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

Rtberpoot cP:ptaitharb. FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. MONDAY ISIORNINO Ir is now no longer a question of peace or war, but one of how long will the latter continue ? Peaceful relations with Russia have ceased; the representative of the Cana though amongst us yesterday, has terminated his diplo matic functions, and has paid a few visits in, mg as a pri vate member of that society in the upper circles of which lie had, for fifteen years, been-one of the greatest ornaments. Baron Bur Now has received at his residence many visits from his countrymen, holding rank under the EMPEROR, and also from members of the mercantile community— Russian merchants. In a few days there will not be one of the former in this country ; and of the latter scarcely MC but has already made arrangements which will enable leave to be taken at a short notice. A pretty state of stairs truly ! Probably England never engaged in hos tilities under such circumstances ; it really puts one in mind of combatants in the " Prim Ring," if the vulgar Comparison be permitted. - Pugilists, we are told, by the recorders of the actions of these worthies, always shake hands before setting to. Surely such a shaking of hands was never witnessed as has taken place within the last /WO. or three clays,—Bansow and CLARENDON, BRUNOW Wad PALMERSTON; nor have the ladies been forgotten by the Russian, with them BRUNOW was a great favourite. At the Tower and the Ordnance office all is activity; at the ancient fortress used chiefly as a depot for military stores—arms and clothing—these are being furbished and aired ; and at the latter place Lord RAGLAN, Lord BUR- Ortzusu, and Colonel Karma, the chiefs, are in daily and toastant attendance. These dry facts speak for them selves, and require the expression of no speculative opi nions ; the time has gone by for such. It has been stated that the army tailors and accoutrement people are all busy making up. I know nothing of this ; nor do I believe that there is any occasion for making such a stir. There is plenty of the "munitions of war" ready for use. It may be asked what is the opinion of soldiers and statesmen of the present juncture ? how long the war is to continue ? will it be general ? These are curious questions ; they are in everybody's mouth. In the best-informed quarters, — take the office referred to, for example, and there could lordly be a better, it is considered that matters will very soon be settled,—that it will be but the war of a month. Meantime not a syllable is allowed to be uttered by the officials in Downing-street offices; these are usually open to a number of gentlemen connected with the press of this great country, who are always received .with the greatest courtesy by Ministers ; by none more so than by ltassansxoN, who jokes with the greatest freedom ; you will have seen probably how- silent the Sunday government press is on the res gestce. The fact is, I believe that there is nothing to communicate beyond vskat is stated in this article. When I tell you that I passed the best part of eight hours—dinner included — with a government official on Saturday, employed in a department of all others worked hard at present, you will Easily credit my statements. The Cabinet Council on Sa turday sat in deliberation until after dark, when a mes senger with a despatch-box was sent to the QUEEN, and this is all we know, if I be allowed to judge from what I gleaned in the evening, and from the character of certain =tracts—voluminous ones—which were ordered to be pre. pared for ministers. I firmly believe that in a battle in the House of Peers, between that rather stiff customer — once ambassador at St. Petersburg, and the pupil and son in-law of one GEORGE CANNING—Lord CLA.NRICAILDE,- - more than fighting between Turk and Russ occupied the attention of the Cabinet. The Noble Marquis (CLAN MICARDE) has given notice of a motion for this evening, which may be condensed into the two ominous, words with srhich I began this paragraph—" Peace or war." Their lordships have been summoned for the debate. The cabinet ministers only parted company in Downing-street to meet each other with their chosen friends and supporters, at eight o'clock. They all had " business dinners." So also the opposition—DEßßY and DISRAELI. Baron BRUNOW, who used to be like the late Duke of WELLINGTON on Saturday night,—going to half-a-dozen parties—was not seen. The papers on the Eastern question have all been delivered to members of the Legislature, and those entitled to them ; the documents comprise two huge volumes of newly one thousand pages. They do not contain one sentence which the people of this country had not known before. Fraught with evidences of delay, and proofs now unfortunately too glaring of its fatal policy. Here and there throughout the drowsy detail, is to be found a gleam of something like spirit on the part of our ambassador at Constantinople, brit every paper bears the strongest evi dence that he was in the leading strings of Downing street—bolstering up the cause of Russia, and cajoling the Porte, and almost,—nay altogether desiring him to be quiet. Look at his letter, dated on Guy Fawkes' day, last sth November—says the representative of England to Lord CLARENDON, " I have succeeded in dissuading the PORTE from sending a detachment of line-of battle-ships and sailing frigates into the Black Sea at this moment, &a.' But why should I enter tain your readers with such rubbish ? Our sailors, officers, and men, Turkish sailors, officers, and men, were intent on a very different game. Some time ago, I told you what a British admiral said to me—one who knew WICTIOLAS well, and the consequences of the policy - of - Eny)ish rainisters—NlCHOLAS was not to be trusted, and ministers might, like the construction of their cabinet, go balf-and-half—but war would be the result. Even so. still we are all disappointed —or, at least, Lord ABER PEEN, J AM IE GRAHAM, and two or three more, dread no immediate damage to themselves, and the ministry may gasp on till after Easter. The mode of operation laid down, like the old unwieldly metal on board our ships fifty years since, cannot be brought to bear without loss of much time—DISRAELI, for example, will not be able to touch his financial question for some time, simply be cause the clerks require weeks to be prepared for him. I think I was the first to intimate that Sir FITZROY KELLY—something more than a Conservative—had been chosen to make the framework of the new Reform Bill. Mr FITZROY has done so, and it will be before the house in a short time. No, it won't. The bill as sent in is Sir FITZ SOY KELLY'S bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL may gulp it down : Sir WM. MOLESWORTH, who, like the whale, may be thought to have a " larger swallow" than the noble Whigling, has, in reality, a narrower, more confined poli tical larynx,—the Radical baronet dare not swallow the learned knight's bill, because it will not please the South warkians ; and Sir WILLIAM knows that he had better take care of his seat for the borough, all redolent as it is of pipes and tobacco. They are worthy and 'cute people there, and the Hamadryad of the Woods and Forests has not been among them lately. Sir WILLIAM Moams 'roam, I know you are a Latinist—Cave tu! England is loyal ! Who doubted it ? Since the days of my hot youth —let me change the somewhat musty quotation—when the Fourth GEORGE opened his first parliament, carrying on his shoulders a velvet mantle weighing half a hundred weight, and having on his head an auburn wig, made of women's hair, falling far down on the aforesaid velvet in screw ringlets—the wig cost the country £l5O, though it was worn only two hours ! Since then, I was about to say, I have seen all the openings of parliament down to last Tuesday's, and that too. What I give in description thereof is from the true avouch of my own senses, for I have not read a line of the newspapers thereauent. There cannot be a doubt that the illustrious, the accomplished Pniarce CONSORT has been assailed for some time past for alleged underhand interference with political subjects—foreign chiefly. And it was said, in consequence, that the " royal progress" to and from the house on Tuesday might be disturbed by some vulgar out burst of popular feeling. I know that, on the night pre vious, at Buckingham Palace, the SOVEREIGN, in contem plation of the following day's proceedings, shed tears ; further, that Her MAJESTY Wept in the morning of Tues . day. I know, also, that in the chief thoroughfare of the metropolis, at the dead hour of two o'clock in the morning, snot a public protector was to be found, and in lieu filthy thieves, and worse, were at work unscarcd by police—that force being nearly all taken off to add to the guard and safety necessary for the opening of parliament. The sub urban police were also called to the metropolis. Matters went on much as usual, with these differences, that there were double the number of soldiers, double the number of police, and twice double the number of people out on the occasion. The cannons boomed—straightway the quaint-looking turreted tops of the state coach were seen wing in the distance. The QUEEN and the PRINCE were there—she pensive, as she always is in proceeding to parliament ; the PRINCE bowed much to the public—the SOVEREIGN likewise. The Duchess of SUTHERLAND, Sitting opposite, looked wistfully about. Here and there a hiss was heard—then a groan, prolonged and rising to a howl ; but all was absorbed—swallowed up—in the lusty and loyal roars of the majority. One hissed loudly at the Horse Guards, just as the QUEEN was passing out ; the party received a gentle touch from a bystander, and C laude os tuum was the r esu lt. Th ere weremanifestations o f disrespect—disloyalty (?) from Bucking n ham Palace to the house ; but, as I have said, these unseemly demonstra tiops were lost in the bursts of applause, though these we re neither so hearty nor so continuous as on former ineeamions. The Turkish Ambassador was loudly cheered the way from the Embassy to the new Palace at West minster and back ; on his return the cheers were abso lutely deafening. The SOVEREIGN takes about ten minutes in the robing-room--quite sufficient to admit to one's place in the house, after seeing the proceedings out aisle. Glorious was the interior. There were more by many—and they much more brilliant—of peeresses and their daughters than I have ever seen. They came to support their Q UE EN ;—the peers, bishops, and ambassa dors also came in great numbers. The silver trumpets sounded—the house rose and gave marked demonstrations of loyalty and attachment to the Crown. The QUEEN looked well pleased. She laughed as old LANSDOWE Uttered up with the imperial crown on its regal cushion, all on one side, and like to fall off. She then bade the P ee rebe seated; and never read tepid speech in more ardent manner. In the "'Ain g, both houses presented a most animated appearance —probably the British never surpassed in the history of rtghting and Parliament.ventilatingnerThe arrangements for well very effective.the apartments appeared to be which characterised the w" another feature, so to speak, oldest frequenter of the troteasedings. In the memory of the never was so much seem islug w tu Part 91Tillg t 9 the THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. COMMERCIAL 4. MONETARY NEWS MONDAY NIGHT. THE apprehensions of a war with Russia, strengthened by the tone of the QUEEN'S Speech, on Tuesday, continued to have a depressing effect on the value of public securities until the end of the week, when, owing to the reports from the Continent that the German powers would act in unison against Russia, the Funds advanced more than two per cent., and Shares experienced a similar buoyant tendency. The rise was main tained to-day, but little if any further advance took place. The fact of the Funds advancing at the very time when the Russian Ambassador was taking leave, is rather significant that the mone tary world do not view the last act of Russia as by any means suggestive of dangerous conse quences. The returns from the Bank of England, published on Friday, present no very striking changes. The increase in the stock of Bullion was £1267948, and "other Securities" had decreased £309,227. Many of the railway companies have announced their intention to declare increased rates of dividend, and this has had the effect of turning more attention to this species of invest ment, and thereby enhancing the value of Shares. The arrivals of Specie during the week amount to nearly £400,000, of which about a half was silver ; but the exports are estimated at nearly the same sum, and the demand for gold for the Continent still continues. The markets for Cotton manufactures partook of the general dulness until the tone of the QUEEN'S Speech, and the subsequent favourable re ports from Vienna, helped to restore confidence ; but, though little change has taken place in prices, it is hoped that trade generally will, very shortly. be in a more active state. In the Lace and Hosiery trades there appears to have been little or no improvement. We give the following extracts from the general remarks in Messrs. T. and H. LITTLEDALE and Co.'s monthly circular : "We begin the year with greatly enhanced values in nearly every article of colonial and other produce—in some instances arising from actual scarcity, in others from the anticipation of supplies being interfered with by war and other circumstances, and in some articles from the rapidly augmented consumption on light stocks ; but probably in all, the influence of the increased supply of gold is to be traced. How far this influence may yet extend in the raising of prices is doubtful ; but the tendency must still be in that direction until production is stimu lated to the same extent as consumption. The first effect of a sudden flood of gold, such as we have witnessed in the last three years, is a rapid increase in the consump tion of every article of raw produce used in manufacture, and by the better employment of labour, of all articles of food, whilst time is required to reproduce these raw materials ; in the mean time, a great stimulus to do so is given by the advance in value, and, by and by, the supply is again found to be equal to the demand. High prices are of course always more precarious than low ones, and render the prospects for the coming year less promising ; but the point of greatest interest at the present moment is, whether we are to have a year of peace or war ; and this, we trust, will now shortly be decided. The trans actions of the month have been on a tolerably large scale, but the spirit evinced in the first week or two has passed off, and prices of most articles remain without material change." The return from the Bank of England for the week ending the 28th of Jan., gives the following results, when compared with the previous week : Public deposits ... £2,515,384; Decrease £131,399 Other deposits ... 13,486,234; Increase 408,365 Rest ... ... 3,339,394; Increase 5,614 On the other side of the account— Government securities £13,232,716; Decrease £304,922 Other securities ... 13,988,622; Decrease 309,227 Notes unemployed ... 7,168,640; Increase 33,445 The amount of notes in circulation is £22,348,385, being an increase of £76,890 ; and the stock of bullion in both departments is £16,223,214, showing an increase of £126,948, when compared with the preceding return. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes issued ... £29,517,025 Governmt. Debt £11,015,100 Other Securities 2,981,900 Gold coin & bu11'n.15,517,025 Silver bullion £29,517,025 1 • BANKING DEPARTMENT. £29,517,025 Prop. Capital ... £14,553,000'G0v. Securities £13,232,716 Rest ... ... 3,339,394 Other Securities 13,988,622 Public Deposits 2,515,384 Notes ... 7,168,640 Other Deposits 13,486,234 Gold & Silver Coin 706,189 7-day & other bills 1,202,1551 £35,096,1671 £35,096,167 The SHARE MARKET has gradually improved since our last report until Saturday, when it took quite a start from the more peaceable news and the favoure.hle divirlend rumours. - Higher prices may reasonably be expected, should the prospects of peace be confirmed. Stock is very scarce.— Aberdeens, 10+ ; Caledonians, 261 ; Chester and Holyhead, 16: East Lancashire, 161 1; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 66 *65*658 6 51 ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 151 ; London Stock, 1031 3 4 1 ; Sheffield Stock, 22 1 3 ; Midland Stock, 631 1 2 82 a; North British, 81 5-16 1 ; Dover Stock, 181 9-16 Hi- 1 9-16 1; Poltimore Copper and Gold Mines, b. COTTON.—The amount of business transacted during the week was larger than the previous one, Sir JOHN BURGOYNE, though the papers of Saturday I the sales up to Friday hiving amounted to 42,570 say nothing about it, received orders to start for Constan- bales , of which about 35,000 were taken by the tinople on Friday. The commands of course came from Lord RAGLAN at the Ordnance. Sir Joss BURGOYNE is trade, but prices were by no means well supported, no ordinary man. Neither was his father. Sir JOHN'S and late arrivals being freely offered there was a departure means something; he is a major-general in the decline in Middling Uplands of about id. per lb., army, colonel of engineers ; has served, I was going to say, while for other descriptions the turn was in favour everywhere—Malta, Egypt, Corunna, Peninsula, North al. L.. buyers. On Saturday the sales amounted to America, &c. He is a crack engineer , and is despatched —good soldiers are always ready—at an hour's notice to 7,000 bales, of which 2,000 American, and 500 examine the fortifications of Constantinople, and make Surat wore on speculation and for export. them " bomb proof" if need be. Who has not heard of To-DAY the advices per Europa were received, the " Lord of the Manor ?" one of the few but real English and the accounts from the southern ports showing operas to be found in our National Repertoire. The short receipts, the effect on our market was to aug present Sir JOHN BURGOYNE, off red-hot to Constantinople, ment the demand and enhance prices. The sales is the composer of the above named pretty ballad opera. HOWARD PAYNE'S tumid Roman nonsense, Lucius amounted to more than 10,000 bales, of which Junius Brutus, or Brutus Lucius Junius,—Fall of above 4,000 were on speculation and export, leaving Tarquin, or anything you like, has attracted vast crowds about 6,000 for the trade. Low qualities may be of really grown-up and educated people to Drury-lane quoted *d. higher, whilst other qualities are at Theatre since my last. BROOKE, of course, is Brutus. least 1-16 d. over the rates of last week. The fol- So was EDMUND KEAN many years ago; he and KEN- . lowing is a comparison of present quotations with ELE made the play illustrious. The Romans must have been a green set, if we take HOWARD PAYNE'S estimate. those of the corresponding period last year. I BROOKE sustains the character—the only one in the 1853. 1854. play—happily, with great verve ; but not so well exactly as KEAN (CHARLES'S father) ; the drama, however, is most magnificently got up—so much so. that lam certain EDMUND KEAN, five and twenty years ago, would not have played in it, seeing that painter, carpenter, and machinist would have had the lion's hare of applause. Mrs. CHARLES KEAN, poor lady, is getting better : why don't she retire • and go down two or three times a week to that exquisitely -rural abode of which she is so fond ? Her lord and master, C, K., is getting very crusty— though he is making plenty of money. BUCKSTONE is, shall I say, vice versa ? He is doing, as usual, pretty well. CUSHMAN, who was not remarkably attractive either as Bianca (severely classical) or as Mrs. What's her-name (awfully sentimental) Haller, in" The Stran ger," is likely to do better in such characters as belong to the real melodramatic school. The opera houses are be ginning to :tune their oaten straws ; we shall certainly have new costumes at the elder house, and old favourites at the younger. New Orleans, middling Sid. fair Uplands, middling fair 6Ad. .... 6 5-16 d. SALES. IMPORTS. STOCK DESCRIPTION. PRICES. Weekevi- Week This _ . Feb. 3. ending ously ending Year. Feb. 3. this yr. Feb. 3. Sea Island 8 @32 370 1910 .... Stained 7l 8 60 21) 1 3104 51497 . . Boweds 34 7 9150 26650 3201140 Mobile 3 } 64 18518' 104576 ' • New Orleans. 31 8 1173791 109 6759030 Pernams, &c. 5/ 9 1520 4070 1171 7627 24 . 4 . 00 Bahia, &c. Maranham Demerara,&c 7* 7/ 20 80 .... 104 250 Egyptian 5 10* 1330' 11810 .... 1965 70750 Com.W.l.&c. 6 30; 140 429 654 4090 Surat Madras Bengal — .... 210 .... 565 3540 -- -- i— -42570 150650 23222, 210458 642320 CONVERSIONS PROM POPERY.—On Sunday evening last, nine persons publicly renounced the errors of Popery in St. James's Church, Latchford, near Warrington, and were received into the Church of England, by the Rev. James Wright, Incumbent of St. James's. This is the tenth time within the last two years that the same Rev. gentleman has performed a similar ceremony. THE EXTENSIVE COTTON ROBBERY CASE.— Isher wood, a damaged cotton-broker, Thomas Paul, a porter, and a woman named Doyle, were brought up at the borough gaol, yesterday, on remand,. charged with being concerned in the robbery of fifteen bales of cotton, from the warehouse of Messrs. Seddon, in Regent-street. Evi dence was adduced which proved that the prisoners Paul and Doyle had taken cotton from the warehouse of Messrs. Seddon to that of the prisoner Isherwood, in Highfield-street, and that the latter was present when the cotton was delivered. All the prisoners were com mitted for trial at the sessions. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.—The eighth ordinary meeting of the session was held last night, at the Royal Institution, in Colquitt-street, Dr. Dickenson in the chair. The following were elected members :—Ald. Bennett, Mr. R. Rees, Mr. W. Lidderdale, Dr. Robert Gee, Mr. F. D. Fletcher, and Mr. F. Prange. The names of the Rev. W. Bannister and Mr. George Melly were proposed for election at the next meeting. Several curious fossils were exhibited. Dr. Ihne then read a second cri tique on Milton's poem of Paradise Lost, the subject being the diction, considered with respect to grammatical structure, lexicological pduliarities, and metre. He re ferred to numerous passages, showing that they were only grammatical in Latin, and that Milton had evidently en deavoured to force the English language into a construc tion similar to the Greek and Latin poets. Several of the members took part in the discussion. DESERTION BROM A SHIP IN A FOREIGN PORT.—Yes terday, two black men, named Augustus Frances, a native of Antigua, and W. J. Shaw, a native'of Trinidad, were brought before Mr. Mansfield, charged with deserting from the schooner Pandora, of Liverpool, on the 24th Septem ber last, in the port of Islay. The men had been sent home prisoners by the British consul at Islay. Captain Dawson proved their engagement and also their desertion. In defence, Frances said he had been engaged as steward on board the Pandora, and admitted he had deserted, but said he was compelled to do so in consequence of the bad usage he had received from the captain, who flogged him and put him in irons, and had likewise refused to give him medicine when he was ill. Shaw said he had been engaged as cook, and had always done his duty till off the Horn ; on account of severe weather, he was unable to make the men's dinner ready, for which he was punished by the captain. From similar causes, he, on another occasion, was unable to get the men's coffee ready, and was again punished. He complained further of general bad treat ment. The captain produced his log-book, in which entries were made against both prisoners for bad conduct. They were sentenced to be imprisoned Pm weeks each, with larcl lalnur PRODUCE.—The markets for Colonial produce during the week have been dull, with the exception of Sugar, for which there has been a good demand both from Grocers and Refiners. Saltpetre and Brimstone have also been in good demand. On Saturday the business done in Sugar was limited, but to-day there has been a general and extensive demand, the sales consisting of 300 hhds. Demerara at 335. to 355. including vacum Pan at 355. 6d., to 425., 1,000 mats Mauritius, chiefly at 365., a small lot f Porto Rico at 365. 6d., 3,500 bags low Per nams at 19s. 6d. 1,100 bags Paraiba at 20s. 6d., and 200 cases Bahia: at 19s. 6d. per cwt. Of Coffee, 40 bags St. Domingo have been sold at 495. 6d., and 50 bags washed Rio at 655. per cwt. In Tea, we have to notice the sale of between two and three thousand chests of Congou, ex " Crisis," at prices ranging from ls. 21d. to ls. 4d. per lb. The new green Teas by this vessel are not yet sold. There is nothing to notice in Rice. 130 bags Madras Saltpetre are reported at 21s. per cwt., 27 per cent. refraction, and 200 bags Pimento, at sd. for damaged, and 51d. per. lb. for sound. WooL.—ln the present inactive state of the Wool Market, there is very little to report this week, the warlike aspect of affairs in the East, and the high price at which Corn is now ruling, con tinues to produce anything like an active demand in this branch of trade. Manufacturers and Staplers are acting with extreme caution, and only supplying themselves on the " Hand to mouth" principle, yet prices have undergone no change, and unless holders begin to press sales, we see no other prospect but their bemg fully maintained. Public sales commence in London on Thursday, to which the trade is looking forward with great in terest. Import for the week 1213 Bales, chiefly from the West coast. Irish Wool ism moderate request at from 15d. to 1511 per lb. for mixed par cels of Hogs and Wethers. Messrs. W. GREAME and Co. say " The chief feature to notice in the trade during the past month is the sales by auction. Since that time the market has been quiet, the continued uncertainty of the Eastern question and the further rise in corn during the past month has checked anything like a speculative demand, and buyers will only operate for their immediate require ments, at the same time good useful true bred Wools, EgYPtiana Corato a 4 3 &n Iratcda P•l4 pretty saleable at our quotations, but for inferior and bad bred Wools there is very little demand, and prices for some descriptions are at present quite nominal." Messrs, HUGHES and RONALD say : " The transactions by private contract have not been extensive, still there has been a steady demand, and at the recent public sales, from the 17th to the 21st ultimo, when 13,278 bales Colonial and Foreign Wools were brought forward, advanced rates were obtained for the most current descriptions, which were then chiefly cleared off ; there has, consequently, since been less doing, but for all useful qualities, which are now light in stock, prices are very firm." Messrs. JOSEPH RosiNsoN and Co. say : "The earlier part of the month exhibited a somewhat quiet tone, as regards the Wool market, which is not unusual at the commencement of the year; as it pro gressed, considerable buoyancy was evinced, and this with an immediate prospect of a war with Russia, thus showing that the patience of the trade is worn out on the Eastern question, and that question no longer becomes the pretext for lowering the value. While some branches of manu facture are flat, particularly the worsted class, others are the reverse ; in some quarters consumption has increased, so that the preponderating influences demonstrate that the increase is greater than the drawback, and leads to the conclusion that the probability of overstock is distant, especially as freights still maintain high rates,' TIMBER.—We subjoin extracts from the annual circulars of the following brokers : Messrs. HOLME, SLATER, and Co., say : " Our own ideas of the Timber trade of the Mersey are, whatever the results of the present negotiations may be — as regards war or otherwise—timber of all descriptions must advance, and our reason for expressing this opinion is that there is a short supply at all the outports, which must be supplied from the stocks here or from London — that market being well supplied with all descriptions of wood goods—the high price which will be required by the producers, and the high rate of freight which will be demanded by the shipowners for the forthcoming impor tation, and the short supply of vessels suitable for this trade. The import of Quebec yellow and red Pine exceeds that of last year, and there is a small increase of St. John Board Timber ; of Spruce Deals the import has been the most extensive ever known. During the early months of the import they were rather dull of sale at the closing rates of last year, but they gradually advanced, the consumption keeping pace with the supply, and it must necessarily increase considerably as the price this article is furnished at is far below the price of square Timber." Messrs. DUNCAN, EwING, and Co., say : "In taking a retrospective view of the business trans actions for the last year, it is satisfactory to be able to say, that, in almost every department of trade, they have been carried on successfully, and that those parties who have had to do with timber, whether as shipowners, importers, or dealers, have largely participated in the general pros perity of the country. A large amount of tonnage is still occupied on long voyages, and thereby a considerable number of vessels withdrawn from their useful employment of conveying timber and deals from British America to this country. This withdrawal of tonnage was, in itself, suffi cient to account for the advance which took place in the rates of freight last year, which opened—when the season of import from Quebec commenced—at 425. to 435. per load for timber, to 555. to 565. per load towards its close, with corresponding enhanced rates for timber and deals from other ports. But another cause has materially aided in curtailing the amount of available tonnage for the pur poses referred to, viz.—a deplorable list of losses and dis asters which have for some time past, and are still being related, as of almost daily occurrence amongst shipping, which will necessarily tend to maintain freights at an extreme range for some time to come." Mr. J. HOUGHTON says : " The importation of so vast an amount of raw material from our colonies renders this trade of great importance, both commercially, politically, and locally; there having been profitably employed in carrying cargoes of wood goods only from our North American colonies to this port, no less than 498 ships, 337,626 tons ; or 116 ships, 83,675 tons more than in the previous or any preceding year. The chief part of this tonnage has been British, and a large portion of it consists of new ships built at the various shipping ports during the season ; but the trade has not been confined to ships of our own country, our transatlantic neighbours taking advantage of the recent abrogation of our Navigation Laws have directed their attention to it, and found very advantageous employment for a consider able amount of their tonnage in carrying Deals from New Brunswick to this port ; we have also had the assistance of a few Prussian and other European ships." Inox.—The market for Scotch Pig Iron has been very quiet during the last week. On Saturday, owing to the favourable news from the Continent, a better feeling was displayed, and sales were effected at 775. per ton. The market closes nominally the same this evening, with nothing doing, speculators evincing no desire to operate at this price in the face of a diminished export as corn pared with the same period last year. LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Tit fourth annual general meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, in the offices of the Chamber. The chair was occupied by Mr. F. Shand, president. There were present the following members, viz. :—Fras. Shand, Esq., president, Thos. Bouch, Esq., vice-president Messrs. B. Stitt, R. W. Preston.. Clint. T. B. Forwood, Charles Holland, A. W. Powles, J. Hub back, Booker, Edward Heath, Charles Maclver, Robert Rankin, A. K. M`Fie, Bushby, John Aikin, Thos. Baines, Heyworth, R. Gill, Cross, Edward Higgin, Singlehurst, Tomlinson, T. R. Arnott, W. J. Lamport, Jos. Malcomson, J. P. Palmer, Hall, R. Still, Burt, Robertson, Gardner, Brebner, and Keates. The CHAIRMAN said he had much pleasure in being present on this interesting occasion, although he must at the same time express his regret that, in consequence of the pressure of other duties, it had not been in his power to devote so much of his time and attention to the busi ness of this association as he could have wished, or as its importance deserved. This omission, however, he had the less cause to regret, as Mr. Bouch, the vice-president, had been so assiduous in his attention to the business, and had been so ably and well seconded by the committee in his exertions for carrying out the objects of the Chamber, as to leave no room for regret on his (the Chairman's) part. The report which would be read alluded to several topics of much general interest, one of the most important of which was the present state of the law of partnership, a subject to which the serious attention of the Chamber had been directed ; and, concerning which, a sub-committee of its members had been appointed to inquire and report. As it would appear in the proceed ings, that subject had been very carefully considered, and a report had been prepared by the sub-committee. Not withstanding its importance, however, and the care be stowed on it, the Council had not been able to come to so definite a conclusion on the subject as to recommend any particular course to the Chamber. In conclusion, he would call on the clerk to read the report, which that gentleman did. It is as follows : The Council have the now pleasure of submitting to the members of the Chamber of Commerce a report of their pro ceedings for the tear just closed, the fourth of the existence of the Chamber , in which are enumerated the principal sub jects which have engaged their attention. CUSTOM-HOUSE SYSTEM. A referred to in , the half-yearly report, the Consolidated Customs Act was fully investigated by the standing com mittee, and upon their recommendation the greater part of the suggestions urged by your Council on the government was provided for. Since the passing of the act, the Treasury has issued a minute ordering additional concessions as to the forms of export entries. Your directors stilt watch over this important subject, and wilt not omit any opportunity of procuring the adaptation of the Custom-house system to the altered position of commerce. COMMERCIAL LAW REFORM AND TRIBUNALS OF COMMERCE. This question has been in abeyance owing to the parlia mentary recess. But the earliest available opportunity will be taken for pressing it upon the government, either in the form of the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee, or a reference to one of the several Royal Commissions now sit ting on the subject of mercantile law. LAW OF PARTNERSHIP. Your Council received several of a series of questions on this subject, compiled by the Royal Commissioners, which have been placed in the hands of gentlemen in Liver sameor replies, as requested by the commissioners. At the time it was considered a good opportunity of fulfilling their previously expressed intention of considering this im portant question ; and a special committee was, therefore, appointed, who gave the utmost attention to the matter, and who have presented a very full report on it, which this Council beg now to submit to the consideration of this chamber. LAW OF BANKRUPTCY AND COUNTY COURTS PRACTICE. Your Council have also received similar series of queries upon the above subjects, the former of which have been placed in the bands of individuals for reply, and the latter has been referred to a special committee to consider and report. RUSSIAN COMPANY AND SOUND DUES. These matters have been occupying the attention of the special committee, and your Council have the satisfaction of saying they believe their endeavours for the abolition of the Russian Company will be crowned with success. As to the latter, it is a question involving an important item of the revenue of Denmark, and much difficulty, consequently, has to be overcome; but your directors have communicated with the Chamber of Commerce of New York, with the view of enlisting the aid of the American Government towards effecting the removal of so heavy a tax upon commerce as the Sound Dues, one from which no benefit is derived whatever. SHORT SUPPLY OP PERUVIAN GUANO . The special committee appointed" to consider the present short supply of Peruvian guano, and the best means of reme dying it,' have given much attention to the subject, and, on their recommendation, the Council appointed a deputation to wait on the President of the Board of Trade relative to it. As the result of that conference a memorial to the Board of Trade has been prepared, and has received the signatures of the pre sidents of the principal chambers of commerce in the king dom. It will be forwarded shortly, and your Council are led to believe that her Malesty's government will press the sub ject on the government of Peru. VIOLATION OF TREATIES BY THE PORTUGUESE _ GOVERNMENT. .... This subject, so important to English merchants resident in any of the Portuguese dominions, has been brought before the Council in relation to a particular case of hardship, which your directors have suggested that the chamber should take up, on the broad ground, as a question seriously affecting the interests of all engaged in commerce with Portugal. SHIPS' MORTGAGES. _ The Council are anxiously awaiting the promised measure to provide for the repeal of the decision requiring the mort gages on ships to be carried forward on new registers. When the bill makes its appearance, your directors will not fail to carry out the instructions conveyed to them in the resolution passed at the last annual meeting. POSTAL_COMMUNICATIONS. The attention of the Postal Committee has been directed during the year to the postal arrangements as to communica tion with Australia, and they have urged upon the Admiralty the adoption of the route via Ceylon and Suez ; also to the withdrawal of the evening mail to Edinburgh and Glasgow, which matter is still before them ; and to the want of regular communication with Orkney Islands : this the government has acceded to. PILOTAGE BILL AND MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL. These measures were submitted to a special committee ; but, as named in the half-yearly report, nothing beyond a general opinion could be expressed, owing to the ehortueso of time allowed for consideration. SURVEY CERTIFICATES. The suggestions made by the special &fat Mittee to the Un derwriters Association as to ships' ;Amy certificates have been adopted by that body ; but opinion has been ex pressed by several members of Vas chamber that further im provement, are required, P.M the committee, therefore, continue to gin attentioil'co the matter. :`.~,. __ THE REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA. The abolition of the Excise duty on soap and the modifica tion of the stamp duties are subjects which have been advocated by your Council, and which have been conceded in the last year's Budget. EAST INDIA. COMPANY'S CHARTER. A deputation from your Council waited on the President of the Board of Control, in company with one from Manchester, to urge upon Sir Charles Wood several points in, regard to the future Government of India ; but it is a matter of regret that very few of the suggestions received any attention. DOCK ARRANGEMENTS. Your Council are firmly of opinion that the prosperity of this port greatly depends upon its export. trade. It is, there fore, with regret that they have to state, that though many months hive elapsed since they transmitted to the Dock Committee their report on the dock arrangeme❑ts required to facilitate this important branch of our commerce, scarcely any steps have been taken to remedy the evils complained of. DECIMAL CURRENCY. Your Council still give attention to this question. and, at their instance, a town's meeting was lately held on the subject, at which resolutions were passed expressive of a strong opinion in favour of it. A petit►on to the House of Commons has also been prepared,.which is now in course of general signature. RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS. During the year the Council regret to say that they lost the services, by death. of Mr. Winch and Mr. Casey. The vacan cies thus occasioned were filled up by the election of Mr. J. E. Naylor and Mr. George Casey. The following directors retire by rotation, and are ineligible for re-election this year: Mr. Arnott, Mr. Bouch, Mr. Boult, Mr. Casey, Mr. Crosfield, Mr. Forwood, Mr. Littledale, Mr. Laird, Mr. Malcomson, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Smith. In accordance with the rules, your Council have to announce having made`an alteration in the by-laws for arbitration, which is calculated to facilitate references. The usual return of the attendance of directors is laid on the table. In closing this report the Council desire to state, that they continue to receive every assistance from the members for the borough and the southern division of the county ; and they beg to tender their best thanks for the valuable services rendered to the Chamber by those gentlemen. The report having been read, The TREASURER read an abstract of the income and disbursements for the past year ; from this it appeared that the income, arising from various sources, had amounted to £634 3s. 9d., while the disbursements were £558 Os. 7d., leaving a balance on hand of £76 3s. 2d. Mr. Botroa, in moving the adoption of the report, said, although only four years had elapsed since the Chamber of Commerce had been called into existence, it had already done a great deal that was valuable to the public, not of Liverpool alone, .but for the interest of commerce in general. From what had been done it was not he considered too much to anticipate, that the time was not distant when the voice and influence of the Liver pool Chamber of Commerce will not be confined to this kingdom, but will extend all over the mercantile world. During the past year he was happy to know that the Chamber of Commerce had received an accession of fifty members ; and many of those enrolled on its list were gentlemen whose names stood pre-eminent among the merchants of Liverpool and of the world. As to the subjects which had been under consideration of the Chamber, from the report it would be evident that a reform in the Custom-house system had occupied its very serious attention. The reform of that system, so far as concerned the port of Liverpool, had been much forwarded by the exertions.of the Chamber, whichl within its own walls, and among its own members, had originated sug gestions, many of which had eventuated in most valuable improvements on the working of the system. Of these he might be permitted to instance, that in cases of dispute with the Custom-house authorities, instead of having to meet and to combat them in courts of law, where, even if successful, the litigant would obtain no costs against - the crown, there had now been appointed a court of commission, entitled to deal with sums of £lOO, in which, if successful in his suit, the merchant would recover costs, as in any other court, and against any other opponent. More than that, the Government had conceded that, if dissatisfied with the de cision of the commissioners, appeal can be made to the county court, which has been appointed as a court of appeal. Instead of the varying classification of our ware houses, also, we have now been put on the same footing, in this respect, as the warehouses in London. This, in re ference to losses on such stock as spirits, is of great con- sequence, as we have now the option of having a bond given by the warehouseman, and the merchant is freed 'from all further trouble concerning it. On another point, that of the customs search of export goods, much has been obtained. Goods, under the former regu lations, although they merely passed from one ves sel to another, for the purpose of being re-exported, ,had to be examined by the Custom-house authorities. Now no such examination is necessary, the Custom-house authorities only reserving to themselves the right of ex amination to prevent fraud. We have also obtained an important improvement in the regulations for unloading such free goods as cotton, the arrangements being such as to allow almost of our own convenience in so far as time is concerned. _ One subject connected with this matter he approached with reluctance, and must mention with regret. We thought we had obtained an exonera tion from the forms of entries on all kinds of free goods. In that conjecture we have been wrong. To us this is a matter of no small importance, because much of our com mercial traffic is in free goods ; and sometimes, in such articles as cotton, when there are as many as twenty-five consignees, we require to have twenty-five-separate entries by examining clerks. An arrangement for abrogating this was so far entered into, that a clause providing for its abolition was actually in print, to form part of the bill for the regulation of the Customs' re forms. The Shipowners' Association, however, step ped forward and opposed the proposed change, on the ground that, if it came into operation, they would be called on to pay the amount of the dock dues. Thus declaring, that they were unwilling to trust the merchants of Liverpool the trifling sum representing the dock dues , although they were quite willing to give them credit for tv 1.11, of 1.11, calbl.4. 0.. bblo 4hsl vo•urca the annihilation of the proposed measure. He (Mr. Bouch) was sorry he had been induced to speak on this subject with so much earirestness of feeling, but he did so. under the conviction that it was intended to confer on the shipowners powers to secure, over the cargoes, the whole o f the dock charges as well as the freight. Many complaints had been made to this chamber, as to the delays occa sioned by difficulties encountered at the dock offices. The abrogation of the difficulties to which he had just referred would have been a great boon to all parties, even to the shipowners themselves ; as it had been adduced, oftener than once, by parties having cotton ready for landing in Liverpool, that they need be in no haste to relieve it, as the shipowner could not rid himself of it till the consignee had effected his clearances. He hoped and trusted that the Shipowners' Association and the Chamber of Commerce would be enabled to act in a harmonious and friendly manner, for their mutual benefit. This hope he was the more desirous of making known, as the Lords of the Treasury had expressed their willingness to bring in supplementary bills every year till the whole should be found to work in harmony, and satisfactorily to all interests. The law of partnership, as had been properly stated by the Chairman, had occupied an important share of the attention of the Chamber, but the labours of the sub-committee had not been sufficiently diges ted to allow the Council to offer any definite re commendation on the subject to the meeting. Another subject of vital interest connected with commercial ar rangements was that of arbitration. A committee had also been appointed to consider the best means of effecting so desirable an object as the establishment of tribunals of commerce. In reference to the dock arrangements, he (Mr. Bouch) felt assured he only spoke the sentiments of the 'Chamber when he said, they were prepared to co operate with the Dock Commissioners in everything con ducive to the public good. The decimal coinage move ment, in its present form, he might say, had originated in this chamber ; it was a movement which all competent authorities concurred in advocating the propriety of. The Chamber of Commerce, he might also say, was entitled to the credit of having greatly forwarded the abolition of the soap duties. Before concluding, he might take the liberty of again expressing his conviction of the desirableness of the other great commercial associations joining with the chamber in its endeavours to secure the public good ; nearly all of those bodies now sent representatives to this cham ber, and he hoped for a still growing cordiality between them and it. The day had now gone past, if it ever ex isted, when the Chamber of Commerce was to be regarded as an organ of political feeling. The chamber, he felt war ranted in saying, was truly cosmopolitan in its objects, interests, and feelings, as became the representative of the commerce of the greatest commercial community the world ever saw. Mr. PowLEs seconded the motion for adopting the report. Mr. MTIE supported the motion, and, in doing so, observed that the report was far from being an over statement of the exertions made and advantages con ferred by the Chamber. In addition to those named, it would be easy to refer to others; he might, for example, allude to Mr. Levi's visit and interesting lectures, from which much benefit, as well as instruction, had been derived. That gentleman, who was unquestionably a man of much ability and learning, might be said to have been indirectly the means of founding the Chamber. He might also allude to the very small sum which had been paid as allowance to deputations. This was a source of legitimate expenditure, which he feared was not ade quately met by the small sum set aside for it. Mr. Msclvirn said, as he meant to move an amendment on the motion under consideration, he wished to offer a few words in explanation. In the report now before the meet ing, allusion had been made to a report by a committee of this Chamber, which recommends certain alterations in the existing law of partnership. If the present mo tion is carried, and the report of the council be adopted, it will go forth to the world as the opinion of the mer chants of Liverpool, backed by all the authority this Chamber can confer, that we are in favour of limited lia bility among partners. That expression does not repre sent the feelings of the merchants of Liverpool. He would put it to any gentleman present to say if it were not a libel on the merchants of Liverpool to say they re quired such a provision. He for one would not be a party to aid in . drawing a distinction between a man's moral and his legal responsibility. It had been, he said, a custom to represent the company, of which he had the honour of being an humble member, as en joying privileges akin to those of chartered companies, because they received payments from Government. He was there, and would tell the meeting that company was not a chartered company, and that it never got a pound from Government for which it did not render twenty shillings' worth of hard service. He would put it to any man, however, to read the last three or four lines of the second paragraph of the sub committee'sreport, which says, " it," that is the law of part nership, " prevents men, possessing special aptitude for the management of business, but without capital, from exer cising their acquirements or skill to the best advantage," and say whether it might not be said with propriety of a pickpocket. Had not many a promising enterprise, he might ask, had the bottom knocked out of it by gentle men with no capital, but with special aptitude for business; yet such a principle it was proposed should go to the world under the sanction of the merchants of Liverpool. He concluded by moving that the portion of the report having reference to the law of partnership be omitted. The chairman in explanation said the subject was felt to be one of such liliportance that the council had agreed not to decide 011 it, but to leave it for consideration of the Chamber, Mr. M.A.clvEn said he could not for a moment concur in an opinion which would imply that a cursory meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was a suitable place for de bating so great and important a question, As a Liverpool merchant, he had to say that the report of the gub-com mittoe did not represent 11i4 §mtiwcutit cautious wording of the speech, and its laudable brevity. But there was another and a novel topic for discussion which occupied all men's minds, in and about the purlieus of Parliament. The character of an individual, for 14 years proverbial• for his good conduct, good under standing, nice judgment, and great discretion,—a Prince —the husband of the SOVEREIGN—the father of the i future king of these realms—long avert the day—Prince , ALBERT, a name hitherto only associated with works of " art and benevolence,"—this illustrious individual had been charged with unconstitutional conduct. I need not be more particular—the charges are before the world — they have been scattered before the winds—they were uttered though at the corners of the streets in town, throughout the country ; the discussion of them absorbed every other subject. HER MAJESTY, I need not tell you, reads the newspapers of every shade of politics ; she was not ignorant of those charges ; I have already truthfully alluded to her emotions on the night before she met Par liament, and on the morning thereof—when such a Queen as VICTORIA. weeps, it is no common event. Without stooping to notice a hundredth part of the vulgar gossip about the Tower !—the QUEEN not going to Parliament ! —Her CONSORT'S certain absence ! the closing of the park gates, to all but ticket holders ! and I know not what besides,—there was great uneasiness in the Palace. The illustrious subject of all this was distressed ! Else why that pallid face, weary eye, the eager and open mouth which I observed The PRINCE had not condescended to notice the charges inimical at once to his happiness as a man and his position as a Prince. Well, it was known that the Earl of ABERDEEN in the upper,chamber, and Lord Joss RUSSELL in the lower, had been commanded to notice the charges referred to. That in fact the QUEEN'S Speech, War with Russia, Ecclesiastical Courts Abolition, Education, aye the new Reform Biil (which will turn out a splendid humbug), these and other questions were all as nothing compared with the " defence of the PRINCE," for so it was called. The debates went on; those acquainted with the topography of the houses know that they are both reached in a little time—that if a dull speaker occu pies one house, in a twinkling relief may be found by jumping into the next chamber. Why should I wade through the observations of ABERDEEN and RUSSELL, touching the PRINCE ? The precis writers at the offices of both Ministers had the sainematerials to abstract; hence the line of defence was the same. But old ABERDEEN bad by far the best of it; he really warmed, and achieved what I never knew him to do during the last thirty years—he absolutely made the assembled peers laugh ! It is only necessary to state that the hear, hears, and the cheer, cheers, which caused both houses to echo, vindicated the PRINCE. The pulse of the Parliament, up to its close at midnight, was intimated to the QUEEN every few minutes. The Earl of DERBY, in the Lords, comported himself magnificently ; a hear ! hear ! from DERBY, given in a hearty manner, — which is very seldom, for he's ill to please—is worth noting. Such were his acclamations for Prince ALBERT. Chivalry ! Loyalty ! So also I willingly bear witness to DISRAELI in the Commons, in reference to the remarks made by Rus- SELL respecting the PRINCE. Mr. DISRAELI was discon certed all the evening ; his speech touching the Reform Bill—that is to be —was very droll. Why didn't he take his good old port—BELLAMY'S particular, up stairs, as he has ? Soda water at this season of the year ! Ugh ! I knew DISRAELI would come out cold and windy. He did. N'importe he gave some spicy notices referring to Exche quer Bills, deficiency bills, reduction of the national debt, balances in the exchequer, savings banks, Three per Cent. Stock; sinking fund, South Sea Stock, and I am sure some twenty other GLADSTONIAN topics. DIZZY says he is determined to stick to the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE QUER, and he has come out with a broadside the like of which was never given to a minister of finance, in these same notices, &c., referring to returns he requires, in order to his effective and intended attack. Your mercantile marine especially will be glad to be informed that the recent disasters at sea, in connexion with the port of Liverpool, have been, during the past week, the subject of frequent deliberation and discussion at the Board of Admiralty, in order to avert, as far as human wisdom and science can avert, such calamities. It is not generally known that in mostly all questions refer ring to nautical science the Government, in the first instance, puts itself in communication with the council of the Royal Society, which embraces among its members some of the most scientific men of this or of any other country. They meet every Thursday afternoon in nine months of the year for council business, after the trans action of which they partake of a quiet but elegant repast, generally at a neighbouring tavern. For many years the " Crown and Anchor" was so distinguished ; now that that once famous hostel, where Westminster's "Rump" dinners used to be given, has been transmogrified into the " Whittington Club," the Royal Society Savans dine else where. All great scientific questions, as I have said, are referred to this body. For example, the ancient standards of our weights and measures were lost, at least could nowhere be found. The Royal Society was applied to, and by a succession of nice observations and experiments, succeeded in forming the new standards—those now in use. They were—the originals I mean—committed to the keep ing of the city authorities, and were well nigh lost again; they were discovered lately.- But to return,—Mr. WELD, the secretary to the Royals, who must be allowed to possess much experience, seeing for several years he held a similar appointment in the Geographical Society, is now engaged on the subject of the doleful disasters to which I am alluding. He insists that no ship should be allowed to leave port without her compasses being examined and certified to, by a local government officer, of accredited talent and veracity ; his stipend to be paid out of a small fee levied on each vessel. Other equally important details are in contemplation for immediate adoption, and on no account is a vessel to leave port without its being ascer tained beyond doubt that she is under the entire control of her helm ; and further that, if a new vessel, the efficiency and working order of blocks and cordage are to be tested by repeated trials. These are the heads of the new mea sure ; you will perceive they have immediate reference to the ill-fated Tayleur. At the time the Mercantile Marine Act passed, many persons of great information and expe rience considered that measure, good as it was,—and much good it certainly has achieved,—ought to have been of a more comprehensive character, and embracing details such as those now forced on the attention of the legislature. The remarks of a celebrated wit, in! regard to reported accidents on railways—that they never would be effectually considered until a Bishop or two had "quietus made," applies here. The succession of disasters to our ships, mercantile and emigrant, surely justifies all that I have communicated. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1854. Mr. HOLLAND admitted the importance of the question was too great to be discussed in a cursory manner. He had a motion to propose, which, if permitted to make and able to carry, would, he thought, meet any objections which might be raised against receiving the report of the Council. He then entered at great length into the general question of limited and unlimited liability. A desultory and somewhat warm discussion followed, in which Mr. Maclver, the Chairman, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Forwood, and other gentlemen took part. Ultimately, Mr. CLINT moved that the report be adopted, with the exception of the clause relating to the Law of Partner ship, the latter portion of which he proposed should b altered as follows : " Which this Council, without prop nouncing any opinion on so important a subject, submits to the consideration of the Chamber at large." This motion was unanimously carried, and the report so altered was adopted, and ordered to be printed and circulated among the members. Mr. HOLLAND then moved that the Council be re quested to take the report of the sub-committee on the law of partnership into early consideration, and report their opinion to the Chamber. . . . Mr. ROBERTSON seconded the motion, which was car ried nem. con. Mr. FORWOOD said he had intended to offer a few re marks; but these had, in their general tendency, been superseded by Mr. Bouch's observations. He then briefly alluded to the proposed arrangements relative to the ma nagement of the docks, and concluded by impressing on the Chamber the benefits which such arrangements must impart to the commerce of Liverpool. Mr. SNEIL moved a vote of thanks to the Council, for the very able report they had prepared, and also for their general attention to the business of the Chamber. Mr. HOLLAND seconded the motion, .which was unani mously carried ; as was also a vote of thanks to the Chairman, on the motion of Mr. POWLES. The meeting then separated ROMISH LECTURE AT THE CONCERT HALL. LAST night, the Rev.W.H.Anderdon,latevicar of St. Ma rgaret's, Leicester, but a pervert to the Church of Rome, lectured at the Concert-ball. His subject was, "There is such a thing as a Church upon earth ;" and he intends to follow it up by another lecture next Monday evening, with the view of proving that " It is not a Pttestant body." There was a very limited attendance, the audience principally being composed of the lowest classes, who cheered vociferously any point that appeared to have been made by the lecturer. Mr. ANPEEDON began by giving his definition of what he considered a church. A church, or the church—for there could but be one—he took to be a body not human in its origin, formation, growth, or work, or influence, but in all those things Divine, coming from Heaven, formed and moulded by Heaven, and working by heavenly laws ; the only authorized expounder of truths, the one ordained channel of grace and salvation. How did the church in his sense take men ? Not as a member of civilized society, who was to be accommodated with a religion, as he might with any other article of comfort or refinement, by the prin ciple of supply and demand—a neat manufactured article, not inconveniently narrow nor awkwardly large, that would neither pinch nor sit too loose, that he might have made to order, and superintend in the cutting out, and send back if it did not fit. The Church took man as an indi vidual soul, a being by nature helpless and blind, as unable to discover the truths of Revelation by his private judg ment as he was to create himself by his own hands ; and presented to him a system of Revelation which he was to accept as Divine, both as a whole and in its parts, on which if he exercised his individual judgment he started with an act of disobedience, and to criticise which was to upset ipso facto the authority which had set it afloat. Thus to enlighten man, to train, to guide, and if they would, subdue him,—to exorcise him of the Devil, of pride, and unbelief, till he sat at her feet clothed and in his right mind, listening to the teaching which was not her's, but his Creator's,—that was in a Catholic view the office of the Church. _ _ _ Mr. ANDERDON, then figuratively assuming that he was addressing a Protestant audience, said " Here, then, is the real difference between us, and it is essential. You regard the church—as from- an eminence you survey her; I from beneath look up to her. You regard her as the workmanship of man ; I as the creation of God. You approve of her ; I submit to her. You trust her, or rather agree with her, as far as you can see; my trust follows her far beyond, out of sight, into the region of faith. You adopt her teaching so far as it accords with your judgment ; with me is no preconception or judgment where the church teaches, except to square them with her teaching without delay. You test the church's doctrines by your intellectual perceptions—l test the soundness of my intellectual per ceptions by the doctrine of the Church. Should the two things appear to vary, you would then follow your own judgment, as taking it to be the highest authority. I should follow the Church, as being sure her authority was supreme over my judgment. In mysteries equally beyond our comprehension, you adopt a certain rule in treating one, and a contradictory rule in treating another, as evi denced in the Incarnation contrasted with Transubstan tiation—mine is the same consistent rule for each and all. God has revealed, and the Church proposes to my belief the several articles of the Apostolic, the Nicene, the Athanasian, the Tridentine creed. I believe in Transub stantiation, as I believe in the Holy Trinity ; and in the existence of Purgatory, and the power of indulgence, as in the resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life ! I might, perchance, find more passages of Scripture to prove one than another, but that is not the ultimate ground of my bulief. I Lc,licv c, hc,o,uac the Church teacher), whatoocver she teaches, and in her living voice I find an exposition of the silent letter of Scripture, and a correction of the stammering lips of my own uncertain judgment." The lecturer then divided his address into two heads — the necessity for such a church, and the testimony afforded of its existence in the first two centuries. First, as to its necessity, he contended that, if there was a revelation sent to man, it was sent not to be discussed, but accepted. Affirm one part of the full Catholic creed, and they thereby affirmed all its kindred and consequent parts ; deny one, and they had, in principle, denied the remainder. The faith was one, and rested upon one principle of authority ; the consequence was, they must either take or leave the whole as a whole. His next proposition was, that a revelation would be committed to a channel secure of transmitting it unimpaired. It was not enough to have a message of truth, unless the channel also was safe from damage and destruction. Man, in his undertakings, meant well and began well, but he could not secure the future—that lay beyond his grasp. His plans failed and came to nothing from the action of time, and from the train of events of which he was not the master. He instanced a man founding a college or religious house. He framed ita statutes accurately, left it to the good faith of his country, and died content. Then came a parlia ment, or revolution, and overturned all his cherished pur pose. Whatever men had made, he could of course modify, and he had as much right to do it as another. A government adopted a particular religion, no matter whe ther from calm political consideration or the force of circum stances. In Austria, Piedmont, and the Duchy of Baden, the religion was the Catholic faith, and the government with its utmost determination and severity could not bind that faith to its use. But lay the scene in Sweden, Prus sia, or tngland, and make the form of religion, in itself pliant and malleable, any form of Protestant opinion, then they had a thing which had sprung to existence at the will and under the plastic hand of the State. Its very life was private judgment. The private judgment, or what ever might be called the religious or liturgical v . iel! of the sovereign, home secretary, or minister of public instruc tion, was worth more than that of the citizen, just as the viow of the look-out on the mast-head was clearer and quicker than that of the sailor who lounges on the deck. After ridiculing the exercise of private judgment in religious matters, and contending broadly for the infalli bility of the Romish church in matters of opinion, Mr. Anderdon went to the second part of his discourse, quoting a variety of fathers to show the existence of " the church" and the authority it exercised in the most primitive ages ; and concluded by urging that as surely as there was a Reve lation, so surely was there a visible teaching truth, pos sessing the gift, which God alone could give, to discern ' between the false and the true—to gather up the true into articles of faith—to anathematise the false as here ' sies, —in a word, the gift of infallibility ! SIGNS OF THE TIMES.—The Rev. Fielding Ould will deliver a lecture on this subject, on Friday next, in St. John's Church School Room, Oliver-street, Birkenhead, The proceeds will be devoted to the School Fund. THE NEWSRLFEE. — The newspaper is the chronicle of civilization, the common reservoir into which every stream pours its living waters, and at which every man may come and drink. It is the newspaper which gives liberty its practical life, its perpetual vigilance, and its unwearying activity. The newspaper is a daily and sleepless watch man, who reports to you every danger which menaces the institutions of our country, and its interests at home and abroad. The newspaper informs legislators of public opi nion, and it informs the people of the acts of legislators, which conduces to the maintenance of order, and prevents the stern necessity of revolution. The newspaper is a law book for the indolent, a sermon for the thoughtless, and a library for the poor.—Bu/wer. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. LONDON.—After official hours, markets recovered, and closed firmly ; Consols 92-1 1. Californian Mines improved, favourable advices having been received per the Niagara steamer; Aqua Fria 10s. better. THE Russ'AH EMBABSY.—Baron Brunow has not yet departed, although every preparation has been made for his doing so. The Baroness is not to accompany him. THE EASTERN WAR. Omar Pasha probably crossed the Danube on the 30th or 31st of January. No other news. (From the Second Edition of the Chronicle.) VIENNA, Sunday Night. Lieutenant Baron Meyendorff left yesterday for Bucha rest, with despatches, supposed to refer to a speedy armis tice. It is reported that the third Protocol was signed here on Friday, Austria and Prussia declining to adhere to the maintenance of the integrity and independence of Turkey ; their neutrality will be strictly . maintained. A Congress at Brussels is spoken of as probable. Constantinople letters of the 23rd ult. state that the Admirals decline the responsibility of navigation with sailing vessels in the Black Sea, in the present most dan gerous season. . TURIN, FEB. 2. Armamen',:.; continue with great energy. NAPLES, JAIL 30.—Ships from the Mak Sea arc again admitted to free pratigne. HOUSE OF LORDS—MoNDst, FEB• 6 ' Their lordships met at five o'clock. In reply to Lord IiTTTELTON, Lord GRANVILLE said the subject of the come establishment of district pauper schools WO consideration of the government. THE EASTERN QUESTION. The Marquis of CLA.NRICARE postponed till (Tuesday) week, his motion to call the attend house to the state of the country with relati( question of peace or war. The Earl of CLARENDON expressed his satisl he had only just received the official account of t of the Emperor of Russia to the proposals of the ence at Vienna the terms in the Emperor's alL s ‘` ever, were quite unacceptable to the governalen would not be transmitted by them to Constar Upon that subject there could not be a moment'. hesitation. The Earl of ELLENBOROITOR said there Coul d doubt we were upon the point of a great war. our preparations would not be relaxed. The Earl FITZWILLIAM expressed a similar oP Lord BEA.IIMONT asked whether our millist i Petersburg had been directed to withdraw. The Earl of CLARENDON said that the were acting in this matter in unison with tin of France, and to-morrow instructions wol which would place the ministers of England al. at St. Petersburgh, upon exactly the same terms ministers of Russia in Paris and London; The subject then dropped, and the house ' six o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS—MONDAY, F. The House met at a quarter to four. Mr. BEA.Nasli took the oaths and his seat of Cork. A new writ was ordered for the Southern Devonshire, in the room of Sir R. LOPES, 1 A number of railway and other private brought in and read a first time. Lord JOCELYN asked Lord J. RUSSELL Wht present state of our foreign relations, he intends in his bill on Monday next for the amendment presentation of the people. Lord J. RUSSELL would give an answer to thi on Monday next. (A laugh.) ALTERATION OF oA.T3lB.—Lord J. RUM mittee of the whole House, moved for leave tt bill to substitute one oath for the Oath of Supremacy, and Abjuration, and for the one by Roman Catholics ; and in doing so went ment under which the different oaths pr altered were framed ; contending that such had no reference or application to the presen that the oaths in question were made to nit dangers which no longer existed. He proposed of such portions and adjuncts which different had rendered necessary. By keeping up these and affirmations, thatwhichought tobe asolen was rendered a mere mockery. He then refe ally to the oath containing the words "4 faith of a Christian," and also to the declarai to the security of the Protestant religion, and that these were not fit subjects for an oath• only serve to trammel men's consciences, anti 'security for the established religion. He quoted delivered by Lord Lyndhurst and Baron in favour of right claimed on behalf of med Jewish persuasion—and described the course House in the case of Mr. Pease, and in conch that, whatever course the house might adop) have no doubt that these oaths ought not tained in their present form, and which, circumstances, amounted to mockery and pi, Sir F. TIIESIGER examined in detail the post by Lord John Russell, and called attention to taut principles involved in the contemplated reserving his further opposition to the fufr the bill, which, he said, would invade one of of the Protestant religion, and endanger itself, by taking away from the house its k meter. On the second reading, he should house upon the measure, which he regarded as most mischievous description. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. In reply to a question, Lord J. RUSSELL sal(' reading of the bill would be taken that day tl Mr. BUTT moved for a Select Committee respecting the allegations contained in the John Patrick Somers, in the case of the Sligo Mr. SADLIER seconded the motion ; which, alLj observations from the SOLICITOR-GENERAL GREEN, in opposition, was agreed to. The house adjourned at half-, PRODUCE MARKET. 13 , Sugar : In Foreign sales are limited ; price: s o. Refined sells slowly; Grocery Lumps, 455. to There is little doing; Native Ceylon, 495. to 5 05 "ie 518. Tea quiet; ordinary Congou Is. Id, to lu r e The demand is not larger ; previous terms %g. Brandy is in active demand, and rates are advanci ng The sales are small, at former prices. TALLOW MARKET. $3, W 1 Tallow is dull, at previous value. Stoelf,. against 41,859 same time last year. Deliver' against 2,128 casks same time last year. CATTLE MARKET. coed Beasts sold readily at last Monday's prie e Calves did not sell so well, although rates are t''" e; week. 6iPti Beef 2s 8d to 4s 6d Veal ...... 4s gd Mutton 3s 2d to 5s 2d I Pork •3l ARRIVALS. Beasts 3BOO I Calves ...... Sheep and Lambs Norfolk and Suffolk 8ea5t5.......... • • 'Air Cambridge, Leicester, Lincoln, and No rd . 9.9) am ton Beasts ...................... • • Scotch Beasts Irish Beasts Holland Beasts Do. Sheep Do. Calves Do. Pigs Spanish Beasts Do. Sheep French Beasts ..... • ...:.::: :: :: :::: 91,0 tr iSCl s ,; MANCHESTER STOCK EXC v --- 0;4 Caledonians, 261; Lancashire and Yorksbig 4 stlii; London and North-Westerns, 1001 ; Diaac and Lincolnshire, 221 23} ; Midlands, U" British, ai cash; Boyers, 181 9-16. LEEDS STOCK EXCHAN6ti, Unity Assurance, 94 pm.; Leeds Northero, if) LATEST SHIPPING INTELIO - DEAL, FEB. 6.—David and Caroline, from 0.1 , LIVERPOOL: goror‘ Printed and Published every_Tuescial,oo:l4 Proprietor, ROBERT PEAitoON Percy-street, at the STANDARD GEL lR e rrt OFFICE, No. 4, ST. GEORQS.4 Cas' w " Tueaday, February 7,1854. - ' 4l Air VI occal "e4e,kOSPIT Sea Childrel COi . OPEN Adm .ttOy A 14 4. L Neerne lt: , l 4 1 t lith e Z e vei kftNbtß it 0 ED A AA to t, HID kitrp o f S t. 114 11 !..rn_ely k t ol v 181 L: sTEr Al GAZ a t latelylately tt . eo, which ijile ' f ? 4Y ar p„:xla ibit N QNTSI:OI . II ICT( R er Da 'lnazt 1 4 .4 br,: a ge to A4l ° gtit t 4 :t1 k r4 . 1 441% 41 aA Be‘fern A tte st 14 4 , it t r noon ei Larg e Years, 1 .4 04 c Lk gpentido n kttrttr de I . . till to-aoto ttention 0, 0 I , relation to Constartibt,aient's do,' Iti. rar.me coullf;tiidet.:4; 4pis----.......____:___"':::::;Airßl:l tilar op e, 4 C0,...e N -- I'ystse:°arntifUtinstilfcriC'e:colitirCl:l:l7i ~....................___CIP. minister s'' -`l2, PPE C • I N ~, Theatres_ _ he GosA I?lii' OF T, the Gover7o the ae I'YON , would to v e COmi THE 'rid and I, ~ me terms 1)5 glai 13,,,egtiin THE . toil rtalo •• • • Sin zse AP iti'lloa°lt.. si.7. 8 0: J a ur rw( , l'r,'oilia,,nilileT LT, FED . °' 861,0,,nii,;'InenAy, i 414ditirteg VI E e B seat fore itt?4,:e;r4:iills,.,lAtphnptdehaeeyrA:ln7s, ,A 0 t 1148uldpkY, lOat hero 01% , " ° t stiaton. A deceased.,; 0 tite,4".cruatEß'S vote 130' , 4 .11„ Gsstio AT whether,ll/, ilVeirray.til:AoYnN_DiarEes 'O 1' e. 8°48: :dmarvttseeosnerttndohLteLetd:qtf;r Pen at oiz:lnlHeiodoswa 4 of 0 i ~... Childrei e one nol 4t CRY rent into $ ' to 17.) Pr°P?..,sv;st)s.4 L ~ n cir, i %avast Night resent till'eltl, ' O n to witm to meet c e „ , oposed to '4d ith o 77. ELL, sit eireoros_lt% tire 1,,,f,,, Fin se needle .411Eit k.AG 3rieeraliferreT4 )1111 it] H 4 "On Si 4°N Appear 1 claration TAX ~, 'EsDA y a and In" 0 S,_tioor, oathth,s,l„l tirri'etenanc;ntPen s, and al e° . it t r ' 4 4. B 6 Of Atl o mr quoted 01 1 4.1 ip a n d i) Galle s r ! 3aroo Alf., pie d o , l- , ( nn the I merabers li" - ---- 4 lL__ use takeol) , 01A:, ielusion 0 ? iltuit(Ta,;" PA: adopt, he ski' 'X . ilaY), 7 not to be etthe GtARI eh, under„ litq,kVial PANTS profanstivt) Con gand the I Le positiOt) ii'd'ettppiXrrino•, on to the, ;1)411.e. ?ii Pant, tplated v el e telt, N ImuAleot futures tAV Ili• M r. 'I O N of the se c t io \L' t . O A Bum II ger Chris 114,41}PnmeXceer ;s Christl e t 'i+i,i pricewtcea, 38. ' .ould dio o ta ('n_e tria°,.the B ded as 00e t ,„....LJe 04 1 ' VEP , 01 44 --Th 'POO )ill. e Tire "Rs L said the,' , IS DAY ( ay three 71 M A ittee of,oo the petTroi, 1,, Al lino e lect' 4 - -R. L .;‘, -4' I.IVILEINA , 111 upponntuu, MIS MgreCll W. The house adjourned at half-past six o'clock. I'Dx,,. rPrinc ep-,Tcrort.. - ii . iQ9 RA M M l• T o " ASIA, f BETTING AT TATTERSALL'S-I'los D o t kk c ~.. eta ommENC DERBY HANDICAP HURDLE RACE.-5 to 1 Nit, 1. for unapt Bright ;sto 1 agst Beresford, tk ;sto 1 agsb 11 ' 6 d. each. tk and off. 4. DA , 1 1A le i 'LANS nr MIDLAND STEEPLE CHASE .-4 th 1 ags. , I , i 4 ' ;--s' ' Or.; 6(1 Stars, 5 to 1 agst Needwood, tk ; 6 to 1 agst Trout, , • , agst Spring, tk; 10 to 1 agst Cervus, tk. ,0 4 -- ----_____f__*l 0 r1i..., LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE.-7 to 1 agst -0 , - (6 .• t ~ .in-t,'S 3 bray tk ;16to 1 agst Bourton, tk ;25t0 1 * l ' t; 1 .1 . , EL. Arthur tk ;30to 1 agst Burnt Sienna, tk. r ti:,.,• ...... ilimi ntb n TAINME) 2,000 GIIINEAS. - 10 to 1 agst Phaeton, tk• „ J o -, Es,. et i METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-25 to 1 agst . , , t k ,uNA take 30 to 1. ~,,; f i h"44444E1NG CHESTER CUP.-18 to 1 agst Star of Surrey , " P O t c k ;its in n the M DERBY.-9 to 2 agst Autocrat, tk •Bto I a n " ' 1 agst Peggy, tk ;25t0 1 agst Newminster, tk; .444 as lately J agst Nabob, tk. _ A , V, _with exti Tom, tk; 12 to 1 agst Dervish, tk il ti3 i , tr . 11760 4, 4b,, _11l 7VvO o'o .1 6a , ..ee , S t e r a t s , Huntsman, tk; 33 to 1 agst Andover, ~...l - ' ..._________________ k ‘ , l ENTEI agst Ruby, tk. -- t tor, _ . .,f 1 A:T UR L I , l ay, co x .ca FUNDS, STOCK, AND SHARE M-AB t o' /On s CE/0 Sat r • Ge : ri• English Securities less excited, and the rise of A viv Oftr, kw t=li B quite supported. Consols opened buyers at 92k, It' s $0 tti4soNzZrt LEA per cent., and closed at the opening price. Railw_ 4 'ooo ,To "S „ dealt in, but a slight advance in the forenoon not To. t, ( i e r c . on n . ne :fuN chief feature a rise of nearly 3 per cent. in Berwi c •for , 4 Oalle r i e u s e ej to the announcement of a 4 per cent. dividend. f' Isl a "' at th e ft — North Midland improved 1 per cent. from syrnpatbf:eri tN,,..e pu tt , , all kt 'illtyndencel stocks brisk, at former terms. Land and Bank de s W) ArP ]. a shade weaker. t, tN.,..,_ missi CLOSING PRICES. 11 4 4 , 1 1.1, k r CL: Consols, Account .. 1 Bank Stock ...... .....a;$ 11 qr are de l i next, Do. Money.... I 92$ f Excheq. Bills, L. e*" . Three&Qr per Cents 93* 4* ,it. iv_Mus I ;!try ,VdRCIOry FOREIGN STOCKS. . „.p "lat , .i0 D ,.., Mexicans 24i 5* Spanish Passives • • 1 / '?eve n. ..., Do. Threes Spanish Deferred .... 40/ 11 Swedish .....• • Do. Threes l9l i 10 d e 'Eluners w RAILWAY SHARES. . rIl , 0 11 . Vellin Amberg.,Nottingham, London &N. Vires, e o , ad, gof and E. Junction — London &S. We s " d 0 Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Marches., Shelf., $ 13 . , LA .r ., Do. Preference Zci l ,"' l)o Ve elegt East Anglian — Midland Halves.• • • ~ Eastern Counties East Lancashire 64 6 Do. Preferee , Ctb e Eastern Union A ~' Ditto B and C ~ , Osi n g al and i North Staffordshilip tr tlu e Oltly vi s i t teaC tr lrnent ha Edinburgh & Glasgow Shrewsbury and Great Northern B7 8 mingliam ..... •• ',, t it ,:,, .-,0 1 • r 1 4 %a, - ,,Dolmlari Do. A — Do. L. &N. W. ~- -f e r 4 kp i c.,ort of th Do. • B — S. Eastern and 1)° ,04 0 t t 4 t , a,.'"lllments, Great Western Lane. and Yorkshire 651 6 Berwick . —.. •• . ; 0 0 ~ Do. Fifths — Do. Exte . rwe i . eat he has Leeds Northern l3 14 Do. Prefere`ti 1 : London,Brighton,and York and N. Midis ° South Coast. 96 7 Do. Preferen ce ' . Al t TIIE R 1 MINING SHARES. tl t ir 0, Noveau Monde Nugget ........ •• • , r at Weel Registered Cordeliera Ave Maria Carson's Creek — Colonial ...... , k 1 4 1% the Bal Port Philip ir w in THIS LAND SHARES. ... lim be ; AustralianAgricultural424x dviPeel River ....... , , 4,ert io T S. Australian l* f van Dieman's.. ... , h e (N,,,,ns fron B. American N. B. Australian 0 4k,toil e " , NT. qb wed by ] CORN MARKET. 0 ~ W 1 , F ACES, The show of English Wheat is scanty, and tb . s i ,: d Foreign are short, but trade opened very flat, ab wild 1 0 • U 0 F tNi•u(lolett Is. per quarter on all secondary and inferior. _ I iiig p er i l and prices are maintained. Town-made Flour fat io rCi TH: rates, but barrelled sold slowly. Barley has dec_' is , t i L L quarter. Beans and Peas brought Monday's terwki t'j milCerv e a __ trade is tolerably stead, but inferior neglected. v, , , Drice open English Wheat 2s. to 35., and Foreign Is. to 24 * 'Orr 'F o ra op en 7 lower than on Monday last. Town made Flout 0 0 „ l At o , e , a,t . American Is. per barrel cheaper. Barley, Bea_O 40/ 1 cl oc k. about 2s. lower. Oats 6d. to is. cheaper. Seed ) al &jAYTO ARRIVALS. 1 oi l lr i GRA: f O 7 • English. Irish. Wheat lOBB 1 , 0 Barley 4085 ii I) RAWI Oats 3487 217 / 4 Malt 3437 • Beans Peas 137 ISA II 0 y )) TO- -1 Flour ... 1590 i '()Mo.