The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-07 00:00:00

Etherpoot tatibettb, TUESDAY MORNrIVG, FEB. 7, 1854. ~,STREET ASSASSINATION-ITS PUNISIME'NT - FALSE PHILAN THROPY. Wums philanthropists and legislators appear -to vie with each other in lightening the punish --3nent of crime, or in moderating the more repulsive features of its character, unfortunately the objects of such well-meant solicitude seem equally bent cn pursuing the dictates of their lawless desires, Till within a recent period, the over-severity of ieur criminal code afforded a never-failing topic on -which real or simulated humanity might expend its eloquence. The legislature, yielding to the im portunity of that tenderness of heart, which, uncom promising in its efforts, was instant in season and tout of season, removed nearly all the death punishments from our statute books ; retaining, iiowever, death as the punishment of murder—the lighest crime known to our moral sense—the most severely condemned by Divine and human institutions. Such a relaxation in our penal awards, ::it might have been thought, would amply con -lent even the most fastidious advocate of gentleness and moral suasion. Those whose sense of moral -ianty, whose tenderness of heart were so excitable, 'would naturally, it might have been thought, bow to that highest of all injunctions, " Whoso ihedeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be sled." Whoever so reasoned would have reasoned -vastly wide of the truth, as that is practically Zeveloped by every day's experience. By a per :warted form of reasoning, and exercising a senti mentalism which usurps the functions of judgment juries refuse to give validity to even the Divine corn -' =and ; and, by them, men, whose hands are stained with murder, are declared perpetrators of less heinous crimes, that they may escape the jinnishment of death. By the exercise of such jugglery the common-sense perceptions of 'men are bewildered, the majesty of the law discounte nanced, the sacred obligations of justice perverted, mud the command of Heaven itself set at nought. For what purpose, let us ask, are all those sacri- Eees of duty and violations of justice called into operation ? To avert the doom of condign punish cunt upon some wretch, whose savage nature and brutalized delights induce him to draw the assassin's lrnife against a brawling brother whose misfortune 'or mistake it has been to excite his insensate and dangerous wrath. To see "mercy sweeten justice" is, indeed, an elevating, an ennobling spectacle ; not so to see a sentimental mawkishness pervert its streams or poison its pure waters at the fountain -bead. Is all the sympathy of well-meaning enthu siasm to be denied to the victim and lavished on the murderer ? That a felon may escape his _richly merited fate, is society to be disorganised, and every man's safety to be imperilled ? as heartily as even the wildest of those -sentimentalists can do, or wish to do, every desire to familiarise the people with sanguinary exhibi tions, we cannot tamely acquiesce in a decision -which, confounding deliberate assassination with znanslaughter, seeks to soften, even in murder, the most revolting features of its guilt. We have been led to these remarks by the alarm ing and increasing frequency with which the com monest of street brawls, or the most ordinary ebul litions of drunken frenzy, find their termination in recourse to the knife. Scarcely a week now elapses in which such deplorable terminations of common place quarrel do not require to be dealt with by our magistrates. Within the brief period of four months our streets have witnessed the foul assassi nation of three victims, while numerous individuals have received wounds, the non-fatality of which seems little less than miraculous. It is but a night .or two ago that a band of savage men, and disso lite women, inflamed by evil passions, and mad dened with drink, traversed a portion of our thoroughfares, avowing their resolution to stab the -first white man they should meet, and redeeming -their demoniac pledge by plunging a knife into the _bosom of a man, unfortunately attracted to his own door by the noisy orgies of those murderous fiends a man who had not spoken to them—whom they, in all probability, had never seen. So lately as the afternoon of this day sen'night, a young man en gaged in a street riot, presenting no uncommon features to mark its seriousness, beyond the tragedy in which it terminated, was recklessly butchered in open day. Such appalling occurrences may well make us pause, and inquire whether we are inhabi tants of a civilised land, boasting of the protection -afforded in it to property and life, or have been un consciously transported to some barbarous shore, where the benign influences of Christianity and the blessings of civilisation are alike unknown. While forcing this inquiry on us, with painful and _startling urgency, these instances also significantly point the necessity for adopting some mode effec tually to check the evil. In connexion with this alarming subject, we are reminded of the remarks made by Mr. POLLOCK, on a late interesting occasion, relative to the mis tlirected and dangerous education acquired by criminals in the pursuit of their nefarious calling ; and the conviction is painfully forced upon us that such baneful lessons are retrospective as well as initiatory—that the reckless desperadoes of society are as sensitively alive to the amount of punish ment accorded to their misdeeds as they are studiously cunning in the mode of perpetrating -them—that they perceive and estimate the leniency bestowed on their position and circumstances, ' 4 with a learned spirit of human dealing." If so, bow awful the conviction that, in dealing leniently with a deliberate assassin, we are unintentionally but surely abetting the dreadful crime of murder. Every one conversant with the practice of our criminal vourts is aware of the readiness with which a cul prit can and does calculate the amount of punish ment the law decrees to certain forms of crime. Row often must such a one, in even a limited ex perience, have heard a criminal say " I can only get three months," or, " two years," as the case may be for such or such an offence ; meaning, by that, the term of imprisonment beyond which the haw will not allow the judge to punish him. Can any one be so besotted as believe such dangerous 'knowledge confined to punishments inflicted for offences against property alone ? Who will believe that the dastardly assassin has not calculated the chances of escape with his own worthless life, ere he plunges the cowardly and murdering steel into the bosom of his unsuspecting victim ? TITS BOARD OF TIZADR.—In consequence eeeurred. of the increas ing duties which have hitherto i n the ßoard of Trade,railway an d mercantile marine departments of the it has been found necessary to separate the several branche s , and to direct t heir o p erations to di stinct public offices. The statistical department is to be under the management of Mr. A. Fonblanque , assisted b y Mr. Dru mmond Oswal The Board of Trade at present comprehends the general, statistical, mercantile, marine railway, and the arts and sciences departments. =ADMIRALTY SURVEY OF VTR BALTIC.—The Admi ralty have appointed Mr. Peter Wellington, master R.N., to commission the Hecla, steam -sloop, and with half a dozen other masters of the royal navy and a competent complement to proceed to the Baltic, to make careful surveys and soundings of the approaches. States that SUITOR.—The Madras A thenceum b_t___, tllat a native suitor was committed one day last AuTt4 novel the Chief Justice for contempt of court, under rather circumstances. He had brought an action against certai n the verdict was pronounced which was unsuccessful, and when to cut his throat beforeolounced he took out a knife and began all the public. instantly seized, and Sir Christo p her Of course he was off to gaol for the attemptr Rawlinson sent him of authority which will ent(l) perpetrate a felony, "an act to confuse still further the native notions as W what q man may do with Igo own," GEYERAL INTELLIGENCE. Fnixcu.—The departure of the Russian ambassador M. Kisselef, has been hourly expected for some days past. It was even said, on Wednesday evening, that a portion of his embassy had left Paris.—Prinee Jerome Napoleon gave a grand ball, on Sunday week, to the Emperor and Empress on the anniversary of their Majesties' marriage. —The Ocean, a Brest paper, announces that the greatest activity prevailed in that port. Four sailing vessels will be ready for sea in a short time, ,and two steamers only await their engines. Levies of seamen arrive from all parts. The ocean squadron will -soon 'be ready to sail, and the squadron of reserve be in a condition to reinforce it, if necessary.—Sir John Burgoyne is. about to proceed, it is said, with Colonel Ardent (a French officer) to Constanti nople, on duty connected with military engineering. Se veral military councils have been held at the Tuileries with respect to this subject, at ,which the most eminent French engineers have assisted. :The Emperor has been present at all, and has taken great interest in the delibe rations.—lt is reported that M 4 -de Kisselef, on leaving Paris, will go to Brussels. ille<xeceived his answer on Wednesday, in "precisely the same•terms as that given by the British Cabinet to Baron Brunow. SPAIN is on the eve, apparently, of a convulsion. The significant silence with which the greater part of the Madrid journals passed over the birth of the short-lived. Infanta, has given place to lond-and unequivocal denuncia tion. Imputations of the most injurious kind are cast upon the highest personage in;the realm ; the throne is all but engulphed in the mire of personal profligacy. An appeal to the nation, which is freely circulated, points at a "favourite," an "imbecile, absurd, ridiculous favourite, a man without reputation, without honour, without talent, without courage, without any title to Sovereign favour, except such as a libidinous caprice may discover in him." Under the influence of this "favourite," who, it is said, "as a new Godoy, presumes to place his foot on the neck of a heroic nation," the appeal complains that " the abasement of the Sovereign power has reached its utmost limits," and a recourse to arms is openly recommended. WhaWver foundation there may be for these:insinuations, they indi cate the approach of a crisis in Spanish affairs, to which the recent death of the Queen of Portugal gives a penin sular character. ITALY.—The Parlament° of the .29th ult. states that a great concentration of Austrian trcops is going on in the Romagna, particularly at Bologna, Ancona, and Ferrara. Important rumours are afloat, in Rome, of Austrian In tentions with respect to the Eastern question. In conse quence of the probability that Austria will adhere to the Russian policy, a great augmentation,of the French forces is about to take place. AIISTRIA.. — The day after Count Orloff's arrival at Vienna, he received no one but Count Mayendorff. The next day he saw M. de Buol and the Emperor. With M. de Buol Count Orloff had a conference that almost assumed the character of an altercation. Austria, Bavaria, and Saxony have hitherto made no communication whatever to the Germanic Diet concerning the poSition they intend to assume in the Turco-Russian quarrel. Telegraphic de spatches on Thursday, give the intelligence that Count Orloff had communicated to the Cabinet of Vienna the " dernier mot" of his Imperial master, in the shape of counter propositions of which he was the hearer. They were considered irreconcileable with the propositions of the Porte and the Western Powers, PnusslA.—The Correspondance of Berlin 'states that the Prince of Prussia, who is inclined towards an alliance between - Arussia and the Western Powers, made use of the following language at an audience which he recently gave to the Deputies of the Extreme Right :—" In • ease the complications of the East should affect Prussia, you will, gentlemen, find an opportunity of giving proofs of that patriotism of which you have so often spoken, and of showing that you know how to sacrifice your party feelings for the welfare of the country." The party alluded to is well known to be desirous that Prussia should make com mon cause with Russia. RussrA.—A letter from Warsaw of the 26th ult. states that the Emperor of Russia was expected to arrive there in a few days. The imperial guard has received orders to set out from St. Petersburg, on the Ist of March, to oc cupy the coast of the Baltic, its head-quarters being at Riga. The entire Russian fleet was in the harbour of Sebastopol on the 11th ; but two divisions of the fleet had received orders to put to sea on the 12th. Their destina tion was only known to the commandant of the division. It has transpired from a credible source, that the Emperor Nicholas will not permit himself to be restrained by threats, and that he will send orders to his fleet to repel force by force. Letters from St. Petersburg of the 23rd ult. state the Grand Duke Constantine, who has placed himself at the head of the old Russian party, has shown considerable dissatisfaction at the expectant attitude taken by the Government after the receipt of the communication of the maritime Powers, and, it is said, urges the Czar to reject the last propositions of the Divan. He does not conceal his irritation against M. de Nesselrode. WEST INDIES.—By the Orinoco we have intelligence to the 16th ult. The panic created by the cholera had driven nearly the whole of the coloured working popula tion from St. Thomas. The Royal Mail Packets were obliged to coal with their own crews. Up to noon January 14, the official number of deaths was 1,152, since which, up to the 16th, about 50 more had occurred. It was, however, on the decline, and had not spread to the other islands, except Tortola. Scarcely any white or European had been attacked. At Jamaica the weather is fine, and prospects generally very cheerful, the dread of cholera being the only drawback. In the memory of the oldest residents on the island there never was so promising a cane-crop as the present. THE WAR IN THE EAST. A private despatch from Constantinople, dated Jan. 23, says that a portion of the combined fleets had returned to Beicos Bay. Constantinople was tranquil. No further news had been received from the seats of war. Letters of the 17th from the Turkish capital state that a fresh reinforcement of 6,000 men was then embarking for the army of Asia, together with a quantity of artillery and ammunition. They were to be landed with the troops at Batoum.: General Baraguay d'Hilliers, who has just re turned from an inspection in the environs of Constantino ple, had set out again for Tachi-de-Rechi. On the evening before he left, he inspected the batteries :of the Bosphorous, in company with the Turkish Grand Master of Artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel Dien had arrived at Schulma, and Chef d'Escadron Bourmann at Varna. A private letter of the same date announces that a squadron of frigates and transports, belonging to the Turkish and Egyptian fleet, has just sailed for Alexandria to ship the new reinforcements placed at the disposal of the Porte by Abbas Pacha. These reinforcements consist of two divisions, each numbering 6,000 men, all of whom have been drilled for several months. Among these troops there is one regiment of heavy artillery, the want of which had been much felt, and one regiment of sharp shooters. The Viceroy has supplied the rifles himself. News from Bucharest of the 19th and 20th ult. states that the Turks, although abstaining from great opera tions, give the Russians no rest. On the 15th and 16th a heavy firing was kept up from Rustschuk against Giurgevo, and an attack was made on the island there. The result is not yet known. On the same day the Turks made attacks near Oltenitza and Kalarasch. News of the same kind reaches us from Silistria and Turtukai, and fighting is again goine , on near Matschin. The Russian troops on their march are allowed no repose; even on the 18th, although a great festival in the Greek Church, they were compelled to advance. The Russian soldiers, can toned at distances of about three miles from the Danube, have, since the departure for Lesser Wallachia of Prince Gortschakoff, received orders to take up positions on the very banks of the river. Before the siege of Kalafat can be attempted by the Russians, it will be necessary to dislodge several strong outposts of Turkish troops, who are possessed of all the neighbouring villages. The Turkish garrison of Kalafat, including the reserve at Widdin and the troops detached to Sofia, amounts to 20,000 men. The ground under the walls is mined in every direction. VIENNA, FRIDAY EVENING.—It is confidently asserted that Count Orloff seeks to form a close alliance between Russia on the one hand, and Austria, Prussia, and the Germanic confederation on the other. Austria will probably plead that she must consult Prus sia before she gives a positive reply. Count Orloff also demanded whether Austria would object to a Russian corps marching through Servia. The answer was that any violation of neutrality in Servia would lead to counter measures on the part of Austria. In consequence of this reply Baron Meyendorff's son was to day sent with despatches to Bucharest. The right wing and centre of the Russian corps in Little Wallachia is advancing towards Kalafat. It is rumoured that the army corps in Galicia has re ceived positive orders to march. VIENNA, FRIDAY NIGHT.—Count Orlofrs mission is a complete failure. The Emperor of Austria firmly adheres to the under standing with the Western powers, touching the last project. Russia now rejects the same, and is resolved to exclude all mediation. BERLIN, FRIDAY EVENING.—Count Orloff proposes that the German powers should draw up a joint declara tion of neutrality under all circumstances. If one mem ber of the Bund be attacked, Russia makes common cause in her defenee with all the rest. Should any territorial changes arise through war, Russia undertakes to conclude no peace without duly considering the interest of the German powers. _ _ The feeling of the government here is strongly against the conduct of Russia. Count Orloff's proposals have been totally rejected ; and it has been intimated that, if the Czar persists in refusing peace on the terms agreed to by the Vienna Conference, Prussia will be compelled to take an active part in conjunction with the Western powers. The King has, it it is said, destiatched an autograph letter to the Emperor Nicholas, stating this determination. VIENNA, FEB. 4.—The news that the Turkish note is rejected by Russia has reached Vienna. The Russian Cabinet has made new propositions, which, in their turn, have been rejected by, the Vienna Conference. Our Vienna correspondent also forwards the following telegraphic de spatch, dated CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 23.—The combined fleets re turned on the 22d without having seen a single Russian vessel during the three weeks' cruise. The Niger, sent with despatches countermanding the return of the fleets, only met them close to the Bosphorus. The Vesuvius, Highflyer, and Sidon have just arrived. BERLIN, FEB. s.—The Emperor Nicholas has returned his answer to the Turkish proposals adopted by the Vienna Conference. He declares them to be quite unsatisfactory, that he will allow of no mediation between himself an d .Turkey, and that Turkey, if she wishes to treat, may send an ambassador to St. Petersburg. For any further infor mation the members of the Conference are referred to their respective Courts. Baron Budberg, Russian Minis ter at Berlin, leaves to-night for Vienna. A contract, on behalf of the English Government, for coal sufficient for steamers of the aggregate amount of 11,000 horse-power has been concluded at Copenhagen. GEOWTLr OP STONE.—A journeyman printer in Auburn street, New York, states that he has in his possession a stone about half an inch in thickness, out of which another stone of the same shape, atoll the size of a pea, has grown during the last nine years. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPA. By the British and North American royal mail steam ship Europa, Captain Shannon, which arrived yesterday morning, we have intelligence from New York to the 25th ultimo. The Europa brought $202,300 in specie, and the follow ing twenty-nine PASSENGERS :-Mr. Richard Gilbert, Mr. Herbert and lady, Lieut. Heygate, R.E., Mr. Whitehead, Mr.D.Brooks, Mr. S. L. Fuller, Mr. W. J. Ward, Capt. C. Loones, Col. Napier, Mr. M`Gill, Mr. A. Douglass, Mr. W. E. Cole,Mr. Levey and Brother, Mr. Gomez, Mr. G. Wilson, Mr. A. K. Boomer, Mr. A. Sattler, Mr. Pickup, Mr. Leroy, Mr. J. J. Boyd, Mr. Cameron, Mr. Jas. Stuart, Mr..M`Donald, Mr. L. Williams, Mrs. Sherridan, Mr. Howard, and Miss Sherridau. The steamer Cambria, from Havre, arrived at New York on the 22nd ultimo. The steamer Europa passed the packet-ship Southamp ton, from Liverpool, going into New York. The Royal Mail steam-ship Niagara, hence for Boston, arrived at Halifax on the 23rd ult., after a long and bois terous passage, and left same day for Boston. The steamer Northern Light had arrived at New York with advices from San Francisco to the 31st December, and $847,381 in gold dust. The steamer Oregon sailed from San Francisco on the 31st ultimo, with $400,000 in gold dust, en route for New York. - The British ship Sir Charles Napier, from Liverpool for Savannah, was ashore 20 miles south of Tybee. The wea ther was favourable, and she was likely to be got off. Her cargo consisted of salt, and 200 tons of railroad iron. Signor Bedini, the Pope's nuncio, was at Washington, the guest of the French minister. He was making prepa rations to leave for England by the next Cunard steamer from Boston. Mr. Forbes Allison, a merchant -of New Orleans, bad absconded. His defalcations were ,said to be upwards of $40,000. From a return just published, it appears that nearly two million of dollars worth of property had been destroyed by fire in the United States in less than three weeks. A terrible tornado swept over the State of Ohio on the 21st ultimo. Its track was about half a mile in width, and it demolished almost everything it encountered. The town of Brandon was almost entirely destroyed. The gale was accompanied by terrific lightning and heavy rain, and followed by such a rapid rising of the streams of water that the town of Mount Vernon was partly inundated. The amount of property destroyed was great. From Washington we learn that Senator Douglas's new Nebraska bill had thrown a large.number of Congressmen into the greatest of confusion and excitement. -Several caucuses had been held, but no definite line of action had been or probably would be determined upon till the generality of the Northern and Western members had as certained the views of their constituents. In the Senate, on a motion to take up the new bill, it was agreed that the measure should be the special order from day to day after the 30th ult. The steamer Union, which went in search of the San Francisco, had returned to New York, but had seen no trace of the wreck. However, she fell in with some ship wrecked people at Bermuda. On the 30th of December, in lat. 41 22, lon. 68, near George's Shoals, the Fides fell in with two boats containing 28 persons from the ship Tam o'Shanter, from Calcutta, abandoned and in a sinking condition about nine hours previous. The Union brought some of these people to New York, and reports a vessel unknown, lying to anchor on the north side of the reef, bottom up and painted green, rudder gone, iron fastenings, length of keel 80 to 120 feet, was discovered in that situ ation on the 7th ult. The Caloric ship Ericsson had hauled out from her berth. The promised trial trip, it was said, would be had in the course of the week; great interest was experienced, on all hands, to know the result. The following of the crew and passengers saved from the Staffordshire had arrived at Boston :—A. F. Leet, second mate ; John Morgan, third mate : C. E. Hickie, H. Chureffill, George Lord, S. G. Wellington, Wm. Jones, W. Whitefield, G. Riley, Wm. Wilcox, G. W. Barry, H. Sher wood, J. Duffy, James Anderson, J. Cobbs, Wm. Wood. Jas. Barrow (coloured), A. Woodland (coloured), C. J. Varbon, S. C. Pearson, Charles Smith, John Wilson, G. Whits, W. Perkins, W. Thompson, H. Foster, Daniel O'Niel, S. Sparks, J. L. Davenport, T. Craig, Aldon Rice, W. Garris (coloured), James Kelley (coloured), John Heath (coloured), was too much frozen to be taken on board the Belle, and remains at Halifax. The passengers brought by the Belle, were Patrick O'Brien, John Tier ney, Thomas Barrett, Michael Tally, Donald Delaney, Mary Jane Minaghan. All the above-named persons are in good health, having had a pleasant passage from Halifax. Railroad progress is a prominent subject of interest with Canadians at present. The Grand Trunk Railroad Company have already expended over a million sterling on their works in Canada. A contract for a road to run front Brockville to the Ottawa, to be finished in the sum mer of 1855, has just been entered into. The Buffalo, Brantford, and Goodritch Railway completion had been celebrated at Brantford, many Americans being present. The news from California is interesting. The exports of gold for the year, as manifested in the Custom-house, was $67,873,505. The total product of the mines, during the five years ten months and a-half, since the discovery, was estimated at $260,000,000. The arrival of passengers by sea during the year, as shown by the Custom-house records, were 35,185, and the departures 30,316 ; the popu lation having thus increased 4,869. Dnring the year, 1,028 vessels of 555,794 tons entered the harbour of San Francisco, and 1,091 vessels of 635,480 tons cleared, being an increase of 22 per cent on last year. The works for the fortification of the harbour of San Francisco had been commenced on Alcatraz Island and Fort Point. The former position was to have forty heavy guns, the latter 110. A couple of very large sales of auction property be longing to the City of San Francisco and State were made on the 26th and 28th Dec. The property brought about $1,550,000. A German society to encourage emigration had been formed in San Francisco. In Klamath Valley there was a pretty strong feeling for the formation of a new state, to reach from the Umpqua to Cape Mendocine. A slight shock of earthquake had been felt in Shasta on the 23rd Dec. The intelligence from the mining dissricts was not generally so satisfactory, operations in many dis tricts having to be suspended for want of water. Tunnel ling was coming more and more into practice. In several cases, by this system, the ancient beds of rivers and gulches had been discovered under the hills, and found to be very rich. The news from the Klamath was very favourable. New diggings had been found on one of the eastern he 4 branches of the Sacramento. The Pilot Creek Canal; a work some twenty miles in length, which was intended to furnish water to some of the richest and most extensive dry diggings in the State, was progressing rapidly and would soon be completed. Great numbers of Chinamen had gone to Shasta, and the miners there were talking of rising to expel them. There was a growing feeling that some legislation would be necessary to define more clearly the rights of miners and mining companies. _ _ _ Late advices from Lower California state that Captain Walker was still president of that republic, so that the Mexican accounts of the overthrow and complete annihi lation of the forty-five filibusters under Captain Walker are incorrect. From Honduras our advices are to the 4th ultimo. The recent suspension of hostilities against Honduras by Gua temala had caused the reduction of the army of the latter country to the peace scale. The refusal of Guatemala to accept the proposed mediation of San Salvador and Nica ragua seemed to have offended the pride of the latter government ; however, it was hoped that all difficulties would be arranged. The government of Nicaragua had banished a number of the principal men of Leon, on the allegation that they had been concerned in revolutionary movements. Amongst them we notice the names of General Jose Guerrero, late President of the State ; Senor Francisco Castillon, late Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Minister to England ; and Colonel Zapata Dias, late Se cretary of War. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW' YORK, JAN. 25. MoNEy.—The Niagara's advices have had an unfavour able effect on prices of stocks, which close with a down ward tendency. The amount of stocks in the market is very limited. Money is more abundant, but there is little disposition to make investments. In foreign exchange only a moderate business was done. Bills on London are quoted 81 to 9k per cent. prem. ; on Paris, &c., f 5,161 to f 5,18/. COTTON.—The market has ruled with steadiness during the last three days, and the demand continues moderate. The sales amounted to 5,222 bales. The annexed quota tions show no change from the previous report except grades of middling fair to fair Upland, which, being relatively scarce, are advanced c, The market closed irregular. NEW YORK CLASSIFICATION. N. Orleans Upland. Florida. Mobile. & Texas. Ordinsry 7f .... 71 .... 8 .... 8* Middling 9l .... 10 .... 101 .... 101 Middling fair 101 .... 101 .... 111 .... 11/ Fair RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON. Exports to Total Exports Stock, an Receipts. Gt. Britain. to For. ports, on ship b' 1853 1 111,726 332,411 519,952 587,227 18.52 1,696,526 690,018 904,387 611,067 Increase Decrease 584,800 357,607 384,435 103,540 W. P. Wright, in his circular of the 25th, states that the southern markets have been moderately active, chiefly on French and continental account. Prices were slightly lower, more particularly at New Orleans. The receipts at the ports continue higher than at the corresponding period last year. Opinions on the crop remain without change : the current estimate in New York and in the south is 3,000,000 bales. BREADSTUFES.-011 the receipt of the telegraphic advices by the Niagara, via" Halifax, large sales of Western Canal flour were made on Monday, at $9 per barrel, being an advance of $1 per barrel on Saturday's prices. On Tuesday there were further sales at the rate, and extra brands were taken to some extent at a further advance of $1 per barrel. The wheat market is unsettled and irre gular, and sales have been restricte_d by the high prices asked. FREIGIITS.—To Great Britain freights are firmer, and a considerable advance has been established, closing at the outside rates. To Liverpool, cotton, id. ; corn, 10d. to 13d. • flour, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6 d. To London,: flour, 68. per barrel ; grain, in bags, 25c. per bushel. Sum:mos.—Scotch pig iron has been :ess active during the last few days, the full currency of last week not being now attainable. The last sale of Liverpool Orrel coal brought $l3, four months. --Liverpool salt is dull, and some parcels, ground and fine, are going in store.—The market for western pork closed at an advance of 25c. on new mess ; other descriptions remain unchanged.—Beef in moderate request ; prices show no material alteration. Nxiv (?RLE.A.rrs, JAN. 23.—Freights to Liverpool 11.16 d. Cotton is quiet at full prices. Stock on hand 209, 000 bales. The week's receipts have been 28,000. Middling is quoted at 91e. Flour 17,000 barrels. Ohio sold at $7,12k. Corn is active at 73c, CHARLESTON, JAN. U.—The sa les of cotton to-day amounted to 1,000 bal es , a t Bi c. to 10;c, The market is dull, and tending downward. IMPERIAL PARLIA_MENT. OPENING OF THE SESSION. ON Tuesday Her Majesty proceeded in- state from Buckingham Palace, and opened the Session of Parliament with the usual formalities. The road to the Palace was densely crowded, and the Queen was loudly:cheered. Her Majesty having ascended the throne, and the Commons having appeared below the bar, the Lord Chancellor, kneeling upon one knee, handed Her Majesty the royal speech, which Her Majesty read as follows.:-- " My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, "I am always happy to meet you in Parliament; and, on the present occasion, it is with peCuliar satisfaction that I recur to your assistance and advice. " The hopes which I expressed at the close of the last session, that a speedy settlement would be effected of the differences existing between Russia and the Ottoman Porte, have not been realised, and I regret to say that a state of warfare has ensued. I have continued to act in cordial co-operation with the Emperor of the French, and my endeavours, in conjunction with my allies, to preserve and to restore peace between the contending parties, although hitherto unsuccessful, have been unremitting. " I will not fail to persevere in these endeavours, but as the continuance of the war may deeply affect the interests of this country and of Europe, I think it requisite to make a further augmentation of my naval and military forces, with the view of supporting my representations, and of more effectually contributing to the restoration of peace. "I have directed that the papers, explanatory of the negociations which have taken place upon this subject, shall be communicated to you without delay. "GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, " The estimates for the year will be laid before you ; and I trust you will find that, consistently with the exigencies of the public service at this juncture, they have been framed with a due regard to economy. " MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, " In the year which has just terminated, the blessing of an abundant harvest has not been vouchsafed to us. By this dispensation of Providence the price of provisions has been enhanced, and the privations of the poor have been increased, but their patience has been exemplary ; and the care of the legislature, evinced by the reduction of taxes affecting the necessaries of life, has greatly tended to preserve a spirit of contentment. " I have the satisfaction of announcing to you that the commerce of the country is still prosperous ; that trade, both export and import, has been largely on the increase ; and the revenue of the past year has been more than ade quate to the demands of the public service. " I:recommend to your consideration a Bill, which I have ordered to be framed, for Opening the Coasting Trade of the United Kingdom to the Ships of all Friendly Nations ; and I look forward with satisfaction to the removal of the last legislative restriction upon the use of foreign shipping for the benefit of my people. Communications have been addressed, by my com mand, to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, with reference to the improvements which it may be desirable to effect in their Institutions. These communications will be laid before you, and measures will be proposed for your consideration, with the view of giving effect to such improvements. " The establishments requisite for the conduct of the Civil Service, and the arrangements bearing upon its con dition, have recently been under review, and I shall direct a plan to be laid before you, which will have for its object to improve the system of admission, and thereby to increase the efficiency of the service. " The recent measures of legal reform have proved highly beneficial, and the success which has attended them may well encourage you to proceed with further amendments. " Bills will be submitted to you for transferring from the Ecclesiastical to the Civil Courts, the cognizance of Testa mentary and of Matrimonial auses, and for giving in creased efficiency to the superior courts of common law. " The laws relating to the relief of the poor have of late undergone much salutary amendment ; but there is one branch to which I earnestly direct your attention. The law of settlement impedes the freedom of labour, and if this restraint can with safety be relaxed, the workman may be enabled to increase the fruits of his industry, and the interests of capital and of labour will be more firmly united. _ *. " Measures will be submitted to you for the amendment of the laws relating to the representation of the Com mons in Parliament. Recent experience has shown that it is necessary to take more effectual precautions against the evils of bribery and of corrupt practices at elec tions ; it will also be your duty to consider whether more complete effect may not be given to the principles of the act of the last reign, whereby reforms were made in the representation of the people in Parliament. "In recommending this subject to your consideration, my desire is to remove every cause of just complaint, to increase general confidence in the legislature, and to give additional stability to the settled institutions of the State. " I submit to your wisdom the consideration of these important subjects, and I pray God to prosper your counsels, and to guide your decisions." Her Majesty then left the House and returned to Buckingham Palace, from which she soon after took her departure for Windsor Castle. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TuESDAY, JAR. 31. The House met at five o'clock, and The Royal Speech having been read by the Lord Chan cellor, the Earl of CAIINAIINON moved the address in a maiden speech of more than usual promise, eliciting from the Earl of Derby the remark that he had " adverted to almost all the topics contained in, the Royal speech, with a facility, a grace, and a modesty which promised to make him, at no distant time, an ornament of this House, as I am sure he is of the university to which he belongs, and which has reason to be proud of him." The Earl of DUMB seconded the motion. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, though he cordially agreed with the scheme of domestic reforms contained in the speech, was sorry that he could not agree in the ex pressions used with regard to the efforts of the Govern ment to preserve peace. 'Those efforts, it seemed to him, had been so characterized by vacillation and inconsistency that, in point of fact, neither Parliament nor the world knew what the determination of the Government really was. Warfare was talked of, but no.one knew with whom we were at war. Nay, no one could say whether we were at war or not. But, if public rumour were true, we were at war, and, if so, why were Government afraid to state the fact? He passed in review the various phases of the negotiations entered into by the great powers with respect to the Turkish and Russian quarrel, and concluded by denouncing in no measured terms the late propositions which had been imposed on Turkey, and particularly the clause which insisted on the renewal of the treaties—a clause in itself sufficient to give the Emperor of Russia all that he had asked for at the commencement of the dispute. The Earl of CLARENDON entered in detail into the Eastern question, and showed that at first the Govern ment, acting on a direct straightforward declaration from the Emperor of Russia, firmly believed that he had no ulterior views on the integrity of Turkey. When that belief was shaken, they did not proceed to extremities, but had exhausted every honourable means to bring about a pacific solution by negotiation. The result was, that the Emperor of Russia had been placed completely in the wrong, while the four great powers were united in con demnation of his aggression against Turkey. The Earl of MALMESBURY complained that the govern ment had, by depreciating the French alliance during his tenure of office, led Russia to imagine that France and England would never act cordially together, and had thus induced the Emperor to make his aggression upon Turkey. If ministers had shown from the first a firm determina tion to resist that aggression, in concert with France, he believed that peace would never have been endangered. Earl GREY reserved his opinion on the Eastern question until the papers were before the house, but at present was by no means convinced that we should have interfered at all in the dispute between Russia and Turkey. The Earl of DERBY adverted to some minor topics in the Queen's speech, expressing his opinion of the difficulty of dealing beneficially with the law of settlement, declaring his strong doubts of the advantages anticipated from the measures proposed for the Universities, and remarking on the omission of all mention of the great' subject of general education, the negotiation still pending with the United States, and the conclusion of the treaty by which the River Plate had been opened to the commerce of the world. He then entered into a criticism of the long nego tiation with Russia, which had, as he contended, been so conducted as to lead almost necessarily to its present lamentable conclusion. If, however, war was inevitable, our great object must be to carry it as soon as possible to the most honourable and successful termination, and to this object he would not hesitate to sacrifice all party feelings and party prejudices. No time, however, could be less opportune than the present for the consideration of questions of parliamentary reform, though the great evils of bribery and intimidation could not be too soon or too summarily dealt with. Turning from public affairs, after a rapid animadversion of what he believed to be the new scheme of reform, Lord Derby called attention to , the extraordinary circumstances of Lord Palmerston's retire ment from office, and his yet more extraordinary return to it. He said there was one question which, though appearing to be of a mere personal character, was also a matter of public interest, though not alluded to in her Majesty's speech. For the space of twelve days the coun try was without a Minister of the Home Department ; nor was it the case of an ordinary minister at an ordinary time ; but at the crisis of foreign affairs, when the atten tion of the government was or ought to have been directed to the subject of foreign policy. Just then they were astonished by the announcement that the minister in whom a great portion of the country had confidence in respect to his conduct of foreign affairs had resigned. He had often opposed that minister, but he had felt the honesty and sincerity of his motives, even in cases where he had differed from him. It was a matter of public notoriety that the Home-office went a-begging ; that various noble lords and honourable gentlemen were solicited to accept the offipe, and found it convenient to decline. The Oblic were equally astonished on learn ing, at the end of twelve days, that the noble viscount was again in his place, and that the circumstances, when explained, would be found " mutually honour able to all parties." It was in the hope that they would be found mutually honourable that he asked for some explanation of that transaction. The resignation of a member of her Majesty's government was no matter to be lightly tenderi'd or lightly accepted, and least of all as w it a step to be lightly passed over at a period when the country was co.ifessedly in difficulty. If it was a matter of minor importance, and to be easily explained away, what explanation was there in the first instance for the noble lord resigning, and, in the next place, for the noble earl in accepting hie: resignation ? But if th e dif ference were such as to just.lfy the resignation on the one side and the acceptation on the other, if there was such an irreconcilable difference in point of principle, then he must say that the reunion of these two persons, these dif ferences unadjusted, the question still pending for the decision of parliament—whether the resignation was justifiable on the one side or the ae,eeptance of it on the other, he expressed no opinion, but h I said that on this the first day of the session their lords 'hips would • not be doing their duty to the country if they t lid not ask from her Majesty's government an explanation, of that singular fact that for twelve days the resignation of one of the leading ministers of the crown was tendered and accepted, and that, at the expiration of those twelve days, without any alteration of the external circumstances, they found that same minister in the same cabinet sharing the same councils, and, in point of fact, at this moment the leading genius of the cabinet. This was a matter that could not increase the confidence that parliament should feel as to the manner in which public men should act together. It could not increase their confidence in the present adminis tration. The Earl of ABERDEEN, repeating in the strongest terms all that he had ever said to express his horror and detestation of war, defended himself from the odious im putation that he had been "the instrument and tool of Russia" in the late negotiation, whereas no man in public life had ever taken a more active part against the Russian government. He maintained, in reply to those who would have preferred a more vigorous course, that nothing would have been gained by a game of brag, and that, if we had menaced Russia in the spring of last year, we should only 'have provoked an immediate march upon Constantinople, which the Turks were then wholly unable to resist. With reference to the resignation of Lord Palmerston, he said, '" lunderstand the noble earl has stated his determination of extracting from government all that has occurred in that matter • but he will find it difficult to extract more than ministers think proper to state. I don't deny the cleverness of the noble earl, but he must be a cleverer fellow than I take him to be if he can extract more from us than we feel inclined to give. I will state generally, that the tendered resignation of the noble lord was con nected with the measure of parlimentary reform, under a misapprehension which was entertained by the noble lord. Under the idea that there were in the contemplated mea sure provisions to which he could not give his support, he tendered his resignation. The noble lord had not, how ever, retired from his office, but continued to perform its duties. This much I can state ; but as the noble lord had not left office, I deny that the noble earl has a right to those explanations which, had his noble friend resigned, parliament would have been entitled to expect." He then proceeded to comment upon the slanders which had been circulated respecting Prince Albert, and said, " I will now allude to the attacks which have been made on a high personage without the shadow of a foundation. These charges have assumed a form which calls on me distinctly to meet them. I will call on your lordships to see the statements which have been made within the last two weeks, and the charges which have been made on the illustrious individual, the Prince Consort. I will remind your lordships of the position which is occupied by that illustrious prince. That he is the adviser of the Queen cannot be denied, and Her Majesty has not even a private secretary. Was there any objection, I will ask, taken to the private secretary of George the Fourth and of William. the Fourth ? Yet these private secretaries had the oppor tunity of advising the monarch, although they were not privy councillors. The only exception was that Lord Melbourne acted as private secretary to the Queen when he was first minister of the crown. It might have been objectionable his doing so, but Lord Melbourne hoped the Queen would soon contract a marriage, and so relieve him from that duty. I will not refer to the various charges which have been made against that illustrious individual in question. That the Prince Consort would see the Queen in difficulty, and would not open his mouth to give her advice, was a species of conduct which, if it occurred, I am sure your lordships would form an extraordinary opinion of the individual who would be guilty of it. It was said it was Sir R. Peel who introduced the practice of the Prince Consort being present with Her Majesty and her minister, and that Lord Melbourne would not allow the Prince to exercise those functions which he could exercise so beneficially. Now I can say that the Prince is very frequently present when ministers have communica tions to make to Her Majesty, and I always 'regretted his absence on such occasions. I appeal to noble lords who have had the opportunity of profiting by the wisdom and the judgment of his Royal Highness; and I ask them if they have ever heard a syllable breathed by him that in any degree militated against the honour and the interests of this country ? (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Prince Albert may, if he chooses, entertain opinions at variance with those entertained by ministers, but it is the ministers who are responsible for the policy of the government. One word more upon this odious subject. One of the charges brought against His Royal Highness is with reference to his interfering with the army, and at the Horse Guards. Now, so far from this being true, I can state to your lordships that in the year 1850 it was the desire of the late Duke of Wellington to make such arrangements as would enable Prince Albert with greater ease and con venience to be in command of the army ; but his Royal Highness, with that sound judgment by which he is dis tinguished, felt it would interfere with the position which he occupied in relation to Her Majesty, and refused to accept of the appointment. His Royal Highness stated with admirable clearness his reasons for resigning the propositions made to him, and in that decision the Duke of Wellington entirely concurred. I need scarcely say that all the miserable calumnies about interfering with commissions and alterations are groundless. His Royal Highness is a field-marshall, and his son will one day be at the head of the army ; and that he should not, there fore, be interested in the welfare and condition of the army it is monstrous to imagine. But beyond that in terest which is due to the position he occupies, I utterly deny that on any occasion he has interfered with the business of the army." Lord HARDINGE added his personal testimony to the statement of the Earl of Aberdeen as to the utter ground lessness of the charges made against the Prince in con nexion with the administration of the army. The Earl of DERBY, while generally concuring with Lord Aberdeen's observations on the subject, complained of the manner in which he had introduced it. Warmly disclaitning any connection on the part of the members of the conservative party with those calumnies, he denied that the Conservative portion of the press was responsible for them, and having mentioned the rumour of Prince Albert being sent to the Tower, ascribed their origin and propagation to the Daily News and Morning Advertiser. He gave it as his opinion that in this country, where after all, the Soverign was not a mere puppet, it was advan tageous to the public interest and satisfactory to a Minister, that the Queen should have an intimate and confidental adviser, whose interests were bound up with her own, and who should be possessed of the ability and discretion of the present Prince Consort. Lord CAMPBELL, viewing the question constitutionally, expressed his opinion that, not only as a Privy Councillor, but as the husband of the Soverign, Prince Albert should be consulted upon public affairs. In the course of a short discussion, which brought the debate to a conclusion, the Earl of HARROWBY lectured the members of the Opposition for allowing these unfounded attacks to be repeated in Conservative journals, over which they had influence enough to prevent their publication; upon which the Earl of DERBY repeated his assertion, that it was the Radical, and not the Conser vative, press that originated and magnified the rumours; and the E: rl of M tLMESBURY declared that, being uncon nected with the press, he had no power to check the calumnies. The motion for the Address was agreed to without a division, and their lordships adjourned. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2. LAW REFORM.—The LORD CHANCELLOR, in answer to Lord Lyndhurst, stated that the commissioners en gaged in consolidating the criminal law were proceeding satisfactorily, and that several bills would, by and bye, be presented to their lordships, intended to give practical effect to their labours. Drafts of the bills had been sent to the judges for their opinion. As soon as answers were received, they would be published. THE VIENNA NOTE.—The Earl of CLARENDON, in answer to questions, made an explanatory statement to the same effect as that given on Tuesday evening on the subject of the Vienna note. Several petitions were presented in favour of reforma tory schools. heir lordships adjourned at a quarter to six o'clock. FRIDAY, FED. 3. Their lordships met at five o'clock, and adjourned a few minutes afterwards. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TuzsDAY, JAN. 31. The House, after attending to hear the speech from the Throne, re-assembled at a quarter to four o'clock. NEW WRITS were ordered for the University of Oxford, in the room of Sir 11. H. Inglis, Bart., who had resigned; for the county of Louth, in the room of Mr. C. Fortescue, who had been appointed a Lord of the Treasury ; for South Stafford, in the room of Lord Lewisham, who had been called to the House of Peers ; for Brecknock, in the place of Mr. Morgan, deceased; for South Shropshire, in the room of Mr. Clive, deceased; and for West Sussex, in the room of Mr. R. Prime, who had accepted the Chil tern Hundreds. THE ADDRESS. Lord CASTLEROSSE moved the address to the Crown in reply to the speech from the Throne, and the motion was seconded by Mr. T. Hankey. Mr. BAILLIE regretted that the Government had not adopted a different and more decided course towards Russia after the mission of Prince Menschikoff, and con tended that, although they had now adopted a war policy, their half-measures had damaged the character and the position of this country. Sir ROBERT PEEL, in the course of a speech, referred to the strikes, and then said, the noble lord had pro posed to take a matter in hand that would be of great service in putting an end to such scenes—he meant the question of education, to which reference was made in the Royal speech. (Laughter ; and several voices—" Educa tion is not mentioned.") He had been half-a-dozen times at the office for a copy of the speech, and could not get one, but he had asked a gentleman at the door, and under stood from him that there was some allusion to education in the speech. ("No, no.") Well then, there was no allusion to education, and he was sorry for it. He was sorry for it, for he had been given to understand that the noble lord was pledged to a measure that would be of very considerable benefit. Mr. H. T. LIDDELL was not prepared to say the govern ment might not have good grounds for recommending a bill to be framed to open the coasting trade, and begged leave to make a few remarks on a subject on which he would have been silent, had it not been for the paragraph of the speech, and the allusions made in it, relating to that question. The increase in the price of coals was, no doubt, one of the causes of the privations to which the people, and especially the inhabitants of the metropolis, had been exposed ; and it was to be remembered that, not long ago, a strike was ready to take place in the north, which, by the good conduct and sense of the seamen employed in the coal trade of those ports, had been pre vented from assuming the character it might otherwise have done. He saw another reason for considering the propriety of opening our coasting trade in the fact that the United States had taken advantage of the present restrictions here to exclude British ships from the whole trade between New York as far as California, on the ground that it was a coasting trade—what they were scarcely warranted in saying —and that they must submit to be shut out, as our government shut American ships out from the trade along our shores. He could not concur, however, in what had been said as to the effect of past changes in our shipping trade. He had, ere he rose to speak on that occasion, 'determined to take the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of the First Lord of the Admiralty to the grievous losses whieb had hell inflicted within a very short time on the shipping interest by many calamities which they had all so much to deplore —he meant the loss of the Tayleur, the Olinda, and other vessels. He had just spoken to one gentleman who was very well informed as to the circumstances connected with the loss of the Tayleur, who stated,—and that opinion was borne out and fully confirmed by the evidence of the witnesses, and by other facts, that the main cause of the loss of one of the finest vessels in the world was the in efficiency of the crew,—an inefficiency not of numerical force, but arising from men of a most motley character — Nubians, Lascars, Chinese, and others—being brought together and forming a crew quite incapable of under standing, and consequently unable to execute the orders of the captain. It was folly to say that if liberty had not been given to British vessels to ship crews of that kind many of them would have remained unemployed at home. It would be far better for them to remain at home till they got crews of efficient men than to put to sea in such a state, and when the hon. member said no incon venience had taken place from thoSe changes in our laws, he pointed out those cases to show the contrary, and, he might mention, to show he was right in what he had stated, that the insurances on the Tayleur had been disallowed at Lloyd's, because it had been proved in evi dence she was inefficiently manned. He hoped when the government recommended their bill to parliament they would take steps to remedy those evils, and he could assure them he, as the representative of the largest ship ping port in the kingdom, and those who sat near him, would lend them the best assistance in their power to make it efficient. He could only hope government would not close their ears to the representations of those most interested in, and most conversant with, the facts and merits of the question, but that they would listen to the reports of the different chambers of commerce, and the associations of shipowners throughout the country, and remove the evils of which they complained when the time for it. He proceeded to give, with reference to our . relations, some details of the military resources of ' •Lsia; first, to show that it must be the policy of that power to seek time to bring up her forces ; and, secondly, to warn the country of the vast amount of those forces. In the prospect of an expensive war, he thought the government would have done wisely in postponing the question of parliamentary reform, which might involve the country in a painful and acrimonious domestic strug gle at a moment when unanimity was so desirable. After several other members had spoken, Mr. DISRAELI compared the tone adopted by the govern ment when parliament was prorogued, and the expecta tions held out of an immediate and satisfactory conclusion of the difference between the Porte and Russia, with the language in the speech from the throne, which still spoke of negotiations going on, and of hopes of success; and con tended that the government were bound, after what had happened, to assure.the house that the object of the nego tiations was not in the spirit of the Vienna note, though that note had been held out as not derogatory to the Ottoman Porte. He thought, that if Her Majesty was acting in cordial co-operation, not only with the Emperor of the French, but with the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia, the language used in the address was not so firm and explicit as the circumstances of the case required. He thought that some reference should have been made in the speech to certain unsettled questions to which the President of the United States had formally referred. Looking at the threatening aspect of our foreign relations, he condemned as unwise and unstatesmanlike the policy of introducing reforms not only of the Civil Service, the Ecclesiastical Courts, and the Poor-laws, but even of the House of Commons, which would distract and dissipate the energies of the country when about to em bark in a war. The present ministers, however, had un happily pledged themselves to bring in a large measure of parliamentary reform, and, mad as such a measure might be at this time, they must redeem that pledge. He was ready to support the most stringent measure for putting an end to bribery and corruption, but he would not con nect such a measure with one for reconstructing the elec toral body, and why was intimidation to be passed over ? He repeated that it was unwise at the present time to in troduce any measure of parliamentary reform ; but, if such a bill should be laid upon the table, he would attempt to bring about a better adjustment of the manner in which the different classes of the country were represented in that house.—Lord J. RUSSELL, after a general vindication of the conduct of the government with respect to the Eastern Question, said he would not indulge a very confi dent expects et that the offers now made would be acceded to by ssia ; and, however desirous the govern ment might be to preserve peace, they were not disposed to let that government so far profit by delay as to take us totally unprepared. He then called the attention of the house to the calumnies which had been spread regarding the Prince Consort, using a similar line of argument to that employed by the Earl of Aberdeen.—After a few comments on the speech by Mr. Walpole, the Address was agreed to. LIVERPOOL ELECTION.—The SPEAKER reported to the honse that he had received a letter from Mr. Coppock, in timating that it was not intended to proceed with the petition in the case of the Liverpool election. The house adjourned at eleven o'clock. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1. The House met at noon.—Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition from a public meeting in Liverpool, signed by the mayor, upon the subject of juvenile delinquency.—Mr. BAINES presented a petition from the magistrates of the hundred of Lonsdale, South Lancashire, in favour of the establishment of reformatory institutions for juvenile offenders. .` LATE HOITES.—Mr. BROTHERTON brought forward a motion, the object of which was to place a limit upon de bate after midnight. After some discussion the motion was negatived by 86 to 56. PORTAL IRREGULAHITIES.—Upon a motion for certain returns by Mr. LIDDELL, Sir G. GREY called attention to the great inconvenience suffered by the country north of Newcastle, from the irregular arrival of the mails.—Mr. J. WILSON believed that there were good grounds for complaint against railway companies upon this head. — The Report on the Address was brought up by Lord CASTLEEOSSE, and the House adjourned at half-past two. THURSDAY, FEB. 2. A NEW WRIT was ordered for Ludlow, in the room of Mr. R. Clive resigned. BRIBERY AND INTIMIDATION.—Sir F. KELLY gave notice that on Thursday, the 16th of February, he would move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the prattrie at elections of members of parliament, and to prevent bribery, corruption, and intimidation, which had so exten sively prevailed at the last general election. EXCHEQUER BILLS.— On the motion of Mr. DISRAELI, returns were ordered respecting the interest and issue of Exchequer bills, the balances in the Exchequer, Savings'- banks, South Sea Stock, &c. _ _ Loss OF THE TATLEUR.—Mr. G. HAMILTON, having observed that the act 15th and 16th of Victoria, intended for the greater comfort, accommodation, and security of passengers and emigrants, made provision that no vessel should be allowed to clear out of port until she was furnished with an efficient crew to the satisfaction of the proper officer, with a master duly qualified, and with the certificates of the inspecting officers and surveyors, said he was sure the house and the country felt they had a right to know whether these requirements had been strictly attended to in the case of the Tayleur, which had met with such a deplorable disaster, and he, therefore, begged to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been directed to be made with regard to the manner in which the emigration officers and the sur veyors at the proper ports discharged the duties required by the act 15th and 16th of Victoria, c. 44, in reference to the ship Tayleur, recently wrecked at Lambay, and espe cially as regarded the ascertaining and certifying that the said ship was seaworthy, and that she was sufficiently manned, as required by the 25th section of the said act.— Mr. CARDWELL replied that his department was not strictly charged with the execution of the act, but the question was properly put to him, as it was the duty of the Board of Trade to inquire into such disasters, and - his answer was that no sooner was the occurrence known than Captain Walker, a very efficient officer of that depart ment, was sent over to Dublin ; he was present at the inquests, and was now engaged in making further inquiries on the subject, and he hoped that every facility would be afforded to him, in order that everything calculated to throw light on the cause of this melancholy occurrence might be laid before the house. SCOTCH REFORM. — In reply to a question, Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that it was the intention of government to introduce a Reform-bill for Scotland during the present session, and that the Lord-Advocate was engaged in the preparation of the measure. CHURCH PROPERTY. — The Marquis of BLANDFORD obtained leave to bring in a bill to make better provision for the management of episcopal and capitular property ; observing that it was the same in effect as the bill of last session, except that he proposed to empower ecclesiastical corporations, aggregate or sole, to apply their property to the augmentation of livings, or in making permanent provision for the spiritual wants of the population of the district. SUSPENSION OP WRITS.—On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, it was ordered that no warrants for new writs for Barnstaple, Cambridge, Canterbury, Hull, Maldon, and Tynemouth, be issued before the 9th of March. ASSESSED TAXES.—On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, leave was given to bring in a bill to explain and amend an act of the last session relating to the duties of assessed taxes. COLLECTION OF THE REVENUE.—In a committee of the whole house, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for leave to bring in a bill to alter the mode of providing for certain expenses now charged upon certain branches of the public revenue and the consolidated fund. The object was to place or retain upon the consolidated fund those charges only which properly belonged to it, and to include the rest in the annual estimates, thereby bringing the public - expenditure into more complete harmony with constitutional principles.—After some remarks from Mr. DISRAELI and others in commendation of the measure, the resolution was agreed to. The house adjourned at a quarter to six o'clock. FRIDAY, FEB. 3 DUTY ON FIRE INSURANCES.—CoIoneI SIETMORP gave notice that it was his intention, on an early day, to submit a motion with the vie* of taking the sense of the house on the subject of a reduction of the duty on fire insurances. MILITIA BARRACHS.9-111 answer to a question Lord PALMERSTON said 4f, at. present, the o n ly b u ildi ngs erected for militia p oses were the storehouses for the reception of arms, clothing, and accoutrements, and of a certain portion of the permanent staff, which, under the law, the counties were obliged to provide for them. By the act of last session, the means of spreading the expenses of erecting those buildings over a considerable period of time-40 years, indeed—was given to the counties, and, if at any time fresh barrack accommodation should be re quired for the militia, of c eit would be provided by the, barrack department, a expenses would fall as a charge on the general reve of the county, to be paid out of the fund set apart for that purpose. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.— In answer to a question Lord J. RUSSELL said, it was not the intention of Her Majesty's Government at present to introduce any mea sure with respect to Trinity College, Dublin; but it was matter for consideration at a future period. IRISH LAND BILLS.—In answer to a question Sir J. YOUNG said it was 'not his intention to submit the Tenants Imprpvements Compensation Bill to that house before it went to the House of Lords. The bill was to_,l; e ct ill :o duced into the other house and referred to a sel mittee. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—III answer to a quesigtd ther it was the intention of Her Majesty's GoverM bring in any bill during the present session, or ver % other steps, for the better prevention of accidents's:oi way ravelling, Mr. CARDWELL said that it Ive 4!. ,be tiotrof Government to bring in. a bill on the stilVeP course of the present session. BURIAL SOCIETIES.—In reply to Lord Siou-- - 0 PALMERSTON said he was quite aware that tb great abuses connected with these societies, and he ja2A'' . shortly to introduce a bill for the purpose of ° DP and remedying the recurrence of those abuses. 'call CARDWELL OF PA.RTNERSIIIP.—In answer to a ques.' e all CARDWELL said that no report had yet been receiv e the commission appointed to inquire into the lavPt A r nership, but he had reason to believe they m ight or very soon. PETERBOROUGIi ELECTION.—A motion question of the petition against Mr. Thomson 3 'd -- return was negatived without a division. MERCHANT SHIPPING. , „„) —.-. The House then went into ~ Committee on 31 , 1 Shipping and Pilotage, when Mr. CARDWELL RIOT lutions for leave to introduce two bills—one t° foreign ships to the coasting trade ; another to COn s° '' and amend the laws relating to merchant shiPPi n g'biti gave a brief exposition of the alterations conteslPo by the latter bill, under the heads of regietrY4 e d pline, safety, lights, and pilotage, the maul °" 10 the bill being, he said, to consolidate the existi n gAe The working of the late changes. in our navigation Fo'hip Mr. Cardwell showed, so far from realising the aP,P,,, e aO sions of their opponents, had proved highly adoo7 r iot and he indicated some of the measures meditated o cef it proving nautical science and education. He then °Ula e to the other measure, which would strike off the ° ll ',,tt maining fetter upon free navigation, insisting tr o ll want of ships in all parts of the kingdom, particular,‘ , " coal trade, the rise of freights, the augmentation 0 1 and other reasons which showed the impolicy of nif up an artificial obstacle, the removal of which DeT er thought, create no alarm either for the shipping 1 , 31 ,6 P or the revenue of this country.—Mr. Honsrsa af ;so!, did not, rise to take exception to what had been t V by Mr.' Cardwell, but merely to express a hope Id , vernment would take care that the p rov i s i o ns of ' "t) were properly carried out, and more rigorously s o tk'a present laws were. An example of . an i n f ra ction et l 'io laws, in fact, had only last week come to his knot, A Russian vessel had been tran s f erre d t o a publics' nine-month bill, and the receipt of a penny stall* vessel had sailed out for the Brazils with a Russian eb 0 and Russian crew, and under the British flag. ._ 8 , 11 ,40 not the intention of our navigation laws. He wib' be rt ) to correct an error which had been made by a nier° t do other night, relative to the ship Tayleur, under ' 0 . , 0 , report had been circulated to the effect that the off'? that ship were incompetent, and that the crew °,.. °1 0 in a great measure of Nubians, Chinese, and JAr o i whereas the facts were, that the master of the ship c ,4 first-class extra certificate, the first mate a master s , gt ficate, and the second mate a first mate's certificat e 's as to the foreign sailors, there were only 14, or /TS the number allowed under the old law. As far so ll ,t 0 sent measures went, and in effectually carrying ° " c 4 cool °` real improvement in the shipping interest, he ~_ ~e, the Government of the hearty co-operation of vi e /0 chants of Liverpool in every way within their power.s, some observations by Mr. Hume, Mr. H. T. Liulo'cie gave some explanation respecting certain remarks ot4s him upon the 'manning of the Tayleu r . With refi! the admission of foreign vessels to the coasting tr ar. t, said Mr. Cardwell had introduced two bills, a nd 11 ,e 1 IP H. T. Liddell) could not altogether approve 0f,„,. t : r e which repealed " the last rag of ' protection.? The N hon. gentleman, lucid as his speeches usually . 141 .1 - ! not cleared up the uncertainty which still existeuritf what really did, and what did not, constitute a 1p vessel, but he trusted he would take an early opPo ; of doing so. It appeared that a vesse l m i g ht be ° e a I built, might have a foreign captain, and be 1 1131 ' 11 ' ef , foreigners, but if it only • belonged to a British 0 1 would possess all the advantages of a British ces 'cro must be remembered that this country was now in 3 0 which would require all its energies, and he hopo u od this last step would not involve consequences perhal 3s ,o serious than many supposed. He hoped that in all ll? that might be made due caution would be taken to lO o r both in the merchants and in Her Majesty's servimai per nursery for seamen in the shape of apprentices . viio Hear.) If that system were not gncouraged, fif e " might come when we should look in vain for that P nence which had enabled England to be the raist i- 0' the seas. After some further discussion the motio n agreed to, and leave was given to bring in the billgv THE REPLY TO THE ADDRESS.—LOTd DEr3 11). 4 1 the Controller of the Household, appe are d a t the 1 131 0 Her Majesty's gracious answer to the a dd res s of the j fi l of Commons, and read it as follows :—" I have receiN i much satisfaction your loyal and dutiful address. s m I always be my earnest desire to co-operate with you L o t measures calculated to promote the industry of la r and to strengthen the institutions of the state." , ye. SCOTLAND.—The LORD ADVOCATE Obtained , 4 , 5 1 bring in a bill for the valuation of lands and heri 03 t 3 .- t $: Scotland, and, after a brief explanation of its °lead machinery, the House adjourned at twenty minutes nine. ""- INCREASE OF THE ARMY.—It is stated that ments of the line are to be increased each to 1, 4 - 1 u", 0 1 and file, all companies to be raised to the full coroW of 100 men. The seven battalions of the Guards are t to be increased by 20 men to each company, ma king 3 1 increase in the standing army of 10,866 'nen further contemplated to raise t wo additiona l battalion artillery of 1,000 men each. SINGULAR DE-UM—During the late s now/ horse, left standing at the door of a public-ho e j Alnwick, started off to his stable, but got lost. .„ was made for it everywhere, but with no success, t",;( days after, when it was found in the plantations of ledge-park, so inextricably entangled in the low-g:.°, wood, that it could neither move backwards nor for:t; The poor animal was still alive, and walked to his:l (which was only about 100 yards off,) but died aft of inflammation, caused by the introduction of fov an exhausted stomach. _ --------- EXTRAORDINARY CHILD.—We were shown, O , II A 1 day last, a most remarkable child, eight months el"; s),' has, all over his body, large patches of dark-colours,' l A from which brown hair has grown, not only very T P ; , but to a very considerable length. The right arm 'f spotted, but covered from the shoulder to the tip tr, fingers with this dark hairy skin, giving the thanL".,°' of, appearance of that of a quadruped rather t human being ; yet the arm is well formed, and muscles fully developed.—Leeds Times. A TRAITOR IN OFFICE.—Her Majesty's sPe... s ec n . b, ; delivered to parliament yesterday at noon, harni&f communicated some hours eralier to the readers °.,4' daily papers. One of the favoured journals aPPV ti possess extraordinary influence, either by fear or bY in certain official quarters ; but foreign courts p i t perplexed when they find that the chief advocate et 14 sian interests in the English press is selected as the v`,,, T 10 through which ministerial secrets are given to the g o ad' The same confidence was, however, on the prese to V, sion, extended to another journal, which has r S' made itself conspicuous by devoting its columns;"! most unmeasured attacks upon Prince Albert.-1 110 Chronicle, Wednesday. 6 SEBASTOPOL.—The following particulars will c ° „4 /11 some idea of the importance of the dockyard at Se v;10 ,4 1 pol :—ln 1845 there were se n t ou t from Engla°l pairs of lock-gates, for raising a n d l ower i ng the 1 0 1 , ,, vessel of war (120 guns), from th e l eve l o f the sea, 0 6+ , level of the dock basins, which a re s it ua t e d eonsi", e ?, above the harbour. The dock basins or high levo'i3if dered necessary from there being no tide in the o j i s' Sea, and consequently no variable level, so as to P,,r the requisite outlet,) are abundantly supplied wi t o o ; water from the elevated country around, some 1 -'l l 4, distant. The superior elevations and ab un dant sul, o te also valuable, owing to the peculiar nature of the of the Black Sea, which contain a description of Or' f; structive of all kinds of wood. From the harlice vessels are raised by means of three locks into the Pr doh basin, and are thence passed into the adjacent drllsloo , for repairs ; the water is then let out by sluice the sea. These three entrance gates are adapted t ej for the admission of 120-gun ships ; they are 64 f ee e r t i and 34 feet high, each gate consisting of two 10 1 . t Oa c u ir weighing together for each gate 210 tons. In ad 0 4 these entrance gates, there are th ree p a i rs o f gates ' adjacent dry docks, &c., to admit ship s o f 120-0 115 ,Dp are 64 feet wide and 24 feet high, a n d we igh e°"/ tons. There are also for similar purposes on e pair t V. gates, to admit vessels of 84 guns, of the width ra and 23 feet 6 inches high ; weighing 105 tons- be rd there are two pairs of frigate dock gates, 45 feet 01.0 21 feet high ; each pair weighing 90 tons. The',, , A ll are all constructed of strong cast-iron ribs, corer' . wrought-iron plates. AN ARGUMENT FOR A TRIP TO PARlS.—Josep h ore i irt , parte, in one of his letters, observes, "that a womb to have six months in Paris in order to learn the with which she should be t rea t e d." MRS. PARTINGTON'S N IECE , u po n b e i ng told by' 11 , r i f d lawyer that, in the count r y w h ere h e resided, th e V a i court four times a year, e x cl a i m ed ; "La me ! ain't half up to the business—the young fellows Ile" a courting three times a week." CRoss PURPOSES.—The Royal family (1761) ° II , about the world, and people do not know bow I ,LAt them, nor they how to be treated. I have just 11 :;004 1 , bad story of the Duke of York. When he was °l ' ampton in the summer, there was a clergyman neighbourhood with two very hand some daughte r ' 5 09 4 had soon wind of them, and dropped in for some ref r O ' Other, came again and again, and grew f a milia!, to f to cut a bone of their mu tt on . At l as t he said ae' father, ' Miss— le a d s a m i g ht y con fi ne d life here, at home; why can't you let one of them go and 01%e now and then with me in my chaise?' `Ah! Sir, so- s c lov) son, 'do but look at them—a couple of hale, fresh, c ol wenches. They need no airing ; they are wel",,e ) But there is their mother, poor woman, who has '; t declining way many years ; if your Royal Higini e l fi g give her an airing now and then, it would be de`"" great kindness indeed !' —Letters of GraY."pi fib , CANADIAN PROPRIETIES.—When Judge .J.ed - oc e:frd Speaker of the Assembly in Upper Canada, he h°cir rei to give evidence before a committee, of which, f .oo t? McNab was chairman. It being a long busf.reaV committee and witnesses adjourned to the lunc h- Ja. comfort themselves with the good things .there. Judge Me Lean had finished, and turned to go . 3 pe c li Allan adroitly slipped a turkey-leg into 111 °, s , Immediately after the committee resumed busin s ,`" s Judge was giving evidence (which Sir Allan ;et-h'i down) when he had occasion to feel for his P° c o id kerchief. He thrust his hand into his Peeke,,v,t ;Of forth the leg. For a single moment he was p a,V nishment, whilst every one was convulsed:" 6 _, t r ise It except Sir Allan. His face betrayed more swi,_ tli o r t the Speaker's. For one moment the Speaker n t. 7o A the next he threw it with all his force at the LI De o r, Allan, who managed to dodge it. Immediateb:ettew.!: called attention to the flagrant breach of etie e cortyc I' o f v i dictated to the clerk the following minute obe 5 —" At this stage of the business the proeeed in i f s ) e iftP 4 he committee were stayed,by th e Spe a ker of the ,yt Ifrom his pocket the leg of a turkey, and head of the chairman.' Star. „I ___. ....- 4.41 L THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL CO7 MERCIAL ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1854. I