u n ic a ti on with the north of Scotland. He was glad to say that there was a prospect of having this department reformed, and for this they were very much indebted to Mr. Levi, the energetic founder of that association. Mr. EDWARD HIGGIN said he trusted that the attention of the Chamber would be drawn during the coming year to the important subject of the dock and town dues, a subject which ought to occupy its attention, inasmuch as the late discoveries had indicated a regular system of evasion, which injured the dock and town estates, and was ruining the honest man and fair trader. For pur poses of statistics, his firm had long since found that the entries passed to the States and elsewhere were not more than from a half to two thirds of what really went forward. As agents they were continually exposed to demands, as regarded the charges they made, which indicated clearly to them that a system prevailed of ship ping goods without paying the dues on them. Indeed his partner, when in the States, had been told, when summing up the amount of charges that would be incurred, that "therewas no reason to pay the dues here,"and "that other houses did not do so," thus effectually preventing those who would wish to act honestly from obtaining business. Whilst he would deprecate any regulations which would impede the shipment of goods already unnecessarily ham pered, he thought a system might be pursued of the simplest character, which would entirely prevent fraud and facilitate the trade. Let every broker or agent load ing a vessel be obliged to pay the dues when clearing the vessel, and let him recover the amount so paid by debiting the amount of dues when rendering a freight note. Mr. Iliggin then entered into lengthy statistical state ments, illustrative of his arguments, and having done so, The CHAIRMAN thanked him for the valuable informa tion regarding the export trade, and hoped that he would bring the statistics in such a form before the public as would call the attention of the town most strongly to it. After a vote of thanks to the council of the chamber, and to the chairman of the meeting, the proceedings terminated. THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE QUEEN'S SPEECH, WILL BE PUBLISHED AT THREE O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—A new society, bear ing the above name, has been established in this town — one of the objects of which is to instruct and form its own chorus, intended to number some 600 performers. Its promoters look forward to a brilliant opportunity for dis play on the completion of St. George's-hall. DARING ROBBERY.—On Saturday night, about ten o'clock, while Jane Moss, of Church-place, Great Oxford street North. was passing through Scotland-road, she was assailed by William Wheeler, who snatched from her a bundle of wearing apparel, which she was taking to her lodging. She pursued him, and he was apprehended in Rose-place with the property in his possession. He was brought up at the magistrates'-rootn yesterday, and, being fully identified, was committed for trial. COMMITTALS.—The following persons were sentenced to various periods of imprisonment at the Police-court yesterday :—Patrick Dillon, Andrew Dillon, and Anthony Ward, assaulting George Hall, in Brownlow-hill, and stealing his hat, two months, or pay a fine of £5; Isabella Kelly, assaulting and robbing George Woodhouse of £2, two months, sr pay a fine of £5 ; Thomas Jepson and Edward Harding, suspicious persons found in unoccupied houses, three months ; Michael O'Donohue, stealing 4 lbs. of flour, two months; John Davies, stealing a box of cigars, the property of Elizabeth Heywood, Oldhall street, two months ; Anne Johnson, stealing wearing apparel, one month ; John M'Grath, stealing 4 lbs. of copper, at Bramley-Moore dock, one month; and Robert M`Manus, stealing a plant from a garden at Kirkdale, twenty-one days. THE STEAMER LEEDS.—The cabin passengers on board the Leeds, at the time of the accident, have ex pressed themselves to the following effect :—" Having been cabin passengers on board of the ill-fated steamer, the Leeds, we think it our duty to bear testimony, through the medium of your journal, to the indefatigable exertions and kindness of Captain Stokes, (the captain of the steamer.) Nothing could exceed the presence of mind, and firmness which he displayed. as to the best means of saving the vessel ; and the attention he paid to the comfort of the passengers, under such circum stances. It was owing to his excellent conduct that many lives were not lost. When the Empire State hove in sight, and lay to, he ordered the steamer's boats to be lowered, and superintended the transferring of the pas sengers in his own boats, manned by the crew of the Leeds, with such care that after a succession of trips all were saved ; and it was only when nothing further could possibly be done that he left the steamer, being the very last man on board. Our thanks are likewise due to the crew in general, but more especially to the chief mate (Mr. Metcalf) ; the second mate, Mr. John Joseph ; Edward Kennedy steward ; and Mary Anne Hoy, stew ardess, who all deserve this testimony, both for their great exertions and exreme kindness, which, we are very sorry to say, found a marked contrast to that which we experienced from the crew of the Empire State." ST. HELENS CANAL AND RAILWAY COMPANY. The half-yearly general meeting of the St. Helens Canal and Railway Company was held at the St. Helens Railway Station, at noon yesterday, when Gilbert Greenall, Esq., the chairman, presided. The following, among other directors and shareholders, were present on the occasion:--Messrs. W. C. Fosbery. S. J. Steers, Rigby, W. Fosbery, Edward Greenall, A. F. Jones, S. Crosfield, Jackson, Josias Booker, Adam Hodgson, John Smith, Robinson, Jackson, Blundell, Gaskell Taylor, R. Dag. lish, Jackson, and Fildes. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that he did not anticipate the proceedings would occupy the meeting long ; and in the first place he would call upon Mr. Sinclair, the Secretary, to read the Report which the Directors of the Company proposed to lay before them. Mr. SINCLAIR. the Secretary, then read the following REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS. The directors have again to congratulate the shareholders on an improvement in the revenue of the company ; the increase in the gross rec e ipt s f or t h e s i x months just ended, when ' compared with the same period of 1850, being 42159, against which must he placed an increase of working charges of 4255. and of interest on shares and loans of 4921, leaving a nett profit of 4983 in excess of that shown in the corresponding portion of the previous year:—The gross revenue for the half year, as shown in the statement of accounts circulated among the shareholders, is 420,650 9s. Bd. and the working charges, rates, taxes, and rents, 47145 4s. i d., or 35 per cent. on the receipts, leaving a surplus of 13,511 ss. 7d. ; deducting from which, for interest on loans, £2508 19s. Bd., and for relies% a' of permanent way 4250; total 42758 195. Bd. ; so that there remains for preference and other dividends 410,752 ss. lid. Out of which the directors propose that a dividend should be declared for the past half-year, payable on the 4th of February, of el 10s. per old share, 41800; of 15s. per half-share, 4793; of 44 per 4100 preference share. emo ; and of 9s. per .425 preference share, 42202 15s. ; being a total of 410,554 155.; leaving 4197 10s. lid. To which must be added the balance left after payment of the dividend declared at the last general meeting, .4486 18s. ld. ; making a balance to be carried to the next acconnt, of 4684 9s. The number of passengers con veyed during the year 1851 was—From January to Jure, 124,165; from July to December, 141,848; total, 266,013; showing an increase of 62.882 on the number conveyed in the year 1850. The weight of coal and merchandize carried on the railway was—From January to June, 199,855 tons; from July to December. 236,635 tons; total, 436,490 tons. On the canal there was—From January to June, 247.914 tons; from July to December, 260,654 tons; total, 508,578 tons. Total from January to June, 447,769 tons; from July to December, 497,299 tons; total, 915,068 tons ; being an increase of 97,681 tons over the weight carried in the previous year. The Widnes and Garston line has so far progressed as to insure its completion and opening for traffic early in the present year. The works on the Widnes and Warrington branch have been commenced, and will be vigorously continued. 'llle constructhin of the docks at Garston is also proceeding favourably and rapidly. Since the last meeting of the shareholders, the direct rs have entered into an agreement with the London and North-Western Company, whereby a large amount of traffic is insured to th.se docks, thus identifying the interests of both companies in this important terminus. Arrangements are likewise made for each company affording to the other every facility for an inter change of traffic, on terms of reciprocity which cannot fail to be mutually beneficial and advantageous. As the whole amount of I nine authorized by the company's acts has now been taken up, the directors find it requisite to make further calls on the new 425 shares. (Signed) GILBERT GREENALL, Chairman The CHAIRMAN then said that unless it was desired by the meeting, he would not occupy their time by requiring the secretary to read the statement of accounts which had already been printed and circulated among the share holders; but if any gentleman present, desired to do so, he could ask any question arising thereon, and he (the Chairman) or the Secretary would give ail the information in his power. If there was no such question, he would at once proceed to discharge the duty which was usually ex pected from the Chairman on such occasions as that, and say something with reference to the accounts which had been presented to them, and also to express the confidence or want of confidence which existed in his own mind, and in the minds of the directors, with regard to the affairs of the concern with which they were connected. In the first place then. he would ask them to look to the totals in the account which had been presented to them by the auditors. They would there find that, although the working charges last year had amounted to 37 per cent. • this year they did not exceed 25 per cent. The balance left, consequently, was at the rate of .£2 13s. 4d. or within a fraction of 2 1 on the current hall-year. The number of passengers had increased in a very large ratio of pro gression, whereas from January to June the number had been hut 124,165; the number from July to December was 141,848, being an accession of no less titan 17.683. The carriage of coal had also greatly increased since 1850 ; and if they were to ask him how that large increase had been brought about, or to what it was to be' attributed, he should say that it was to the great prosperity of that neighbourhood. For he might inform them that, while the export trade from that neighbourhood was stationary, if not declining, the consumption of coals in the neigh bourhood was, and had for some time continued to be, largely increasing. He was happy to add that the Widnes and Girston line was going on favourably, and was con ducted in the most economical manner. By the next meeting, the directors hoped that it would he com pleted. Each day that they had visited that line, they felt more than ever confirmed in the wisdom and prudence with which tlle line had been adopted, and the docks there projected and laid out. And alluding to that sub ject, he felt that he should not do justice to the gentleman who had the management of those works if he failed to express the opinion which the directors entertained of the services of Mr. Court, and of the judg ment he had displayed in carrying his plans into execu tion. He had made no rash promises ; held out no pros pects but such as he was prepared to realise. He (the Chairman) had reason to believe from what he had seen and heard that the docks would speedily be completed. He was not aware that he could say more ; except that he might go into a matter which chairmen were expected to refer to on such occasions—the financial condition of the company, with a comparison of what it was in 1848. That would give them the best idea of the progress w!..ich had been made in the meantime. In 1848 the gross capital was £385,000, while the income was but £27.172. The working charges at that time were about 49 per cent. ; while the preference shares and interest of borrowed capital absorbed £11,526. The number of passengers was then 130,C08, and the gross number of tons of goods conveyed along the line and canal was 487,735. The amount of money remaining for dividend after defray ing the expenses was then £2,264 only. The accounts made up to December last were much more favourable. The productive capital on the last day of the past year was £460,031 2s. 5d., while the income was £39,049. The working expenses instead of being 49, had been but 37 per cent. ; and the interest and preference shares had amounted to but £16,298. The number of passengers was 266,013, and the gross number of tonnage on the line and the canal was 945,068. The balance that re mained was £8,238; so that what the concern had really earned was about 5} per cent. upon the paid-up capital for the past year. He was glad to see his friend Mr, Fosbery in the room to hear those statements, as he was satisfied that they must be gratifying to him. If he (the chairman) could afford any gentleman further information relative to the affairs of the company he should feel glad to give it; as he knew also that the secretary would be. In the ab sence of any such inquiries, he would move that the report and statement of accounts which had been submitted to the meeting be adopted. Mr. GASKELL TAYLOR said that, in the present state of the political world, it was utterly impossible to say what might be in the bosom of Time ; but he might be permitted to say, with regard to the report which had been read to them, and to the balance of their accounts, they were highly satisfactory; and should Europe con. tinue to enjoy peace for any lengthened period, it seemed to him highly probable that a degree of prosperity, hitherto unexampled in the affairs of the company, was in reserve for them. He concluded by seconding the motion for the adoption of the report and the accounts. The motion having been put by the Chairman to the meeting, was adopted unanimously. received reference v e d o n account was made,of theha showed r thate capital, 1,200 original shares, (£100) • 1,056 half shares, The there accounts, ha been t whi ch k £10); 1,440 preference shares, (£10) ; and 5,045 six per cent. shares, (£25) ; £350,187 109. The calls in course of payment were, £1,097 10s. Calls to be made, £50.450. The total, when all was called up, would be £399,635. The outlay on the capital account to 31st December, 1851, was—for stock in land and works, including canal, dock, permanent way, shipping-staiths, wharfs. &c.. £422,596. Os. 2d. The estate of the company in land and buildings, yielding rent, as per valuation, £14.382. 18s. 4d. Carrying stock, including locomotive engines, waggons, &c., £23,052. 3s. Ild. Total, on which interest and divi dend are chargeable to revenue, £460,03125. sd. On the branch lines, not completed, the capital is— Widnes and Garston, £61,002 17s. 6d. ; Garston Dock, £28,671 Is. 4d. ; Widnes and Warrington, £26.691 3s. ; Haydock Colliery Branch, £682 4s. Ild. ; St. Helens Junction Station and Land, £3,248 15s. 10d. Total, £580,327 ss. _ _ The receipts on old shares to the close of December, 1851, were—£llB,9so ; half do., £10,560 ; £lOO prefe rence shares, £144,000 ; £25 do. do.. £74,577 10s. ; calls in advance, £2,100 ; loans on debentures. £231:941 19s. ; total, £582,129 9s. On the revenue account the canal charges amounted to £1,464 ss. Bd. ; the railway charges to £4,398 2s. 7d. ; general charges. £5BB 17s. sd. ; rents, rates, taxes, &c., £693 18s. sd. Total, 7,145 4s. Id. Receipts by canal traffic, £8,300 18s. 11d. ; railway traffic, £12,355 10s. 9d. Balance applicable to the interest of loans and dividends on preference shares, £8,311 143. Bd. ; nett surplus for the half year, £5,199 10s. 11d. ; from which was to be deducted a sum of £250 for the renewal of permanent way. In the general balance account it was shown that the balance of debts due to the company amounted to £7,238 13s. ; and that there was a balance of capital, revenue, and dividend accounts at the present date, of £5.436 9s. Mr. W. C. FOSBERY said that the duty which had devolved upon him was a very pleasant one. It was to announce that the directors felt justified in declaring the dividends specified in the report that had been adopted, and to move that they be payable on Wednesday, the 4th instant. This motion was seconded by Mr. ROBERT DAGLISH, who conceived that their directors had set them a noble example of energy and economy. The CHAIRMAN put the resolution to the meeting, by whom it was unanimously adopted. Mr. A. F. JONES said that he rose without any view to making a motion, but' because be thought it might be agreeable to the shareholders to express his opinion as to the state of their works, knowing, as they did, that he had some experience in works of the kind, from the position which he had long held with reference to public works of importance.. On Wednesday last he had gone over tlil works, and along the docks, and he must say that the/ . were being conducted and carried on in such a way Ol e reflect the highest credit upon their manager. They We" quite equal to any thing of the kind be had ever seen equal to the works, indeed, of Mr. Hartley, and that nn' saying a great deal, as he had seldom been equalled 14 anybody. The progress made during the last three months had been very great indeed. They bad gress a magnificent skew bridge—he thought they Inn' very fond of skew constructions. The CHAIRMAN.—Why, we are going on straigh t ' forward now. (Laughter.) Mr. JONES.--Well, the skew bridge to which he referred was a nobl3 piece of work ; and the shareholders, if went to see it, would be, he did not doubt, as In pleased as he w as; an d b e was sure that, when it 1101' completed, it would be of a nature to afford satisfaction to all of them. He could not, under the circumstance" refrain from saying that the work accomplished, the plane' and the method of carrying it on, were altogether such ng to reflect credit on Mr. Court; and he had stated One much, because he thought they would be gratified to bee t their auditor express such an opinion. The CHAIRMAN then stated that the dividend warrant: . would be all sent t o t h e s h areholders that evening, and would, he trusted, be on their breakfast tables to.morrolr (this) morning. Mr. BOOKER said that as that was his first visit to their baif. yearly meetings, he should have been best content to say nothing • but having hea r d so goo d a report from the directors, and so good a statement of their accounts, h e felt necessitated to say something. He should, therefor*._, state that fora lo ng ti me past he had quietly watched their proceedings. and the steady manner in which the busing of the company had b een conducted; and he would 0, that their managem en t h a d i nspired him with the utmost confidence, more especially when he looked upon wit had taken place in some gigantic concerns which had been . the subject of public animadversion. They had a stead/ and thoughtful board, who had uniformly abstained fore jobbing,—(hear, and applause,) —and that was a featurs which be could not permit to pass unnoticed. Mr. Joao , ' had complimented their architect and engineer, and in doing so he has paid them a high compliment, for it b been disputed whether he was the cleverer man who dt, the work well, o r th e person w h o had the judgment to di e ' cover the talent and employ it. He (Mr. Booker) did not lin there, howev er , t o p ay t h em b arren compliments; and be,; would conclude by sayir.g that. they had done excellentllt' more especially in giving them such substantial dividends'; Should, therefore, any one in that room depart unsatisfied , he thought there must be a dash of something in his cots'. position which indicated a want of health. He begged to move a vote of thanks t o th e di rectors for their able se` efficient conduct and services. The motion was seconded with great pleasure by * 4 . Fildes. The resolution was carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN. in returning thanks, said that tho resolution which had just been carried was the more voila' able, and the more satisfactory to the minds of the dire& tors, inasmuch as the gentleman who moved it had franklf stated that he had been watching their proceedings fob some time, and approved what they had done upon IT own knowledge and reflection. He felt that it was muc' more agreeable to have a vote of thanks made under sack` circumstances, th an to see a man r i se, upon the spur o the moment, after the declaration of a good dividend , and say " gentlemen, I am much obliged to you." A vote of thanks was then proposed by Mr. Jacksea to the auditors, Mr. Crosfield and Mr. Jones, for their services. This having been duly seconded, was carried nem. CO A vote of thanks was subs(quently passed to to` chairman, by acclamation, and the meeting broke up. CHURCH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTION• ---.6.-- PAST HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WALDENSE62 — The ninth lecture of the present course was delivered!' the Concert Hall last evening, on the subject of th e " Waldenses," by the R ev . D r . Gilly, Prebendary Durham. The chair was occupied by En WARD HEATH, E4q. The , meeting having been opened with prayer, the Chairtot o „ brought before the notice of the meeting the great irnos tance of those lee urea, one of whi c h th e y were assemb le to hear. He said that in the present state of the time'" when great questions were ag it a t e d, an d w h en mail;. would be but ill prepared to give an answer t o th e a dfer ; sail?, these lectures were well a d a p• e d t o fortify. le l, hearers against plausible argum e nt s w hi c h h a d b u t lit' weight, and make them ready to give an answer to even attack of the opponent. The Chairman conr.luded by . troducing Dr. Gilly to the meeting, who, on rising, most warmly received. The REVEREND GENTLEMAN delivered a most interet ing end impressive lectur e , w hi c h was li stened to w i t h greatest attention throughout. We regret that, from t b a early hour of going to press, we can only give the NZ; lowing outline :—Dr. Gilly i n t ro d uce d t h e su bj ec t vi some remarks on the immemorial antiquity of the W densian Church, in the sub-alpine valleys of Piedmoti, He said that, although there is some obs cur ity i n the 0 0 2; accounts of the name and origin of the Waldenses, p el there was documentary evidence to chew that the Go°P. o was received in their mountains whil e Ch r i s ti an ity, 11 : 9 , m yet primitive, and uncorrupted by Romig]) abominatig,".o The exact geographical position o f th e P rotestan t v alley on the Italian side of the Alps was th en po i n t e d o ut; the vestiges of a Christianity purer than that of Rol' were traced, by means of hi s t or i ca l test i mony, f rom Ow, third and fourth to the twelfth century. Some of the noticed were the devoted martyrs of the Theban Legi°"" the bold and undaunted reformer, Vigilantins ; the 1111 ': compromising Claude, Archbishop of Turin, the g rr Pr tr, testant champion of the ninth century, In the twelfth cel h i ;, tury, the principles of the unadulterated Gospel, and °lt o , Reformation, were asserted by the 'Waldenses, 350 before Luther and Calvin. At that period Peter Wal do ; , the Poor Men of Lyons, the Men of the Valleys, and L" Waldensian Missionaries, were united to ge ther, and u": came witnesses of the Truth " as it is in Jesus ;" in C° ll o , tinuation °ea testimony that had been handed down fro, apostolic times, in the same alpine regions. The lecta; next offered some observations to shew why the twel P e g! century was a fit, period in the dispensations of Provide s ,o for the Waldenses to issue from their obscurity 8° 0, , forerunners of the Reformers. Missionary journey o preaching, and the circulation of vernacular o translatio. of Holy Scripture, of evangelical treatises, of hymns B o songs —were the means employed by the Waldenses. .. t o the midst of persecution, from the twelfth to the sixte°,7, o ,, century, to prepare the way for the Great Reforms o f The lecturer then vindicated the purity and orthodolf o i., Waldensian doctrines against the false charge of r chteism and Arianism ; described the state of the denses at the period of the Reformation; vividly pict i r io r their steadfastness a n d constancy am id s t persectitivio and trials, down to the period of their emancion t iq or, 1848, citing remarkable e xamp l es o f su ff er i ng, a fflinn; arid patience. The interposition and sympathy of 1 3 ' 1 .;11' land, at various junctures, when the existence and Cl and religious rights of the Waldenses were at stake.. W ;af next noticed ; and the exertions of the amhassa%v Charles 1., Archbishop Usher, Cromwell, Milton, " T 4, ham 111., the Letters Patent under George 111., ° pp , finally, the mediation of the British Government. Gilly neat adverted to the " London Vaudois CoAllott tee,' and its public efforts in behalf of th e Walalifif community ; also, to th e p r i va t e b ene f ac ti ons o f in airs duals in aid of it. The Protestant Church of Turin, lo g first stone of which was l a id on 29th O c t. 1851, was t dwelt upon, and the collections made in England Scotland towards the completion of the building.wol• nally, the present condition and prospects of the 'cit , denses were ably discussed, and a most able and s,lt'dp . stirring appeal made to all who va l ue pure Gospel PPP plea, on behalf of the impoverished Waldenses. th e , WALLASEY IMPROVEMENT.—A public meeting 0 - the, ratepayers of Wallasey was held last evening at . ,0 1 . Queen's Arms, Li scar d , w h en a new bill f or th e ingr ,, a te ment of the parish was submitted for approval, Pr'" , being laid before Parliament, in the session which this day. n ,p ti t DEATH OF Mn. W. JONES CUMMING.—ThiS man, a surgeon at Brixton, was recently drowned " g oil boating on the Derwent, and left a destitute widovi r " f p family. He was formerly connected with this town/ assistant to the late Dr. Dawson. An appeal on behtft his family will be found in another column ; and R O . 06 Bickersteth, Esq., has consented to receive subscriPti in their behalf. LANDSEER'S Coven HACE.—Every body knows 4 Ol thing of the power and expression of Landseer's patp t O M of animals. All who have taste and opportunity POO look at his pictures ; those who cannot get access originals admire the almost speaking prints which 0 0°, multiplied and sent throughout the world to gratifi e ff , improve the knowledge of thousands of eager f ol o itlf Our Liverpool readers have frequently been delighte d r tf* the marvellous productions, fresh from his pencil-1 6 00 as it were, of himself,—at the establishment 0' (or Grundy, in Church-street; and they will thank 11 '00 informing them that they may add to their satisfa o ; by viewing, at the same place. a new specimen 1)1 0, genius, in " The Cover Hack," which is in proce g p i oi ; being engraved in the best style of art. The ' 4 fit; 0 returned from a severe day's work in the field, starlu4ol his stable door, ready to be groomed, satisfied with volt. he has already achieved, and confidently expecting d, cus tomary meed of his toil in a saluta r y c l eans ing. °"), food, and clean fresh-smelling bed. The whipper-i°, (10 1 ) returned with him, and folded a n d l e ft i n a corn er 0 f p si, stable-yard his well-splashed h un ti ng - coa t ; w hile a 1:.00' hound, whose soiled feet and sides, and exhausted f u se dition, show that it has strained every nerve to beFolfi most in the chase, h as se ttl e d cos ily upon the u` frs mentioned garment for a bed, a n d al re ady falle o ,o4 asleep. An old er h oun d h as gone to rest at the en trr e of the stable, an d a thi r d i s li c ki ng hi s woun d e d foot'' tilt , looking somewhat damaged by wear and tear, but hY , OO; means dispirited, in the foreground. The other ac e d ries of the picture are just as simple and natural, atiltep' to the realities of the scene without distracting the,t i n ie° tion from the principal figure. The effect of the fol" charming. LIVERPOOL : TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 1852. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED Pi, EVERY TUESDAY MORNl, l 'i t ,, BY THE PROPRIETOR, ROBERT PEARSON THACtI'A, OF No. 47, CANNING-STREET, AT THE 4j." STANDARD GENERAL PRINTING OF NO. 4, ST. GEORGE'S CRESCENT, Livsupoolo ANNUAL SUBRCRIPTION, 1$ A DVANCE = • • 20?• ON CREDIT, bAl s e ti; h e o te4 Iltdi ] SIG Zr't, Or ktoi Yer ^llll open rti T 0 , 1: T T o be .It A AbLL le' l ,l hil l Ito% 114_4