The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-11 00:00:00

THE WAR. Field and siege operations seem alike to have become lan guid in the Crimean armies, on both sides. Each of the con flicting hosts appears sensible that they are menaced by the approach of an enemy more insidious and more fell than that which is heralded by shot and rockets; and that more careful preparations are necessary to guard against the advance of the Crimean winter than are required to protect them from the incursions of human foes. In accordance with this conviction, we find both the Allies and Ihe Russians chiefly busied in pre- Paring winter quarters for their troops. PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER—ITS APPROACH. On this subject, a special correspondent of the Daily News, writing from the camp before Sebastopol, on the 23rd of No vember, says : By far the most important incident of local occurrence since the last mail has been the issue, on Wednesday, of the new winter clothing to the troops. Neither in the quality nor in the quantity of these articles can the most fastidious grumbler find excuse for complaint against the War-office this time : in fact, the error, if any, has been on the safe side of an utter re gardlessness of expense. The winter kit served out to each man, is such as would render him tolerably independent of the severest season that can visit the earth anywhere between the poles, and will certainly enable him to laugh at Boreas, be the temper of the stormy god what it may, for the next four months in the Crimea. The articles distributed on Wednesday comprise a most excellent tweed coat, lined throughout with rabbit or catskin—the same as was last year served out to the officers ; a larger and still warmer sheepskin coat, two pair of thick wors t e d d rawers, two Jerseys, one pair of worsted gloves, one worsted cholera belt, one pair of long waterproof boots, one waterproof sheet, one pair of worsted stockings, one pair of socks of the same quality, and one sealskin cap to turn down and completely cover the ears and neck. The men themselves are loud in the expression of their satisfaction, and strut about in their new toggery much more like officers than private soldiers. But while the soldiers have been thus liberally provided for, the complaint which I threw out some weeks ago, with reference to the course to be pursued towards the officers, remains as forcible as ever. Nothing whatever is to be given to them. A small supply of warm great coats has indeed been sent, but for each the high charge of 655. is to be made—a price which many a dozen of poor subaltern officers can but very badly afford to pay. Besides the comfort to be expected from these storm-defying wearables, the troops have every prospect of being, for the greater part, equally warmly lodged. All over the camp new huts are in rapid course of erection, whilst the old ones are rendered still more weatherproof, by being built up on the outside with a thick veneering of rough masonry, in which empty bottles, old preserved meat cases, Russian round shot, and stones, are all worked in as materials. The effect is odd and incongruous enough to the eye, but the result to the inmates will be a great increase of warmth in every case in which this original style of house-coating is being carried out. Our first fall of snow occurred on Tuesday night, after a day of intense bitterness ; and on Wednesday morning all the hill tops within view were silvered over with the white flakes, for several inches deep. Yesterday, and to-day again, however, the cold has abated, and the temperature is not more than healthily bracing. But come when the final change may, we shall be prepared for it, and man and beast may look forward to the double honours of frost and rain with little fear of suffering greatly from their severities. Steamers have sailed within the last day or two from Kazatch Bay for Eupatoria, to transport the brigade of light cavalry to the Bosphorus, whither the " heavies" have already proceeded for the winter. A weekly mail is also to be made up for Eupatoria and Kertch, the service to be taken alternately by ourselves and the French. Hitherto the troops at both places have been dependent on chance vessels for all communication, postal or otherwise, either with head-quarters or Constan tinople, and the resultant inconveniences have been neither few nor slight. ARMY ON THE TCHERNAYA.—THE TROOPS REVIEWED BY THE CZAR. The correspondent of the Times, writing on the 24th of November from the camp of the Allies on the Tchernaya, re ports as follows : The accounts which arrive by deserters are of the same am biguous character. Lately great numbers of the latter have come in, partly to the Piedmontese, and partly to the French, and from every arm of the service. This frequent desertion speaks either of a great carelessness in the Rassian outposts, or else, what 1s more probable, of an indifferent state of dis cipline; for, as it must be assumed that, considering the die lance which separates us from the Russians, only a small part of those who intend to desert actually are able to reach our lines, the spirit of the Russian soldiery cannot be very good when so many make their way to our out-posts. All those who have lately come in are unanimous in their assertion that the Emperor Alexander has been in the Crimea in the middle of this month. They all agree in stating that he reviewed the troops on the Mackenzie Ridge on the 12th, those in the Sievernaia on the 13th, and those on the plateau of Korales, towards the Upper Belbek, on the 14th. They say the Em peror expressed at the review his satisfaction at their defence of Sebastopol, and thanked them for it. He said that they were not driven from Sebastopol, but evacuated it according to his orders, as he did not think that the holding the south side was worth the lives of so many of his brave soldiers and dear children. In conclusion, he said that he hoped that they would prove worthy of their fame as the defenders of Sebasto pol, now they are going to march. None of the deserters knew what this last expression meant, whether it applied to a retreat or an attack. After the review, every man received a gratification of three roubles, or very nearly nine mouths' pay. About the movements of the Russian army the desert ers seem to know nothing. The expression which they say the Emperor used in his speech,—namely, that they are going to march,—puzzles them as much as it does us ; whether they are marching forwards or backwards is to them as much a mystery as to us. In the meantime they confirm that (witlf n , i-tnez some time ago, nave gone northwardly) the bulk of the army still remains in its old position. THE RUSSIAN POSITION.—ITS DEFENCES. On the Mackenzie Ridge there are still the twenty-one pieces of heavy artillery, remaining. A Russian gunner, who deserted, says that there would be no great difficulty in case of an attack; but the good fellow seems to forget the run up hill for more than a mile which an attacking party would have to perform before it could close with the enemy on the ridge. The roads leading to the heights are all cut or obstructed. The Russian field artillery has received orders to draw back from the front, and twenty men of each battery will be sent into the interior to drill recruits during the winter. This looks as if the Russians were preparing for a quiet winter. That they are not afraid of our disturbing them is evident from the weak outposts which they have down in the valley. The service of the whole line from Inkerman to Tchouliou and the Upper Belbek is done by three sotnias of Cossacks, who are relieved every third week by others coming from the Belbek during the day. They have only three posts down in the valley, one under the Mackenzie Ridge, another in the Tchouliou Valley and on the heights of Ozembach, and a third in the villages of the Upper Belbek. The conformation of the country greatly facilitates this arrangement, owing to the gradual rise of the ground towards the plateau occupied by the Russians. These three posts can overlook our whole po sition, which is considerably lower on most points than the advanced hills which they occupy. During the night the Russians form a chain of moving videttes all along their line, at a short distance from each other, who have to be in con stant communication. POSITION OF THE SARDINIAN TROOPS. The Sardinians have now housed not only their troops at Kamara, but even their most advanced outposts on the other side of the Tchernaya. As they are nearest to the Russians they are strictest in their military regulations; no one is al lowed to approach without being challenged and asked for the parole. On all the other points, where a sort of neutral ground intervenes between our and the Russian positions, you can go about as if there were no Russians in front; and only when you approach the Sardinians are you reminded that you are before the enemy. The Sardinian railway p slowly, as there are on l y fi ve men laying down the rails. rogresses ver The y working is so arranged that locomotives will be able to go the whole way to Kamara without interruption. Two of the en gines, the Alliance and the Victory, are already at work from Balaklava to Kadekoi, and strange truly is the effect of the familiar white puffs of smoke, and the well-known shrill whistle, which is very much required, notwithstanding the shortness of distance, as the road crosses the railway twice. It is only now that we are conscious of having a railway ; hitherto we only had a tramroad. RUSSIAN MOVEMENTS ON THE NORTH OF SEBASTOPOL. Writing from the Camp before Sebastopol on the 21th of November, the correspondent of the Times says : There is a rumour which has led a vagabond and precarious existence ever since the 9th of September, " that the army are leaving the north side, " but no occular demonst ra ti on can b e afforded of the assertion, although there have been con siderable movements and changes of position among the Russian troops at Mackenzie's Farm and the Belbeck for the last few days. My but commands a view of a considerable portion Of the plateau on the other side of the Tchernaya, and overlooks the spurs at Mackenzie's Farm, and the Russian encampment at Inkerman, and between it and the Lower Belbeck, and from the windows the movements of the enemy are plainly visible in moderately clear weather. Yesterday we observed the whole of the enemy were in motion along the plateau, and from an early hour in the morning till two o'clock in the afternoon their battalions were marching to and fro, but it was evident they were only changing their troops, and that the regiments which left, Mackenzie were replaced by regiments from the camp in the rear. The new comers at the spur huts seem to be dressed better, to be taller men, and to wear darker coa t s than those who were relieved by them, and that appearance, which after all may be ideal and deceptive, has given rise to the notion that the troops so close to us belong to the Imperial Guard. Their various camps are rapidly losing the look of snowy neat ness of canvas, and are being converted into dingy rows of huts. We can see their telegraphs at work with the greatest facility, and to-day I can make out the flags with my glass. It is a pity one cannot get the imperial code book of signals and a dictionary. They, have a considerable quantity of cattle feeding among the brushwood at Inkerman, and their works on the north side, rapidly attaining prodigious and gigantic dimensions, indicate every intention of, holding their pc sition. They fire seldom in comparison with their former abortive cannonade upon the town ever since the French have ceased to reply to them, but they do not hesitate to waste a shot or shell on a horseman riding near Fort Nicholas by the water's edge, or coming down the streets, enfiladed by their fire; and at night they fire at any light in the ruins of the city. THE PREPARATIONS FOR DESTROYING THE DOCKS. The French batteries have been shut up, by orders for the last fortnight, or more. Our allies sha re with us the labours the docks, which will be ready to go at any of destroying mo ment we desire. The sappers experienced great difficulty in forming the mines, in consequence of the water running in on them from the clay, but with their usual energy th ey worked away and formed the mines, which will contain eight small and two large magazines. It is expected that the -explosion will just disintegrate the masonry and tumble the st onework into the basins. The English works are under the charge of Captain Nicholson, RE., and Mr. Deane has lent the use of his batteries for the purpose of firing the mines, and will undertake that part of the operation. INTENTIONS OF THE ALLIES. "I have had," says the Paris correspondent of the Post, "some conversation with a gentleman who has Past returned from Sebastopol. It is not the intention, he believes, of the allies to hold the south side. He describes the work of de struction as so enmnlatA that nnanv districts are nerfectiv cleared. As I have already informed you, we shall soon hear of the destruction of the docks, and all naval and military constructions. He says, the commission appointed to take stock, as they say in the commercial world, of the stores found at Sebastopol, have completed their task with admirable equity and success. I presume the results will shortly appear in an official form, as he tells me they have been forwarded home. Preparations were being made to convey portions to England and France of such stores as were not considered useful for the active army. This gentleman's impression is that the allies will, ere long, be able to destroy the north forts by the floating batteries, and then he speculates the Russians will fall back on Mackenzie's Farm, where he says they are strongly entrenched. `You may depend upon it,' added my informant, ' that the enemy will not retire from the Crimea. I carefully used my glass, and distinguished solid defensive works at Mackenzie's Farm, winter huts, and newly-con structed roads. Simpheropol is equally well defended ; and, as for Eupatoria, Gen. d'Allonville cannot do much at the pre sent season. He knows precisely how far he can advance before meeting with difficulties of ground and defences which the season renders doubly strong.' My authority argues that the Russians must be confident of keeping up their supplies from Perekop." TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES. The Morning Post Marseilles correspondent telegraphs the arrival of the Euphrates with news from Constantinople to Nov. 26th ; according to which our position at Kertch is threatened. Admiral Lyons, says the despatch, continues to cruise near the shore of the Crimea, to survey the point of Kertch, against which the Russians seem to be preparing an attack during the winter. They are fortifyng Arabat, and are concentrating in its environs 30,000 men, whilst 15,000 more are sent towards. Genitchi, in order to re-establish communi cations between the mass of the army of Prince Gortschakoff and the interior of Russia by the road over the Spit of Arabat. The guns of the boats and steamers of the allies, and of their floating batteries, can reach the Russian convoys along the whole route, and across the whole breadth of the Spit, unless maritime operations are suspended by the freezing of the Sea of Azoff. Accounts from Kertch state that the Russian cavalry, which had been in the neighbourhood of that place, have retired into the interior. Five gunboats are still cruising in the Sea of Azoff. Three hundred sail of merchantmen are lying wind-bound in the Sulina mouth of the Danube. •—•—•••••• MARSEILLES, 4th Dec. The last accounts from Constantinople state that Sir Ed mund Lyons continues to cruise along the coast of the Crimea, in order to watch the point of Kertch, against which the Rus sians appeared to be preparing an attack during the winter; the latter are fortifying Arabat, and concentrating in its neighbourhood 30,000 men, while 15,000 more are directed on Genitchi, in order to re-establish communications between the main body of the army of Gen. Gortschakoff and Russia by the Spit of Arabat. It may be remarked, however, that the guns of the steamers and the floating batteries of the allies can reach the Russian convoys throughout the whole length of the Spit, if the Sea of Azoff be not frozen over. The dis turbances in Syria, which had been appeased through the in tervention of M. de Lesseps and the English consul, have re commenced on some points. The town of Kars is still defended with vigour by its heroic garrison; but, according to recent accounts, provisions were getting exceedingly scarce. The reinforcements under &lira Pasha had not made their appearance. The news thus received is completed by intelligence to the 30th ult., which has arrived through Vienna. The division of General de Chasseloup-Laubat, 12,000 strong, has arrived at the camp of Sebastopol. The English and Piedmontese have also received re-inforcements. The Russians have established several batteries in order to oppose any attempt which the al lies might make to effect a landing in the rear of the northern forts. The allies, on their side, have united the French and English quatters at Sebastopol by a bridge of boats. A supplement to the Invalide Russe publishes the following: Aide-de-Camp Gen. Prince Gortschakoff announces, under date of the 11th (23rd) of Nov., at 3 30 p.m., that up to that moment nothing particular had occurred in the Crimea. Some days previously a French Colonel and a French Captain who had made a reconnaissance on horseback, were captured at our advanced posts. THE CZAR OF RUSSIA IN THE CRIMEA. The Invalide Russe, of the 27th of November, publishes the following account of the Emperor Alexander's visit to the Crimea : His Majesty the Emperor deigned, on the 28th of October (9th of November), to honour his army in the Crimea with a visit. The Commander-in-Chief and all the civil and military authorities who were at Bakshiserai had assembled in the church; and at two o'clock the ringing of bells and loud cheering announced the arrival of the Emperor and of their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael. At the porch the Emperor was received by the clergy with the cross and holy-water. After having heard prayers for the preservation of the days of the adored Sovereign and of his illustrious house, his Majesty proceeded on foot to the resi dence of the commander-in-chief, whom he deigned to honour with a visit, and thence went to the house which had been pre pared for his reception, the palace of Bakshiserai having been turned into a temporary military hospital. At the doorway a deputation of the citizens had the honour of presenting bread and salt to his Majesty; at the same time the Mayor of the Tartars of Bakshiserai and the Rabbi of the Caraimes were presented to His Majesty. Having entered his apartments, His Majesty deigned to receive all the members of the staff of the Crimean army, and expressed to them his gratitude for their faithful services. During the journey from Simpheropol to Bakshiserai, his Majesty had already inspected, at the Alma station, a portion of the troops of the 2nd Infantry Corps stationed there, and on his arrival at Bakshiserai his Majesty proceeded to the Katcha, where, in front of the camp, he reviewed a portion of the troops of the 4th Infantry Corps, the artillery, and the militia. His Majesty returned to town to dinner. camp-General, the Imperial Aides-de-Camp, and the Generals of the Head-quarters, proposed a toast in honour of the army of the Crimea. In the evening the tortuous streets of Bakshiserai and its elegant minarets were illuminated with coloured lamps, and on the heights of the rocks which overhang the narrow valley of Bakshiserai tar-barrels were lit. The mixed population of the town thronged the streets till night, admiring this un usual and picturesque scene. A similar illumination took place on the subsequent evenings. The next, day, 29th of October (10th of November), the Emperor, accompanied by their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael, and by his Highness Duke George of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and his suite, pro ceeded in an open carriage at 8 a.m., with the Commander-in- Chief, to the Donvankioi: station, and thence, after c h ang i ng horses, to the troops of the sth Infantry Corps posted near the fortifications of the north side of Sebastopol, to inspect, in front of their camp, those troops that were not actually on duty. Thence his Majesty proceeded on horseback to the Volokhoff Tower, from which he took a survey of the neigh bourhood, the sea, and the city which had fallen after a glorious struggle. His Majesty then visited the fortifications of the north side. His Majesty then reviewed the troops of the 4th Infantry Corps posted between Inkermann and the-Mackenzie heights. In this excursion his Majesty accepted an invitation to a breakfast prepared for him by Lieut.-General Pauloff, during which his Majesty again thanked every one, and proposed a toast in honour of the 11th Infantry Division. Thence his Majesty returned to Bakshiserai. On' Sunday, the 30th of October (11th of November), after hearing mass, his Majesty proceeded to the troops of the 3rd and sth Infantry Corps, stationed on the Belbek, and reviewed them; his Majesty then inspected the positions at Youkary- Karaleze, and reviewed the troops of the 3rd Corps of Infantry, which occupied them. After visiting on horseback our most advanced Cossack posts near the defile leading into the Baidar valley, his Majesty returned to Bakshi semi. On the 31st of October (12th of November), his Majesty the _Emperor inspected the troops of the 3rd and 4th Infantry corps, stationed on the Katcha and in the defile of Tasch-Bastine. On his return to town his Majesty visited the palace of Bakshiserai, conversed with the wounded and sick officers and men, asked them respecting their services, and expressed his gratitude. At 3 p.m. his Majesty, accompanied by his imperial highness the Grand Duke Michael, left for Simpheropol. At all these reviews, his Majesty the Emperor thanked the troops in the most gracious terms for their faithful services and their courage, for the constancy with which they supported so many hardships, and for the self-denial they displayed in the heroic defence of Sebastopol, and in• other encounters with the enemy. On this occasion, his Majesty, assembling round him the generals, superior and subaltern officers, inquired with pa ternal solicitude respecting their wounds, and thanked them all and each individually. Entering the ranks, the Emperor conversed most graciously with the soldiers decorated with the military medal, questioned them respecting the battles or sor ties where they had earned that distinction, and listened to their replies with the kindest interest. The troops, penetrated with sentiments of fidelity, love, and most profound devotion for our august Sovereign, received the Emperor with enthusiastic cheers. The officers by impulse formed in groups round the Monarch to express their un bounded love and their readiness to die for him. "We will do all that is in our power, Sire ! We will not 'spare ourselves," was the general exclamktion of the officers to the gracious and flattering expressions of confidence of the Sovereign in the indomitable warlike virtues of his soldiers. On the Ist ( 13th) of November, the Commander-in-Chief received from Simpheropol an order of the day from his Ma jesty the Emperor, addressed to the army of the Crimea, con ferring upon the heroic defenders of Sebastopol a silver medal, instituted in commemoration of the nearly one year's siege of that town, to be worn at the button-bole with the riband of the order of St. George. His Majesty deigned to renew to the Crimean army the expression of his gratitude and Imperial goodwill. On the same day his Majesty deigned to honour the Com mander-in-Chief with an Imperial rescript, couched in the most gracious and flattering terms. THE WAR IN ASIA. The Military Gazette of Vienna of the Ist inst. contains some account of the position of the Turks in Asia down to the 12th ult. Omar Pasha had divided his army into three corps. He occupied Suchum-Kaleh with the main body, and had de tached to Redout-Kaleh the corps of Ferhad and Osman Pasha, composed of 12 battalions of infantry and 4 regiments of cavalry, and stationed at Batoum the corps of Mustapha Pasha, with the Tunisian Contingent, directing him to operate according to circumstances. It was at first believed that those three corps would simultaneously advance into Mingrelia, Guria, and Imeretia. It was even reported that Omar Pasha had penetrated 26 leagues into the interior, on the road to Kutais. This, however, has not yet been confirmed. On the 12th, Omar Pasha had not moved from the basis of his opera tions. On hearing of the Turks having established themselves at Suchutn-Kaleh and Redout-Kaleh, Prince Bebutoff sent two battalions of regular infantry, four sotnias of Cossacks, 8 pieces of artillery, and 8,000 irregulars to Abandria, on the Ingour, and that corps of observation had intercepted, by the position it had taken, all communication between Suchum-Kaleh and Redout-Kaleh. The Sirdar was naturally anxious to re-estab lish that communication, and he accordingly advanced with his army, consisting of 26,000 men and 40 pieces of artillery, by the Altanglo-road, and crossed the small branch of the In gour without encountering the enemy, who awaited his ap proach on the left bank of the principal branch. The Turks crossed the latter, under the protection of a few steamers, near Anaclea, and thereby rendered the position of the Russians untenable. The engagement on the 7th ensued, the result of which enabled Omar Pasha to re-open the communications be tween his corps of army and that of Ferhad Pasha : but down to the 12th of Nov. he had not penetrated more than three leagues into the interior of the country. Selim Pasha was still in the same position on the Erzeroum-road, not having advanced beyond Hassan-iL:gi ! troops and convoy of provisions and a mmun iti on , on th e 10th o f N ov . G en . Y .. 4 Mouravieff was establishing a winter camp before Kars, and had sent off the militias of Grussia and Georgia to the army of Prince Bebutoff. As respects the corps of Mustapha Pasha at Batoum, competent persons declare that it was not yet in a condition to take the field. 3iAIISHAL PELISSIBIZ has officially notified to the Constan tinople papers, that henceforward no mention whatever is to be made of the movements of the French troops ; and even the list of arrivals of steamers with troops and ammunition s to be discontinued. PEACE NEGOCIATIONS.—We believe we may affirm that the proposals have in substance been sanctioned by Lord Palmerston's Cabinet ; that they have been returned to the Emperor of the French; and that direct communication upon them is now opened between the Courts of Vienna and St. Petersburg.—The Press. _ _ _ TILE VICEROYALTY or POLAND.—Letters from St. Peters- burg speak with some degree of certainty of the Grand Duke Constantine having been definitively fixed on by his brother to assume the dignity of Viceroy of Poland, on occasion of the now probably approaching death of Prince Paskiewitsch; and it is affirmed that the Grand Duke is in a high degree popular in:that country. PEACE EIIiiOIIRS.—The Vienna correspondent of The Times writes :—" In diplomatic circles it is related that Coant Buol is inclined to believe that he has found a basis for peace, `which is likely to be acceptable to both parties;' and it is also known that Prince Gortschakoff has, within the last few days, somewhat lowered his tone, but still the prevailing im pression is, that Russia will continue to refuse to consent to any limitation of her fleet in the Black Sea." THE EXPENSES OP THE WAR.—The Times is the object of attack on the part of the Paris Pays and the Assemblie Nationale. An article, in which the payment by Russia of the expenses of the war was insisted upon as forming one of the points to be considered in the re•establishment of peace, is criticized by the Pays, which complains of the intervention of the press in this matter. The Assemblie Nationale severely rebukes the Times for its reflections on the inaction of Marshal Pelissier. It says, " When only three months separate us from the day when French and English marched with equal courage, but with a fortune so different, against the two principal works of Sevastopol, we cannot conceal our surprise at reading in a journal like the Times, so great a partizan of the alliance and of the war, attacks similar to those to which we allude, and on which we could not maintain a complete silence." LIVERPOOL SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS. Yesterday, the fourth annual meeting of this society was held in the Clarendon- rooms , th e M ayor , J o h n St ewar t, - Esq., in the chair. His Worship, in opening the proceedings, said he was not much in the habit, and never had been, of attending at meet ings of that description, but whe n i nv it e d to preside there he could not resist the invitation, especially when he saw that its objects were such as must commend themselves to every right minded man. He considered a very good mode of operation was adopted by that society, Great pains were taken to see that unworthy objects were not imposed on the benevolent. A great deal of benevolence had been expended upon unworthy recipients. He could only say, that if his attendance could aid the society, he would be very glad to give it. He would call on the Treasurer and Secretary to read the statement of accounts and report. The Treasurer, Mr. BBNCICE, then read a statement of the financial position of the society. It showed that the receipts from subscriptions during the year had been £379. 18s., from donations £42. 19s. The grants amounted to £329. 10s. 4d.; the loans to £43. 12s. 3d.; and the balance carried forward was £Bl. 12s. 9d. The Treasurer recapitulated the figures with a view to show how necessary it was to obtain an in crease of aid to the society, and he particularly urged upon the members the desirability of enlisting the sympathy and co-operation of their friends. • The Secretary, Mr. Boss', then read the fourth annual re port, from which we extract the following, which are the principal passages : The Society of Friends of Foreigners in Distress has suc cessfully accomplished the fourth year of its existence. This fact is, in itself, a proof of the interest which the public take in it, for it depends entirely upon voluntary subscriptions and donations. It is, therefore, with sincere pleasure that the committee avail themselves of the present opportunity to thank their subscribers for their kind support, and also for the handsome way in which several of them have come forward to assist, by extra donations, poor people in special cases, where the com mittee did not feel justified in granting relief, to an amount quite out of proportion with the means of the society's income. Gratifying as this result may appear, the committee hope that the subscribers will not consider it as a reason to relax in their charitable work, but that they will increase, if possible, their contributions, and use their influence to procure new subscri bers ; for, in a great commercial community like Liverpool, there are daily changes which affect our income. From time to time several subscribers leave town; others change the ob jects of their charity so that, if we wish barely to keep it up to its present amount, we must find new subscribers : a for tiori must it be so, if the income is to increase. stated d ith th o a u in that it i g t i i v sb g ec u o n in d i u n e importance g relief in the right direction; the demands upon it inc r e ase, ymor t e o t u h s i e s fu s l oc i i n ety d , is i t t Fi m bu ay tin b g e and the applicants seem to be of a more respectable class than yarl previously, which would tend to show that vagrants and beg gars by trade think it not so easy to impose upon us as at the beginning of our work. We have a better knowledge of the channels through which they come, thanks to our corres pondence with other societies, mentioned last year, and to our experience. After appealing to your generosity, the committee feel it their duty to give you a summary account Of the way in which a y nro our t m nr o s n i e u y l z rz . lze z n uo d w is i t fir rib -a ut u ed i . iftrea, e - trytP lat year A cubNcriptions, The amount given in relief amounts to £329 10s. s 4d. showing a decrease over last yea r o f £52 s s. Th e amount of 'loans not repaid is £lB, against £5B last year. The number of applica tions has been 1,144, of which 1,004 were relieved, against 1,354 last year, of which 1,198 were relieved. The average per head is about 6s. 6d. Moderate as the expense has been, we have been obliged to encroach upon last year's balance: it is not, then, without cause that your committee apply to the public generosity for increased support. The causes which made last year one of great difficulty for the poor are still in existence and rather aggravated ; we have now had dear food for three years, and work is not plentiful. If we have had fewer applications than last year, it is owing to the enormous decrease in the number of foreign emigrants going through this country to America and Australia, and the almost complete absence of foreign peasants and workmen coming to try their fortune in England. Last year we had a great many of this class who arrived without any plan or means of support, merely with the idea that it was sufficient to land in England to find work and good wages. A fresh'source of distress has been the arrival of many poor foreigners returning from the United States, in most cases against their will. Some of them were aged and infirm people who had been in the first instance sent out by their parish, so as not to be a burden, and who afterwards have through an equally harsh policy been sent back to Europe quite destitute by some charitable society in New York. Others are men in all the bloom and strength of life, who have been enticed under false pretences to go on board of ship as sailors, although totally ignorant of the work, and have arrived in Liverpool stripped of the little money they had, and very often ill from bad treatment on board of ship. This was already noticed last year, but the committee think it necessary to draw your attention to this point again. It would be well if all influential men, and particularly shipowners and consuls, would use their best endeavours to prevent this kind of press ing into the commercial navy in America, and warn their countrymen against it. [The report instanced a number of cases, giving an idea of the sufferings which have been caused by this system.] We have also had lately twenty-seven old people sent back from America. Seventeen found their way home by their own resources, ten were sent to Rotterdam jointly by us and by the parish ; our share of the expenses was increased by the board and lodgings we had to provide for them, and amounted to £l2. The following hard and expensive cases of distress, arising principally from bad trade and from the inexperience of parties travelling in a foreign country of which they do not know the language, will show the direction in which your committee have laboured. You will notice that most of these people, up to that time, seemed to be quite secure from poverty and had borne good characters ; therefore it appeared to us desirable to incur a greater expense than usual, to give them a chance to recover a good position, as their case is more painful than that of people who have lived on the verge of destitution for many years, and have in some manner become accustomed to it. [Cases enumerated,] If you question the policy of granting such large amounts, we would state, in our defence, that as we have met with fewer imposters than last year, we have acted with more con fidence in our distribution, thinking it more desirable, as we said before, to assist respectable people, thrown into temporary distress, towards retrieving their misfortunes, than to give with a chary hand to a multitude of people who have habi tually lived for a long time at the public expense. One difficulty we have to contend with is, the dislike of most English workmen to work with foreigners, so that if a German or a Frenchman falls into distress here he has a poor chance to find employment. As we promised last year, we have curtailed the loans, and. must say that, generally speaking, we fi n d them the most un desirable shape of charity. People who deserve loans gehe rally find amongst their acquaintances friends who will trust them. In most cases a request for a loan is merely a blind to get a larger amount than by asking a gift. In a few cases, however, our loans have done good. The amount laid out in this way is £3B, of which - £lB have been repaid, against £74 last year, of which £l6 only were returned. Another item of increased expenditure is an advance of 10s. a week in the assistant-secretary's salary since the month of June. _ Your committee has consented to that alteration be- cause the work is daily increasing, and the responsibility is also very great. Lastly, your committee request all gentlemen subscribers, or non subscribers, who are applied to by foreigners for assist ance, to send them to the society ; this being the best means to guard against imposition, and to enable the society to ob tain a knowledge of the wants and character of the applicants in general. Appended to the report was a statement showing that the I number of individuals, including women and children, who applied for assistance from 14th Nov., 1854, till 15th Nov. 1855, was 1,496, viz., 582 single, 151 widows, 411 married, 131 children, not included in the table below, because they came with their parents. The table itself showed that 1,004 appli cations had been granted and 140 refused; total applications made 1,144. The operations also included the following aids : —Assisted towards America, 33; passages to Hamburg, 38; passages to Rotterdam, 76 ; passages to Havre, 27 ; passages to Spain, 2 ; fares to London, 25; fares to Manchester, 16 ; fares to Hull, 16 ; fares to Birmingham, 12; passages to Dublin, 10 ; passages to Glasgow, 14 ; returned from America, 172 ' medical advice, 80 ; clothing, 89. It was moved and seconded that the report and Treasurer's account be approved, which was adopted. The list of officers for the ensuing year was read and agreed to. The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Bossi, the honorary secretary, who, the mover said, had done as much as any one for the society. Thanks were also voted to the treasurer, Mr. Bencke, who had been very successful in his efforts on behalf of the society. Thanks were voted to the Mayor, who made a short reply, and the meeting separated. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL. THE quarterly meeting of the Town Council was held on WfilnesdaY, John Stewart, Esq., the Mayor, presiding. The attendance of members was full. VISIT OF THE KING OF SARDINIA. The MATo a, before proceeding with the ordinary business, intimated that, in discharge of what he considered a part of his official duty, he had addressed a letter to Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary, intimating that if it were the intention of His Majesty to visit the provinces, the people and Corpora tion of Liverpool would be happy to receive him with a cor dial welcome. In answer he had received a communication from the Home Office, intimating that the stay of His Ma jesty in England would be too short to allow of his visiting Liverpool. He also intimated that he had received an invita tion to the banquet at Guildhall, in London, on occasion of the presentation of an address to the King of Sardinia, which his engagements, however, prevented him from accepting. PROPOSED NEW POLICE COURTS, FIRE-STATION, &C. The proceedings of the Finance Committee contained re commendations :—To purchase from the New Hebrew Con gregation, for the sum of £2OO, property in Hardman-street, and to complete the improvement of that street; to purchase from Mr. Henry Booth, for the sum of £l3O, sufficient land to preserve an area of not less than two yards wide in front of property intended to be built in Hope-place, and as considera tion for abandoning the right to erect any buildings except dwelling-houses; to erect courts for magisterial business, police-offices, coroner's court, and other public buildings, on property in Dale-street an d H a tt on - gar d en, purchased from the Gas Company; and to sell, for the sum of £7OO, the re version of property in St. James's-street, Hardy-street, and Upper Frederick-street, on which it is intended to erect a Roman Catholic place of worship. The committee reported that the cost of constructing new police-courts, bridewell, coroner's court, fire-station, &c., Was estimated at £27,800, and that when these buildings were ready for occupation they would release the present sessions-house and fire-police sta tion. The latter was valued at £lO,OOO, and the old prison at £18,025, altogether, including the other property, worth £70,000. The total cost of the new buildings; including the value of the site, &c., was estimated at £45,000. The plans had been laid before the Watch Committee and the borough magistrates, and been approved by them.—On the proposition of Mr. HORNET, the recommendations of the Finance Com mittee were confirmed. POLICEMEN CHARGED WITH RECEIVING BRIBES. The proceedings of the Watch Committee included the re port of an investigation before the head-constable and the Council, into a charge preferred by Messrs. Mackay and Co., 'timber merchants, against police-officers Murphy and Mac millan, of receiving bribes to prevent them laying dock in formations. The circumstances were stated to be as follow : Offi cer 754 (Murphy) recently laid an information against Messrs. Mackay and Co., for leaving timber on the Brunswick Dock Quay, for which offence the defendants were fined 40s. by the presiding magistrate, Mr. Alderman S. Holme. On that occasion, Mr. Mackay stated in court, that if he had given the officer a few shillings, as he had done on former occasions, the information would not have been laid. This :resulted in the inquiry ; and the report stated, that after a long and patient investigation, the Council had arrived at the conclusion that the charges had not been proved. Mr. Gre,gson, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings, suggested that all the persons rated for the fire-police, who had refused to enter into composition for their rates, be now required to pay the full amount.—Mr. Godfrey, a member of the Watch Committee, impugned the accuracy of the report of the investigations in question, and entered into a long detail of the whole case. He asserted that every means had been taken by the com mittee and by Major Greig to shield the officers, and to throw doubt on the statements of the witnesses adduced by Mr. Mackay. A debate of some warmth ensued, in the course of which a very acrimonious discussion arose, in consequence of Mr. Gregson, chairman of the Watch Committee, in 'replying to the ob servations of previous speakers, saying " There is one gentle man in this Council who is systematically bringing charges against the police-force." Mr. HODSON : And will continue to do, until it is altered. Mr. GREGSON : Before a gentleman attempts to take away the character of others, he ought certainly to have his own character secured. That gentleman possesses an unenviable public character ; and, if he understood his proper position, when he enters the door of this room, he would hang his head and find the darkest corner in it. [These unusual ob servations produced the greatest silence in the Council, broken only by Mr. Gregson's own voice, and the restless motion of Mr. Hodson, who turned round, and, with compressed lips and knitted brows, looked keenly at Mr. Gregson. That gentleman proceeded.] He has brought a charge against a policeman of receiving £2 a week in the shape of bribes. I call upon him to substantiate that charge. I can assure him the freest and fullest inquiry, and I think he is bound to bring it forward. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HODSON rose 'amidst profound silence. He said, Mr. Mayor, I ask Mr. Gregson whether he alluded to me when he spoke of the darkest corner in the room ? Was that an allu sion to me ? I call upon you, Mr. Mayor, to support me as a member of this Council. I again put it to Mr. Gregson whether that observation referred to me ? Mr. GREGsON (after a slight hesitation) Mr. Mayor, I did. Mr. HODSON : Then, sir, I call for an explanation before this Council. Mr. Gregson has made a charge, and I demand from him, in this room, to state what he means. Tobjec tionable Mr. Gregson, at the instance of the Mayor, rose and said, if M words.AT on I hope Mr. Gregson will withdraw the he had said anything to injure or pique Mr. Hodson, he was sorry for it. Mr. HODSON : That will not satisfy me. The MA - von : Sit down; Icannot allow these personal matters. The subject was allowed to drop, and ultimately the pro ceedings of the committee were confirmed. DOCK COMMITTEE : ME. PICKTHALL'S APPOINTMENT. The confirmation of the proceedings having been moved by Mr. C. TURNER, Mr. W. EARLE expressed extreme surprise that the chair man had not alluded to a matter which was the subiect_of thall to a vacant clerkship at the Albert Docks. He rose now to move a vote on that appointment, on the ground that the promotion had been effected through favouritism and undue influence, used by the Chairman of the Warehouse Committee, Mr. Alderman Robinson, in favour of his nephew, who had been promoted over the senior clerk, Mr. Benson, a gentle man in every way qualified for the situation. Mr. Alderman LANGSDALE had great pleasure in seconding the motion. There was a system of favouritism on the part of officials, to please those in high places, to an extent which justified Mr. Earle's remarks. (Hear, hear.) Mr. T. D. ANDERSON, as a member of the committee in ques tion, was sure that Mr. Robinson had taken no improper steps to secure the election of Mr. Pickthall, inasmuch as it was not until after the selection had been made by the committee, after they had carefully considered the claims of the respec tive candidates, that Mr. Pickthall was known to be Mr. Robinson's nephew. Mr. BRANCKER opposed the motion. Mr. Alderman ROBINSON strenuously denied the assertion that he had influenced the committee in the appointment o his nephew. . _ After some observations from Mr. Alderman PARKER, for W:iich Mr. EARLE said "he did not care a pinch of snuff." Mr. PicroN and Mr. Alderman S. HOLME spoke against the motion, as being mischievous and weakening in its ten dency,and derogatoryto the influence and positionof the council. Mr. HOLT, unless he heard something from the chairman of the Dock Committee to put a different colouring on the transaction, would certainly record his vote in favour of Mr. Earle's motion. Mr. BANNER coincided with Mr. Holt, and thought that Mr. Benson ought to have been appointed. Mr. J. B. LLOYD reminded the council of the importance of using their privilege to veto with the greatest prudence. Mr. JOHN AIKIN, while satisfied that Mr. Robinson was in capable of doing anything wrong, considered that the appoint ment of officers according to merit was a very important matter, and, believing that Mr. Benson had a prior claim to the appointment, he should vote for Mr. Earle's motion. Mr. C. TURNER explained that, at the - time the appoint ment was made, he, as one of the committee, was, in the first instance, favourable to the claims of M r . B enson , an d h e in tended to vote for him ; but, when the claims of both candi dates were submitted, he was convinced of the superior quali fications of Mr. Pickthall, without having the least idea that he was Mr. Robinson's nephew. After some further discussion, Mr. Earle's amendment was put, and lost by 38 to 8. a ST I e o p E : R e e G e E' di S i I s A T L L fE : t T hc ii t e r EnsAti: George's-hall PROPOSED CONCERTS.eorge,s ; A ' r w s anr(l; CommitteeEf o E r r h i e co prised: 0 ums an application from Mr. Charles of the St. George's-hall for a public meeting in favour of the restoration of Polish independence, in reference to which the committee had passed a resolution, subject to the confirmation of the Council, to the effect that the application be granted on the understanding that the meeting should be held between the hours of ten a.m. and one p.m.; that the sum of £2l should be paid to the Corporation Treasurer ; that a certain number of police should be obtained at the cost of the ap plicants ; and that there should be a sufficient guarantee, entered into by one or more respectable inhabitant or in habitants, that the hall should sustain no damage, and that whatever damage was occasioned should be at the risk, of the applicants. The proceedings also contained a recommendation that permission be granted for the erection of a marble statue of the late Venerable Archdeacon Brooks in the great hall. This latter recommendation having been unanimously confirmed, a long discussion ensued, with reference to the application for the use of the hall for the Polish meeting. Ultimately, on the proposition of Mr. Picton, a resolution was adopted, to the effect that specific regulations be laid down for the guidance of the committee, empowering them -to grant the use of the hall for public purposes, excepting for political meetings, subject to regulations hereafter to be adopted. Applications from several literary and scientific, as well as various musical societies, for the use of rooms in St. George's hall, was referred to - the committee, and a resolution was adopted, on the suggestion of the Chairman, that all such applications should be left to the sanction of the committee. Mr. J. H. TURNER had great pleasure in.reporting that the proceeds of the cheap organ performances, after deducting all charges, amounted to the sum of £297 bs. ed.—(cheers);— besides which the treasurer had received £lOO for the use of the hall on four other occasions. —(Hear, hear.) He had great pleasure in stating that, after the assizes, the concerts would be resumed. An application from M. Rogers to preside at a concert to be given shortly at St. George's-hall, was refused, the Council recognising the principle adopted at Glasgow and Birmingham, of confining the use of the organs in those towns to their own organists, except on the occasion of visits from eminent players. The Council then adjourned until Wednesday (to-morrow). SELECT VETRY.—er a ute, which in , relative to Dr. S Bradley, Aft at the disp usual meeting of ed the nothing Select Vestry, on Tuesday, the Vestry-clerk submitted the following return of the amount of relief granted to irt.door and out-door Paupers ? during twenty-seven weeks, commencing in May and ending in November, in the years 1853-4-5 : From Decrease of Relief granted Relief punted May to Relief in entire in the first Week in the last Week Nov. Quarter. of the period. o f th e period. 1853 £1,072 14 2 I £743 0 4 £785 13 1 1854 162 4 9 889 15 6 900 9 4 1855 6,106 0 6 1,120 1 6 853 19 0 In a lengthy discussion which ensued, Mr. Woodruff and several other members argued that this return entirely dis proved the statement of Dr. Bradley, that he had saved £6,000 to the parish. On the motion of Dr. Bradley, a committee was appointed to enquire into the truth of the charges preferred against him by Mr. Dignam. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE PACIFIC. By the United States mail steam -ship Pacific, Capt. Eldridge, which arrived on Sunday morning, we nave ::‘,.L."4,„7.1:1-...t from New York to the 28th ult. She brought 81 passengers, and $9,000 in specie. The steam-ship Washington, from South ampton, about which some uneasiness was felt, arrived at New York on the 27th ult., after a boisterous passage of twenty days. On the 17th - ult. she experienced a violent hurricane. The Washington Union, by authority of the State depart ment, says that Mr. Buchanan had conferred with Lord Cla rendon with regard to the augmentation of the British West India squadron. Lord Clarendon stated that the squadron originated in no act unfriendly to the United States. Its ob ject was to protect British commerce against Russian priva teers said to be fitting out at our ports. The case of the Maury, as represented by Mr. Barclay and Mr. Crampton, was cited in justification. - The committee appointed by the New York Chamber of Commerce to ascertain and report the facts connected with the seizure of the Maury had made their report, and the Chamber had adopted it. The report states that the character of the owners of the vessel had been needlessly assailed, owing to want of proper inquiry by the British diplomatic agents. It asserts that the United States Government has always strictly enforced the laws of neutrality. The British agents had not properly apologised to the owners of the Maury for the infamous impeachment against them. From Washington we learn that the question as to the legality of the drafts drawn by the Mexican Government, in anticipation of the three millions payable under the Mesilla .Valley treaty, had been before the Cabinet, and, without being formally discussed, had been indefinitely postponed. There had been an immense Know-Nothing demonstration by torch light at Washington. An important seizure of letters had been made by the special agent of the General Post-office, of a portion of the foreign mails taken from Havre by the Vanderbilt line of steamers. It ap pears a portion of these mails have been regularly handed over to private carriers, who have delivered the letters and collected the postage, thus violating the United States law, which provides that all ship letters shall only be distributed through the Post-office. _ _ In Georgia a bill had been introduced into the Legislature, proposing to confiscate, for the benefit of owners of fugitive slaves, the debts due by citizens of Georgia to citizens of the State to which slaves may have escaped, if the authorities of that State refuse to deliver up the slaves upon claim of their rightful owners. _ - By the arrival of the steam-ship Daniel Webster, at New Orleans, advices have been received froth California to the sth ult. The mining news is of an encouraging nature. The Indians in Oregon were continuing their depredations on an extensive scale. An additional force of 200 men had left San Francisco to join Colonel Walker, who still retained quiet possession of Granada and the Transit route. He was daily receiving accessions. On the 13th instant Mr. 'Wheeler, the United States Minister at Nicaragua, formally recognised Walker's government. General Corral had been found guilty of treason and shot, and Espinoza had been banished. Colonel Kinney remained at Greytown, but fifty of his followers had joined the Walker party, Advices from Havana, to the 23rd ult. had also been re ceived at New Orleans by the arrival Of the steam-ship Granada, but the news was unimportant. Sugars were wholly unchanged. Froni . Mexico the dates are to the 18th ult. Gen. Alvarez had entered the capital with 5,000 men, the garrison having evacuated it. The seat of government was about to be per manently removed to Boleno de Hidalgo. Senor Urago had been appointed Minister to Prussia. Senor Sciato had resigned the Secretaryship of the Treasury. A cordial feeling existed between the President and Vidaurri. Advices have been received from Venezuela to the Bth ult. The port was perfectly healthy and tranquil. In Laguayra and Porto Cabello cholera was raging to an alarming extent. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, 281 at Nov. The New York Shipping and Commercial List, iti review ing the state of the New York market, states that there is an unmistakeably more hopeful feeling in financial circles now than for several weeks past, a turn of the tide from compara tive panic to positive confidence, a grateful and most oppor tune offset to the shadows which were cast across the Atlantic, threatening us, but a few days since, as it were, with the cloudy prospects that beset the monetary circles of London and Paris. Capital is abundant, the banks are dis counting liberally, and with an almost entire suspension of specie shipments, a tendency to lower rates is natural. We have now reached a period of the year when there is less de mand for money for the prosecution of business, the close of the year being appropriated rather to a settling and balancing of old accounts than to the formation of new ones. Hence the necesties of the mercantile community are. less exigent than they were a few weeks since, while the fall trade was yet in pro gress. This is a good augury for the coming winter, present ing as it does, an agreeable contrast to the universal contrac tion, depression, and doubt, which were the prevailing fea tures of the times at the same period last year. We quote first class business paper 9 to 12 per cent., according to date of maturity. The bank statement for the past week might be considered as favourable, but for the measures taken by the Boston Banks to fortify themselves in view of the monetary stringency there, and the unsettled condition of Eastern cur rency, the augmentation would have been larger. There was an increase in the specie to the amount of $412,322, and dis counts, $282,488, while in the circulation the decrease was $162,012, and deposits, $648,207. Exchange on England was in good demand at 108 to 1084 per cent. Bills on France were quoted at 5.21-if. to 5.25 f. COTTON.—The cotton market, on the receipt of the Canada's advices, opened better, with a fair demand, but closed quiet. The advancing tendency in prices last week were checked by the more free arrivals from the South, and with only a moderate demand, previQus prices were barely maintained. The sales were estimated at 7,500 bales. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON. Avv...v,pLa to " fitwotan Great Britain. Foreign Ports Shipped. 1855 723.523 265,023 400,157 331,386 1854 452,505 137,054 221,151 288,582 Increase 271,018 127,969 179,006 42,804 Messrs. J. T. Stewart and Co., in their circular of the 27th ult., state that, " The very abundant rains which prevailed be tween the 6th and 9th instant, in Alabama and part of Missis sippi, have not been sufficie n t o keep the rivers navigable for large: class of boats, but the swamps are said to be filled, and very partial rains from this period will render them again na vigable. The Tombigbee river, as high up as Columbus, near the head of navigation, had risen ten feet from low water mark, and a large number of flat boats had drifted down from that section, from which quarter we have reliable advices from col lecting attorneys, to the most prominent jobbing houses in our city, that they are now only commencing to send to market the cotton crop of the two years preceding the present. On the same unbiassed authority we state our conviction that there is, on that river section, now, upwards of 60,000 bales of old cot ton. Red River, Ouchin, Arkansas, and Yazoo, all contain yet considerable portions of old cotton, certainly over 250,000 bales." BREADSTUFES.—In the flour market during the past week there has been an advance of 624-c. per barrel on medium and common qualities, of which 25c. per barrel has since been lost, the closing rates showing an improvement of 371 c. per barrel on our last quotations. In wheat, red and mixed sorts had advanced sc. to 10c. per bushel, with very little offering for sale. Indian corn must be quoted sc. per bushel higher, with a good export demand, Puovisroxs.—The pork market was quiet, and prices a shade easier; the demand being restricted to the wants of the home trade, the sales amounting in the aggregate to but 1,300 bbls., closing at $21,75 to $22,50, accordi ng t o th e yar d whence deliveries are made. $2l for thin mess and city prime mess, and $2O for prime. For beef a moderate demand had prevailed, and the market was without material change. Prime mess beef was in fair demand for export, and the market was firm. Lard is ie. better, with a fair demand ; sales 2,800 bbls. and tea. at 12c. to 121 c. Butter and cheese in moderate demand. SALT.—Liverpool continued in small supply, and the market firm, at previous rates. S a le s o f an invoice of 750 sacks Marshall's fine at $1,471; and one of 2 00 sack s A._ll W" $1,721, four months. i ßcnc .—Th e market generally was quiet. 200 tons Scot c h pigs brought t. 1. . -31 to $32, six months. English sheet w ith out change; singles remain scarce, doubles and trebles plenty. CoAL.—There was a better supply of Liverpool, with an accumulating stock, and but a small demand, prices favouring the buyer. We hear of no sales, but $9,75, four months, is as high as Orrel can be quoted. FREIGHTS. —The freight market closed better, under in creased offerings to Great Britain. In other directions there was no change noticeable. We quote to Liverpool, for cotton, 3-16 d. per lb. ; flour, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. per brl ; grain, 71-d. to Bd. per bushel. To London : Flour, 4s. per brl. Grain, 10d. to 12d. per bushel. To Havre : Cotton, 4c. to lc. per lb.; flour, 90c. to 95c. per brl. ; grain, 23c. to 25c. per bushel. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 27.—Cotton firm. Sales to-day, 10,000 bales, at 9c. to 91c. Sugar advanced lc. Sales of fair, at 5-ic. to 6ic. Molasses active, 294 c. Corn, 90c. Cotton freights, to Liverpool, id., and to Havre, lc. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. The steam-frigates Albatross, Magellan, and Cacique, and the steam-corvette Primauguet landed at Marseilles, on the 3rd, about 4,000 men of the Imperial guard, coming from the Crimea—namely, 1,318 Zouaves, 1.260 men of the Ist Regi tr&nt of Voltigeurs, 1,260 of the 2nd Regiment, and 104 grenadiers of the Ist Regiment. The corvette Fulton, which arrived on the same day, direct from Kamiesch, had on board a strong detachment of Foot Chasseurs of the Guard. One half of these troops proceeded from the quay to the railway, and immediately left for Paris. The ship-of-the-line St. Louis was expected at Toulon with the remainder of the Grenadiers. The transport Dordogne was loading at Marseilles a quantity of war materiel for the army in the Crimea. DENMARX.—A considerable sensation has been caused at Copenhagen by the disappearance of the Portuguese Minister at that court. He has been for some time subject to occasional attacks of melancholy, and, on Sunday before last, he left his residence, and has not since been heard of. FRANCE.—General Canrobert's return to Paris has set afloat rumours that the day after his departure from Stockholm an act, convention, or protocol was signed between the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs on one side, and the English and French Ministers Plenipotentiary on the other, and that the articles of that convention, or by whatever other name it may be called, are most satisfactory to the Allies and advantageous to Sweden' The official statement of the Moniteur, on this subject, is looked for with anxiety. AUSTRIA.--A private despatch, from Vienna, announces that the Austrian army is to undergo a further reduction of 80,000 men. This report was current on the Vienna Exchange on Thursday. RussrA.--The Vienna Correspondence says :—" The Odessa Imperial Commercial Bank has suspended its cash payments. Unpleasant scenes have occurred in consequence. The Gen armerie remind people that, by refusing to take bank notes,d they display animosity towards the Government. The pre mium on silver is already 12 and 15 per cent." BRAZIL. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Tamar, Captain Bevis, with the Brizilian and River Plate mails, arrived at Southampton on Friday. Her dates are—Buenos Ayres, Nov. 2; Monte Video, 5; Rio de Janeiro, 14; Bahia, 17; Pernambuco, 19; St. Vincent, 26; Teneriffo, 30 ; Madeira, Dec. 1; Lisbon, 4. The Tamar brings a few passengers, £5,000 in specie, £54,17.9 value in precious stones, and usual cargo. During the lenge she experienced fine weather. [DECEMBER 11, 1855. ! News from Buenos Ayre s re p or t s th e d e feat of Gen e Harnass's force on the southern frontier by the Indiaas.,ted was also stated that a force un d er Go ror -da had ref' t he General Urquiga's force, it was believed, had crossed A r r o Exchange yo-del -M o e n d io London, and gr was eat cji.a d u a o n te. e .d er at w el as 7. felt in consequ e '' • . At nio eutneka was uecreasing. In coffee l ittle been done. Exchange, 274 to 272 on London. Freigb, England, 455. to 50s. DO' At Bahia the chole ra h a d near ly di sa pp ear ed. 1 . e „1 it spects of the sug ar cro p were goo d. E xc h ange w as cill° l, 272. Freights dull. A do. From Lisbon we learn that cholera had appeared at Ca'l9 The Cintra steamer was about to leave for Liverpool she' after the Tamar sailed. JAVA.—Advices from Java, by the overland Mail of th ol 10th of October, me n ti on that, owing to the continuance. 4 drought, great apprehensions were entertained for the gr ° l l 3 , crops of rice, sugar, &c. Th e J ava B o d e s t a t es that at ,et dramaya the evil had re ac h e d suc h a h e i g ht i n that dis w e j that wild animals—mo n k e y s , mus k ra t s, & c .—had vent to into the houses to seek for water, and allowed themselves o f be taken by the hand. It is added that the inbabitantio Indramaya in the short period of eight months bad kill ed 4li• ' exhibited to the authorities 60 tigers, 9,000 w ild bogs I, 00 gators, 2,000 squirrels, 100 bat s of th e l arges t kind, v" rats, and 5,400 musk rats. CANADA. 00 , A correspondent of The Gu ar di an , wr iti ng f r om Toro nto ' 17th Nov., says : ours It affords me much pleasure to announce that our • ch Pr e papers now arrive with a regularity similar to that will ... 0 1e vailed before Rowland Hill's much-execrated regulations T or t, into operation. The Guardian of the 17th ult. arrived, s o o night after its day of publication, and that of the igt" iie led with like dispatch—postal feats that have not been pail for since last June. We are informed that all the paPe!,l o re Canada are now to be sent by the U n it e d St a t es ma il o id to pay twopence ; and, when the second penny is not Pr e Zate in Britain, it is to be collected in Canada. The Halifax ' fr og' to this province, which s o mew h a t resem bl e d sending be London to Liverpool rid Edi n b urg h, i s no l on ger tolerated. His Excellency Sir Edmund Head and family made q - 9 triumphal entrance into this city a few days sinee: o ipill governor ever received a more cordial welcome. The p r „ l 'il re' streets were decorated with fl ags an d streamers, there, splendent with the gaye s t co l ours . At th e l an ding-Plaee„Dteu was .a handsome arch c om p ose d o f evergreens, surra,„" with the word " Wel c o me ." Th e pens i oners formed atihis of honour. At th ree o ' c l oc k t h e steamer arrived, l''''letsl Excellency and f am ily were rece i ved by the Mayor, t„' f oe members of the Cabinet, and other officials. An ov crowd was assembled t o gree t th e G overnor - Genera l, an the his landing, a processi on was f orme d t o accompany hint St. Lawrence-hall. t be The warlike pronunciamento of the Times , 0 0,e filibustering propensities of our neighbo urs h as p ro duceu; , degree of uneasiness in thi s coun t ry . A war, h o wer` r dd looked upon as almost an impo ss ibilit y . S o f ar as Cellotes concerned, we are so intimately connected with the t ier by trade, commerce, and even by the closer ties of rela c ol ship, that it would be almost as miserable for us as it w or be for England, if a civil war raged there. Nor can we f the gine that any man in the a dj o i n i ng repu bli c possess ed or, usual amount of common sense would seriously desire s tr ieot which, however &Imaging it might be to other eee li t bild' would be utterly ruinous to his own. There is not 3 l oge rate kingdom in Europe that is not better prepared t0,,,P 0 d into a war with England th an th e U n it e d States. l'er'ricArl, people in reading the bl us t er i ng l anguage of A,1331100, editors and orators should t a k e it cum granOA; say manipulo—a handful—as not meaning one tithe of retts' is expressed. This exag gera ti on i s a v i ce o f their uli test suffrage system ; grave diplom a ti c l anguage wou ld be ot ei away on the mass of " e n li g ht ene d c iti zens. " Th e re and perpetual displays of oratorical fireworks, blusterin,F t bef froth must abound, or the citi zens m i g ht f orge t it if belonged to " the greatest nation in all creation. f the rather a peaceful comment ar y on th ose war lik e siglis °es for times, that the Ordna nce D e p ar t men t h ere a d v ertil pOW sale an enormous amou n t o f artillery, shot and sbe' , re; lying at the island of St. H e l en ' s, oppos it e Montreal . „ o clOu vious to delivery th e guns are t o h ave t h e i r trunnions i",;epols' off. Similar sales are t o t a k e p l ace a t t h e diff er ent u,tioa and the accumulated military stores of a century's oceegjecer,g, of Canada will soon be scattered in every direction. o y tons of powder have bee n t a k en t o E ng l an d . The vn -v i r Oi?,' this course we cannot percie v e. W e h ave an i m meese s artillery force, without any artillery, and f or tificatio n ' se w' should not be left defe nce l ess . Q ue b ec, th e A m erica topol, is at least worthy of careful preservation. , westeg A man was tried for blasphemy a few days age, ° fi n ed I ,j e d part of the province, and, being found guilty, 10 1, otio n ,% - ofr The criminal is a n German, and befowrheiscehntheencpel:scredrrhaisilloVio raonnhneimofhteheseilintwsiofanhiaspaodloopgyte, d in country, and Pre naise offend for the future. The attention of th e pu bli c here is being turned t 0 tbitlieer,; nicious effects on the morality of this country Pe and lecturers from the republican hotbed of blasphemous at chi moral theories to lecture through the province wi th° ? or supervision. It is well known that the detestably lru t P l ure o sects which flourish there with rank luxuriancy pay lec Several of "to compass sea and land" t o ma k e prose l y t es . these wretches have invaded Canada, and, under the guis e A S phrenological or physiological lectures, diffuse most infatnu" and blasphemous sentiments. We have now 3,400 miles of telegraph wire in operation this province. The last link of line, ending at Godericb, or Lake Huron, was laid last week : 2,200 miles of this have beer ) laid by an American contractor from Rochester. The total yield of the Lake Superior copper mines, duril , ,g, the present year, amounts to 9,581,000 lbs. Scarcely a pou_nu . of this but would have passed through the tario Canal," were it constructed. at the port The return of the number of immigrants arrivedt W I ult. of Quebec, from the opening of the navigation to has just been published._ There is F..deficieneY last year. The decrease in English "Huron and UP is_llr,:ny Irish, 12,058; in tho s e f r om Scotland, 1,530; N 0 Sweden, aid 4,574; and Germany, 2,071. to th e We had a sharp frost last night, the first hera ld of winter's approach. Occasion a lly we h av e mild wa rm weather middle of December. for The railroad from H am ilt on t o Toronto will be opened passengers and freight the first week in December. t to th e There are various rumou rs a mongst us -with respece appointments to the proposed bishoprics, but nothing de fin has yet transpired. NEW ZEL. „ CANTERBURY SETT E NNT.a Fr A om ND the Lyttel t on "noes, for June and July, it appears that the affairs of tbis th il ha ve wc i colony, in connection with th e A ssoc i a ti on i n London,al been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, by the larlation, Council assuming the ass e t s an d liabilities.of the soc l Act. as they were empo were d t o d o un d er th e Constituti ol f c lear The bill was introduced by M r . B r itt an a speech there narrative. In regard to the p ro p er t y o f th e A ssoc iation , but was some doubt as to its legal title to the town preser v , e ,, s „: the not of such moment as t o i n d uce th e G overnment to swr ute dist) t negotiation ' • the Crown, the only party i n a p os ition to ,y ae the title, having notified its readi ness t o concur in floor which may be necessary to make the transfer valid au • plate. Among the miscellaneous items we learn that coal It taw found in the province, an d i s cons id ere d more eeonoon ,artar at £slos. per ton than the wood p rev i ous ly i n use. A ,c",orcb of incorporation has bee n gran t e d f or a co ll ege to the t he Property Trustees. An account of an examination 5 , 1 free Lyttelton Grammar-School is given, the " first prize o 'oo o scholarship" being carried off by Fred. C. Shrimpton• i vet has been voted for a traverse of the country between Coast and Lake Coleridge, it being anticipated that IV tract of country, some twenty mil es i n ex t en t, an d acaPi for pasture and agricultural purposes might, be opened " • that direction. LAST WEEK the interment of John Kelsall, at the o'S vanced age of 103 years, took place at St. T 110133 gt Church, Radcliffe. The deceased had lived many years, Baldingstone, and had l ong b een i n receipt of parish relie'cll SIR JOSEPH PAXTON delivered a lecture at Leeds, #e' Tuesday, on th e i mprovement of London. He prelv6e,.af. run a railway from Piccadilly to the city via' Charing -c . 64, The expense he sets do w n at £11,000 . 009 , b u t the was' frontage, &c., would yield £937,000 per annum. tie Tun NEWCASTLE BANK ROBBBRY.—At the New assizes, on Tuesday, before Mr. Baron Martin, Rel ) ;,. Martinson, 32, pleaded guilty to having , on the 19th of he being clerk to one William Bernard Ogden, the pnblP , officer of the Northumberland and Durham District Bankhig_ Company, embezzled £4,264. Hi s Lordship sentenced la w to be transported for fourteen years. STORM IN THE NORTH OP SCOTLAND.—The nort h of Scot' land has been visited by a severe snowstorm. It commenced on Wednesday, and c o n ti nue d all the week. The suli , the lying to a considerable depth in.the country, and eo n ' NAV. roads were nearly impassable. Th e wind being frau the es. few los ses. the shipping on the coast was not in danger, but a have occurred. ub - CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.—From th e report just p 01, fished, it appears that lap to the 30th o f J une l a st the to expended was £1,231,000, and the further want was then .e°, timated at £45,000, exclusive of a balance of £56,000 fallws due in 1858, in co nn e x i on w ith l an d p ur chases. Instead Y £45,000, however, the amount now required to close the etto tal account will be £70,000. T o meet this and to repay £63,S which has been appropriated from revenue, it would be nee. sary to raise £133,500 ; b u t apparently, even under the m."., circumstances, there will be no means of pro v idi ng f o r te ol than £70,000. the EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—At the me e ti ng of ' shareholders on Friday, a series of resolutions submitted by the Committee of Investigation, based upon their recent „ 0 port, was adopted.. It comprises a reque s t t o M r . Wadding,7i, to resign his seat as chairman, and a no ti ce o f th e discoo'ch nuance of .his pay ; also a request fo r th e res i gna ti on of o e , of the directors as are considered to be inculpated by the r a , port, and the reappointment of the C omm itt ee o f Investif ile tion, in order that they may conti nue th e i r l a b ours till half-yearly meeting in February, with full powers to k s the directors and to call for a ll b oo k s an d papers. Th o e were at the same time given t o suc h o f t h e di rectors as bate facilitated the recent inqui r y. A n i n d epen d en t mo ti o n ^ 4O likewise carried, that a va l ua ti on should be made of the at e , of the company unde r th e di rec ti on o f t h e comm i ttee , tog o, with a statem en t o f money m i sapp li e d , or debts WWl.° perly contracted ; and th a t the opinion of the Attorn e y General and Solicito r -G enera l should be taken, whether tu directors can be held personally responsible. Aer SEVEN persons James Conroy, Michael Allan, alias A -11- , son, and John Sims, together with Conroy's wife and thi' v other women, the mother and sisters of Michael Anders on ' have been committed for trial f or th e mur d er o f D oro thy wicke, at the lonely village of Matfen, Northumberland. - 1- „d evidence which led to their com m itt a l was extr aor di nar y, purely circumstantial. A hazel stick, attached to a harneo•t o head, and a stick of mount a i n as h, newly cut, were f o und 1 the house of the deceased, the prisoners, who are beseel: makers, having been seen cutting sticks in a n e i g hbouriat wood. The sticks found in the house o f th e d ecease d w e d r o , compared with the trees from which the cu tti ngs wer e no -0 and found to correspond; a leather st ra p, s i m il a r to 01 % Anderson was seen to tie round his stocking a few all„, before, was also found tied round the arms of the deceased , order to secure them while they strangled her ; three silg e o spoons, marked with the initials of the deceased, were als.„ f ou nd near a spot whe re th e f emale prisoners had been sees sitting after the murder. Further, some lucifer matches ar e a piece of candle had been picked up in the cottage, near tb body of the murdered woman, and upon careful inquirl b l e was placed beyond doubt that these mat c hes were ef, t same wood and o f th e same make as some previously , rowed of a h aw k er b y t h e mother of Allan, who i s a aw xnasenline-looking woman, a wandering gipsy. I) 1 ,-...,_________ C.b