The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-23 00:00:00

Riberpoot talibarb, FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. MONDAY MORNING, Tun subjects of legislative pastime during the week have as u multifarious in character, and the consideration of them has exhibited diversified results. The Peers, although timely and no doubt profitably engaged, have not made any va7 extensive display of their legislative functions, but lava, in a great degree, confined their operations to sedate agitation, enlivened now and then with a practical appli cation of those principles of Conservative deliberation for uLish their proceedings have acquired distinction and re nown. The other branch of the legislature, " the people's tee„ has been engaged in various and erratic gyrations, in the practise of which they have included or glanced at w a rty every possible and impossible subject of legislation i nqu iry, from the regulation of Church property to the sesaring of personal liberty against the aggression of pciastly intolerance—from the conduct of the war to the cseeration of bankers' cheques—from the making of malt and the distillation of whisky, to the circulation of the Tr:aft and the success of a farthing monthly periodical. Sc' wide a range of legislative vision has necessarily re ef-tiled many curious facts, and brought to light a consi derable array of individual and ministerial peculiarities. On Monday, the performances began by Mr. J.Wiesoe— in answering-Mr. C. COWAN, one of the representatives of the Northern Athens,—stating that it was the intention of government to introduce a bill for the regulation of areenrance associations ; but, in giving the intimation, the Len. member for Westbury omitted to say whether it was the ministerial assurance association, or that for the re formation of the excise laws, which was to be the chief object of the government solicitude. Probably, in the absence of more distinct information, it may not be un emit' able to assume that both associations feel the" assirableness of parliamentary protection for their assu sauce, and that the patriotic efforts of the government will be disinterestedly devoted to obtain a general recog nition of the pretensions of each. The second and principal ministerial performance of that evening, was a consi deration of the bill for imposing additional duties on malt andsspirits, which, according to the order of business, was to be read a- second time that night,—Mr. CAYLEY, member for the North Riding of Yorkshire, meeting the proposal with a motion that it be read a second time that day six months. The hon. member for Westbury (who, in the absence of Mr. GLADSTONE, appeared as guardian at the measure,) relied upon the house having pledged itself to the war as being " a just and necessary" one, 'being bound to supply the means by which alone it could be prosecuted with vigour and brought to a successful termination, and urged, with more truth than kindness, that, for producing the sinews of war, the malt-tax was a source of income which was never known to fail. Sir Joins PA.KINGTON and others urged the unfairness, and who the inadequacy of the tax proposed, as a means to meet the exigency ; and spiritedly as well as truthfully impigned the pusilanimity of the government, who had met the manliness to vindicate their measures. This taunt (sold not be withstood; so the gladiator of the Coalition lercklecT on his panoply and speedily took ground, bedecked with helmet and shield,. On entering the arena, however, it was soon observed that Lord JOHN was armed only with a wooden sword, suitable, no doubt, along with his brazen shield, to parry a thrust, but utterly worthless as a weapon of offence. Instead, therefore, of rushing boldly at his antagonist, as has been his wont, in this instance he sneaked behind his shield, and contented himself with putting it to the horse to say whether, when a formidable naetary power threatened to swallow up one of our allies, a paltry ls. 3d. per bushel upon malt was too great a sreerifice to save him. The subterfuge was too glaring to mire detection ; its audacity too flagrant to pass uncasti- Kited ; and his lordship, along with his brethren of the " talents," received a flagellation at the hands of Mr. Drs. seem such as will not readily be forgotten. Nevertheless their point was gained—the bill was read a second time ; and, as success is said to be sanctified by suffering, they will, without doubt, anticipate a double measure of benefit from the project they have so far carried amidst sorrow and reprßof. Tuesday night aas chiefly devoted to one of the crotchets of Mr. MILNER GIBSON, who sessionally, monthly, hebdomadally, and nightly, tor mentellimself, bores the house, and pesters the country with/ interminable allegations, inquiries, and suggestions about stamps, newspapers, and cheap knowledge, without, arobabiy, being aware that the knowledge he has acquired and distributes with such merciless pertinacity is exceed ingly dear in being listened to, and cruelly expensive iu swallowing up the public time and attention. Every one thought that a month ago he had for the season slain all the giants which he-annually creates out of the newspaper stamp, and nobody was prepared to see their ghosts again " revisiting the glimpses of the moon" till they had been Ince more purged by the glowing suns of summer, and ended and farther blanched by the rains and snows of winter. The advocates of the unstamped press had for the hundredth time exhausted all their arguments, and shown that they had no fresh ground on which to rest their case, nor any additional facts by which to strengthen their exploded averments ; but, profiting by the wise man's intimation that " perpetual dropping of water weareth away stones," they seem resolved to make up by importu :tit,' for their deficiency of reason. The question was once more debated on Tuesday night, and the debate unfolded sue or two particularities worthy of note : the first was the continued and, if possible, growing hostility of Brother BRIGIIT, of Manchester, to an independent press. That meek ornament of - passive resistance never missing an op portunity of launching a poisoned arrow at the Daily .News, with which, it is said, he was not long ago pecu niarily connected, but which, finding the terms of his asibances in support of a free press somewhat hard of digestion, was, it is whispered, under the necessity of dis eardine its phlegmatic adorer, and hence his love has tarred to hate. Another notable matter was the " special aptitude for business" manifested by the noble HOME SRO/START, who, with the practised eye of a parlia mentary chief, detected at a glance that the ministerial sqaadron had no chance against the arrayed phalanx of Mr. GIBSON'S supporters, if he pushed his proposal to a &vision. Instead of risking this humiliation, or submit ting to display a reluctant acquiescence, as a less adroit Metician would have done, Lord PALMERBTON affected a satroniSing indifference, but with his blandest grace sug gested a trifling alteration, merely to obviate the chance el misinterpretation. The cheap literary champion, now mused sufficiently to see his momentary strength, infused to give way, but volunteered a declaration that no such meaning was implied or intended as that suggested to the fertile imagination of his lord ship, who, declaring himself satisfied with the explanation, withdrew his opposition, and Mr. GinsoN secured the empty triumph of a committee to inquire into the state and administration of the newspaper stamp-laws, at some time " to the prosecutor unknown," as the canny &etch lawyers express themselves with regard to crime. The manoeuvre of his lordship was complete, and, what was more, it was completely successful, and that is more than any one willl say of his colleague, Mr. GLADSTONE'S, Imancial coups. Wednesday saw the consummation of another minis terial move, which, though not nearly so well played as Ibe one above referred to, was nevertheless so far success- Ed that its object was achieved. This was the withdrawal of the Marquis of BLANDSORD'S Capitular Estates Bill, a measure which, however, possessed the very negative virtue of pleasing no one. Its second reading had to lie moved on Wednesday night ; this was opposed by Lord A. VANE and others, on various grounds, which afforded Lord Jomc RUSSELL an opportunity of draw ing one of his well-known wind bills on futurity, in the manufacture of which spurious sort of currency his kedship has acquired more celebrity than fame,—as wit ness his famous Durham diatribe and Ecclesiastical Titles Bill ; his new parliamentary reform project, cum multis 4this quce nunc prescribere longum est. The present ease afforded him an opportunity of drawing a picture sufficiently luminous and brilliant to dazzle the eyes of Church reformers. It is indeed true the outline was vague, bat the colours were glowing, of that great healing mea erne by which the Government intend, when they can get time, to abate the grievances and cicatrise the wounds which rankle in the ecclesiastical body corporate, and by the application of which they will convert the Church into a mundane elysium. The "good time coming" was no atrubt indefinite, but the bait took, and the bill, such as it was, was withdrawn for the session. The„ time when his lordship's promised projet may be expected to become Lois may be guessed by the fact that never, in any session, has be been able to redeem the promises made at its com mencement, and from that deducing the probable period be will require to perfect one, of which neither the shape nor the date has been adventured on. Much has been written, and an incredible quantity of eloquence has been expended in condemnation of the conduct of what I ias been termed a tyrant maj or it y ; b ut it has beenreserved fOr OUT own day, and has fallen to the l o t o f the rampant - 3 ib era i s to aid in the creation of a t yrant minority, an to j u stify their acts in bringing the functions of the legisla ture and the business of the country to a dead-lock, by a hypocritical and mendacious adoption of the forms of the _ Rouse of commOES, and so twisting them as t o e ff ect ob jects directly at variance with the purposes for which they and, worse' than all, this tyrant 'rem originally framed ; thepractice referred minority has been abetted _ to by Ministers of the Crown. This will be readily understood lay reference to the p.roceedings on Mr. CHAMBERS' motion kc a committee to inquire into the management_ of con ventual and monastic institution s. The principle as to the propriety of inquiring had been conceded by the House after full debate, and in opposition to every means, "Legitimate, dubious, and,illegitimate, which the hostility of the Popish faction could bring to bear up on the g eneral question. The tactics of the Vatican were no t exhausted with the defeat of those preliminary obstacles which their ingenuity had conjured up ; nor were they satisfied with the most determined opposition its adherents could offer, and so obviously are they afraid of investigation, that, instead of relying upon the vaunted purity of the institu tions which they defend, they have again strained the almost limit of their unscrupulousness in preventing tie appointment of any committtee. The eommittee was to consist of fifteen members, and' every available form of amendment was brought forward against every ierrvidual named,—not, be it remembered, on any al ksgation of personal unsuitableness , incap a city or individual es of judgme n t, b u t simply because the college of car- dinals will not have a committee at all. Thus, to the nomination of Mr. WALPOLE, although no personal ob jection is taken to or understood to exist against the appointment of the right honourable gentleman, not fewer than eight separate notices of amendment were given on the question that he be appointed, each one of the amendments involving the certainty of a complicated and protracted debate. Ex-uno disce omnes:thus clearly establishing the impossibility of appointing any committee during the present session. This mockery of legislation., and entire check to parliamentary proceedings, is hypo critically censured in terms of mild reprobation by Lord Jon:s RUSSELL, who yet adds an expression of his satis faction at the practical defeat of Mr. CHAMBERS' inquiry through its agency : the factiousness of the course pursued is admitted, adopted, and defended by Mr. BRIGHT, yet both these honourable gentlemen are great sticklers for the freedom of debate, the privileges of parliament, and the liberty of the subject. In the face of so singularly constituted, yet so mischievously effective an opposition, Mr. CHAMBERS had obviously only the alternative of withdrawing his intended inquiry, which he accordingly did on Thursday night. The defeat of his piroposal is a matter deeply to be regretted on its own merits, but doubly so as demonstrating that, how carefully so ever we may guard ourselves against the usurpations of Popery, it is an unquestionable and dangerous fallacy to proclaim that the POPE has and shall have no power within this realm. Though the proceedings of Thursday evening in the House of Commons commenced so uncheeringly, the true interests of the state were advanced to no inconsider able extent by measures discussed, and suggestions thrown out at an after period of its deliberations ; conspicuous among which must be recorded the sensible and judicious remarks made on the Merchant Shipping Bill by your sober-minded and intelligent member, Mr. HORSFALL. His observations and hints on the various subjects he introduced were so obviously the emanations of thorough knowledge, that they made a deep and lasting impression upon the house, and as such redound to the honour of his constituents, while they establish for himself a reputation for sagacity and usefulness, as valuable personally as it will be practically beneficial. If the past week has been legislatively a busy and a varied one, among the members of the beau monde it has been equally busy and important, though less varied in its complexion, which has generally been one of gaiety and grace, the leading event being the state ball given by HER MAJESTY at Buckingham Palace. This entertain ment was on a scale of grandeur and magnitude unpa ralleled in the court annals of our gracious SOVEREIGN, rife although these are with records of tasteful splendour, combined with virtuous gaiety. The whole of the state apartments were devoted to the gorgeous pageant, and were radiant with all the magnificence which taste and art united to rank,' beauty, and elegance could confer. The assemblage was numerous and noble beyond former precedent, comprising seventeen dukes, and sixteen duchesses, eighteen marquisses, and sixteen marchionesses, eighty-four earls, and seventy-two countesses, thirty-six viscounts, and thirty-three viscountesses, one baroness, eighty-one lords, and a galaxy of ladies, numerous and sparkling as the stars which gem the firmament ; in addi tion to all which there was a gathering of honourables and right honourables of both sexes, of naval and military officers, and of learned and grave civilians, —Thick as the leaves that strew The brook of Valambrosa. The accompaniments of this fete were on a scale of regal pomp seldom equalled, and never surpassed. The saloons were charmingly decorated with groups of flowers dis playing the most brilliant blossoms, and rendering the air odourous with their rich perfumes ; " gold and gems, and jewels and bright eyes,' displayed beneath a flood of ambient light which streamed from chandeliers and crystal lustres, from glittering sconce and sparkling girandole, gave animation to a scene of gorgeous beauty unmatched in even the poet's dream. Conspicuous among the noble host which thronged those stately halls, marked chiefly by the severe though elegant simplicity of her attire and her winning gracefulness of manner, was the honoured and loved lady of our land, who welcomed and cheered her royal and noble guests with an ease and beauty of demeanour _Which charmed all hearts and_loosened every tongue. On Thursday evening, HER MAJESTY, accompanied by Prince ALBERT, attended the Royal Italian Opera, to wit ness the performance of BELLINI'S "I Puritani ;" and on Saturday she held a drawing-room in celebration of her birthday, which was numerously and brilliantly attended. The period fixed on for opening the Crystal Palace, at Sydenham, the 10th of June, draws on apace, and the preparations for the great event are being rapidly pro ceeded with, and every exertion is made to render the in auguration worthy of the occasion. Her MAJESTY, as I previously intimated, having consented to take part in the inauguration ceremony, the Governments of France, Bel gium, and Prussia, and several other foreign courts have intimated their intention of sending representatives to take part in the inauguration pageant, the effect of which will be heightened by a grand musical performance, which will be executed by upwards of a thousand members of the Sacred Harmonic and the new Philharmonic Societies. To prevent danger, inconvenience, and undue crowding, the directors of the Crystal Palace Company have wisely resolved to limit the admission of the public on the opening day to the holders of season tickets. From the turmoil, and the glare, and the glitter of London life —from the small contentions and vapid whis perings of its coteries, few asylums present more grateful or winning allurements than those offering themselves in the picture exhibitions by which the numerous public galleries are annually filled in May. The season, which by its buds and verdure animates the hopes of the hus bandman, and stimulates the expectation of the florist, is one in which the artist enjoys his triumph and reaps his reward ; to him, at this season, the exhibition-room is the world—in its atmosphere his excitable heart swells with the elation of the hour, and he is, for the moment at least, a proud and a happy man. The creations of his teeming fancy—the concentration of his mental study —the graces of his intellectual culture—and the skill derived from his incessant and laborious exertions, are placed before the eyes of what, to him, should be a worshipping world, and for the time being he is supremely blest. Your artist is generally a man of ardent temperament, of simple desires, and guileless habits, and, while pleased himself, he sheds a radiance of delight around him ; and, as some such happy being is always sure to be met with in an exhibition-room, a lounge within its precincts is at once a cause and an effect of pleasure. The place is in general moderately filled with people more or less intellectual, at least it is so before the hour at which the dictate of fashion congregates within its embrace the credulous VERYSOPRTS and sim pering ANGELINAS, who meet but to be seen themselves, and who have no admiration to bestow on ought that is not personal ; and an assembly of intellectual people, sur rounded by the emanations of intellect, is at all times a place of interest and gratification. English art has fre quently been charged with the crime of being merely imitative, rarely soaring into the realm of fancy, and sel dom attempting to realize the poetry of high imagination. A glance around the walls of the Royal Academy Exhibi tion rooms would prove that this, though partly true, is generally false. The artist, however imaginative he may be, is, ex necessitate, compelled to deal with material things, and will only be successful so far as he succeeds in rendering these with a fidelity at once appreciable and striking • the higher attributes of his calling being to invest these material things with new and elevating qua lities, and to display them under circumstances which draw forth generous and ennobling sentiments. It may indeed be a matter of difficulty to invest a landscape with the moral grandeur pertinent to the embodiment of an important historical event—and cannot be a matter of easy accomplishment to imbue the portrait of a green grocer with the intellectual superiority of a sage—still the ever-varying aspects of nature, and the ceaseless diversity of human expression furnish ample opportunity to the artist for displaying his learned appreciation of her works —his deep and lively sympathy with all her numberless meanings. Such sympathy and appreciation, duly worked out, will be found to constitute the basis of true greatness in art, and their application is well marked in the pro ductions of our artists whose genius enables them to clothe a common-place landscape in the gentle softness of ely- I • slum, and to elevate the smug features of a Wapping crimp into the simulated dignity of a senator and a sage. ' In all the departments of art, as practised in this, and it may also be in other countries, there is much affectation ; but in none does this peculiarity evince itself so strikingly as in the line of portrait. Much of this is no doubt owing \to the vagaries of the artist, but tenfold more is charge able against the whimsies of the sitter. It being under stood that the artist must produce a portrait which shall at least be recognizable as representing the individual meant, how can he do so without perpetrating an ab surdity, if the original insists on arraying his countenance ' in a guise which might well excite the envy of a Gardafui negro ? In gazing on the numerous representations of the " human face divine," which annually bedizen the walls of the exhibitions, I have often been struck by the singu. • larities by which individuals seek to distinguish them selves from the common herd. At one period the rage is in the direction of a fold-over shirt collar and an exposed throat ; to this succeeds a desire for immortalising hu manity in all the stiffness of starched cravats, and collars as stark as a knife-board, with edges only less keen than a razor. Here we have a gentleman, who, seemingly sensi ble that learning is advantageous, and doubtful of his ability to show his claim to that distinction, clothes that head in an academical cap, on, or in which, we may look in vain for any other symbol of erudition ; via a vis to the pseudo scholar, we have, occasionally, a gentleman of tiny enough proportions, wearing a hirsute thatch of such out rageous magnitude and bristling uproar, as seems to favour the conjecture, that, knowing there is nothing in his head, he has resolved to show how much external furnishing it can be loaded with. In spite of such puerilities and bad taste on the part of sitters ; and of unworthy sycophancy on the part of inferior artists, we have still numerous and noble specimens of portraiture ; and we may rest assured that that branch of art which was not considered un worthy of the pencil and the genius of Turkic—which conferred the highest claims of REMBRANDT upon pos terity—to which VANDYKE owes his fame, and REYNOLDS his reputation, has, in itself, something more to ensure it public patronage, than its power of ministering to mere personal vanity. In addition to the consideration it de serves as a means of indicating and gratifying family affection, it possesses also high claims as a branch of philo sophical and scientific art, and in no country of the world does it meet with a more sedulous or intelligent cultiva tion than in the English school of pictorial art. Its dig nity and importance are fitly and substantially vindicated and maintained by not a few of the artists whose works grace the collection in Trafalgar-square ; nor are champions of its merits wanting in several of the other exhibitions, which at present solicit the support and woo the coun tenance of an educated public. In the other walks of art the collection is also strong, and although it lacks many of • the melo-dramatic features which form so striking a characteristic of the French school, and is deficient in that ethical mysticism which so predominates among the Ger mans, an exhibition which contains chefs d'oeuvres from the hand of IVlscrasE, of WARD, EASTLAKE, L ESLIE , a nd FAED ; which is enriched by the labours of LANDSEER, of ANsDELL, and of LANCE, some of whom the British nation may be justly proud of, possess a high claim upon the public 'regard. Many of your readers, in common with all lovers of art, will learn with much satisfaction, that the government has "decided on appointing a salaried director of the National Gallery," a fact, announced in the House of Commons on Thursday evening. Another artistic fact of some import ance has also been bruited, not in the House of Commons, but in well-informed literary and artistic circles ; it is, that if peace is maintained in central Europe, a Great FabibitiQU of (*ow Art is to eke plue in bluilicla, THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER COMMERCIAL de MONETARY NEWS. MONDAY NIGHT. IF the condition of the money market, as judged of by the price of the public funds, may be taken as a fair test of the state of commercial affairs, the latter may be considered very satisfactory, not withstanding the dulness which still prevails and the apparent total absence of speculation. The Funds have gradually improved in value, and although the accounts from the seat of war have been in some degree conflicting, they have expe rienced but little fluctuation. The returns of the Bank of England show a very small diminution in the stock of bullion, it being only £18,713 ; but it may be remarked that, during the week included in the return, the receipts of gold from abroad were but small, whereas during last week the imports were considerably in excess of the exports of the precious metals. For commercial purposes the money market has been rather tight, and the rates of discount have been higher, reaching as much as six per cent. on first-class paper ; still there have been no failures of any magnitude, and nothing to distrust the confidence which appears to prevail as to commercial security. It would appear that the demand for money for legitimate purposes has led to an increased rate of interest, the advance on the part of the Bank of England having been in no way influenced by any appre hension as to mercantile stability. In the manufacturing districts there is no actual improvement, buyers still holding off on the chance of pieces being still lower, and confining their purchases to immediate requirements: Opinions, however, are gaining ground that activity will shortly be resumed, and that very soon the trade in home manufactures will be on a satisfactory footing. The Corn trade has experienced a considerable impetus during the week, and Flour has advanced no less than 2s. 6d. per barrel. This is owing, in some measure, to the protracted dry weather and the backwardness of vegetable crops, which during this season of the year usually enter into compe tition with the consumption of bread. There is still, however, a good prospect of an abundant harvest ; and as arrivals have been large, there is no great confidence in any further advance. Our SHARE MARKET has been very steady all the week, with the tendency of prices decidedly upwards. There has been a larger business also than of late. Local stocks are in good demand, and continue to improve with the market generally. We annex this day's quotations :—Caledonians, 271; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 28 ; Great Northern, 218 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 60t, 4 s ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 118 • London Stock, 961 f • Ditto Eighths, ld • Midland Stock, 581 ; North British, '7l ; gouth Eastern, 18* 1-16; Poltimore Copper and Gold Mine, 2d; Shrewsbury and Chester gar. 8 per cent. pref. 16*; Borough Bank, 11* ; Lancashire Insurance, 4 1 3 ; Liverpool United Gas, 198. The return from the Bank of England for the week ending the Gth of May gives the following results, when compared with the previous week : Public deposits ... £2,748,437; Increase £409,615 Other deposits ... 10,587,010; Decrease 101,521 Rest ... 3,214,897; Increase 10,035• On the other side of the account— Government securities £11,625,492, Decrease £941,115. Other securities ... 15,144,039; Increase 394,579 Notes unemployed ... 4,713,280; Increase 812,850 The amount of notes in circulation is £21,143,990, being a decrease of £830,310 ; and the stock of bullion in both departments is £12,589,366, showing a decrease of £18,713, when compared with the preceding return. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes issued £25,857,270G0vernmt. Debt £11,015,./00 Other Securities 2,984,900 Gold coin &bu11'n.11,857,270 Silver bullion ... £25,857,276 BANKING DEPARTMENT. £25,857,270 Prop. Capital ... £14,553,001G0v. Securities £11,625,402 Rest ... ... 3,214,897 Other Securities 15,144,039 Public Deposits 2,748,43 Notes ... 4,713,280 Other Deposits 10,587,01 Gold & Silver Coin. 732,096 7-day & other bills 1,111,5 £32,214,907 £32,214,907 COTTON.—The recent large arrivals having been thrown upon the market, and middling and lower qualities being in large supply, there has been a decline in prices of those descriptions of about 1.1.16 d. to *d. per lb. Finer qualities are, however, scarce, and previous rates have been well main tained. The sales during the week, up to Friday, amounted to 45,130 bales,—of which 2,900 were taken on speculation, and 4,290 for export, leaving 37,940 for the trade. To-DAY the sales amounted to about 6,000 bales, of which 1,000 were on spe culation and for export. The following are current rates compared with the corresponding period of last year New Orleans, middling fair . Yorkshire market, and the new clip of Irish, which is finding its way to the market very slowly, is selling at 15s. 6d. to 16s. per stone. Imports for the week, 354 bales,—viz., 60 Buenos Ayres ; 81 Mediterranean Ports; 119 West Coast America; 84 Irish ; 2 Scotch : and 8 Coastwise. 1854. Uplands, .... fair A VERY " GREEN" FELLOW at Ulverston lately boiled his watch in salt and water to clean it, acting upon the suggestion of a friend who was fond of a practical joke. When he opened it subsequently he found it all verdigris and as green as himself. CHURCH OP ENGLAND EDIICA.TION SOCIETY. — The first anniversary of this society will be held at the Royal Amphitheatre this day. The chair to be taken by the Rev. Dr. Mlceile. TirE NEW BULLET.—The government have presented Mr. Pritchett with £l,OOO for improving the bullet which they have adopted. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On Thursday the boiler of a locomotive engine exploded on the Penthar branch of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, near Sunderland. The engine-driver was scalded, and was otherwise severely injured. Two or three other persons were also injured, but they are likely to recover. The engine was driven off the line, but no considerable damage was done to pro perty. ON FRIDAY MORNING, his Royal Highness Prince Al bert went to Sutton, accompanied by the Earl of Derby, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and the Hon. W. P. Tal• bot, and attended by Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey and Captain Du Plat, for the purpose of inspecting the site offered in that neighbourhood for the Wellington College. Gid. 6 , SALES. IMPORTS. s 10C h „---.—. A.—..., r .--..---, --.......-. DESCRIPTION PRICES. Week , Pre vi- Week Th i s ending I ously ending Year. Ma Y l9 May 19 thisyr. May 19 Sea Island ll @3O 600 , , 8540 I Stained 33 73 40 580 5800 270270 Boweda 33 63 9730 159270 Mobile 4 63 6480 80470 1 52 New Orleans. 33 83 20740 320910 Pernams, &c. 61 83 460, 18680 .... 12151100 549240 Bahia, &c 63 6/ 390 10910 .... 1 0018 : 10040 69666 16980 Maranbam Demerara, &c I 330 . 164: 110 ltgyptian _. . 53 10 1280 43669 3048 177 13 ' 58860 Com.W.l.&c. 7 8 10 , 2130 .. 11861 3030 Surat 2019 114688 207060 Madras Bengal 3 20 1170 .... 974/ 3660 -- -- --,—: 45130 772310 16933 972132 87166 SHERIDAN'S OPINION OF TUE POWER OF A FREE PRESS.—" Give me but the liberty of the Press, and I will give.to the minister a venal House of Peers—l will give him a corrupt and servile House of Commons—l will give him the full sway of the patronage of office—l will give him the whole host of ministerial influence—l will give him all the power that place can confer upon him, to pur chase up submission and overawe resistance—and yet, armed with the liberty of the Press, I will go forth to meet him undismayed—l will attack the mighty fabric he has reared with that mightier engine —will shake down, from its height, corruption, and bury it amidst the ruins of the abuses it was meant to shelter." A HINT TO SANITARY REFORMERS.—If, as sometimes happens, a snail creeps into the hive, the bees immediately stint , it to death. The body is far too heavy for the bees to drag out, and yet, unless precaution be taken it would putrify, and make a stench in the hive. To prevent this, they entirely embalm it with propolis ; and which is still more remarkable, should a snail with a shell intrude into the hive, it withdraws its body within its shell at the first sting, and the bees, as if they knew that the shell would not corrupt, in such a case spread no propolis over the shell, bat merely fasten up the orifice.—Lindley Kemp's Indications of Instinct. GAMBLING.—The lower walks of life abound with characters once steady and industrous, but, owing to their propensity for gambling, they have become bankrupt in character as well as pocket. Weeping wives and neglected children too plainly testify that the ale-house, with its cor rupting appendages is the constant resort of him, who, though fallen himself, earns. a precarious subSistence by decoying others. In the higher ranks, the seductions of the gaming-table have acted with Satanic spell in leading its votaries from all that is respectable, to infamy and dis grace. Fortunes inherited through a long line of ancestry have completely disappeared, and the reckless possessors have found themselves deliberately stripped of•everything, and turned penniless on the world.—Rev. Moore's " Original Tales and Sketches." FORT-AUGUSTI7L—BACHELORS, WHERE ARR. YOU ? A paragraph under this head appeared lately in the• Ladies' Journal, stating as a remarkable fact that all the shops in Fort-Augustus were kept by young unmarried females, all fresh, fair, and twenty. We beg to offer as a still more remarkable fact, and probably the cause, not the effect, of the prior fact, that not only is this so, but that the provost, the minister, the schoolmaster, the doctor, the inspector, the lock-keeper, the exciseman, the baker, the flesher, the shoemaker, the tailor, the carpenter, the piper, and the fiddler of this very remarkable village are, all of them, singular to say, living in single blessedness ! Without inquiring into the laws of sympathies and antipathies connected with these• facts, or how they seem to'be so nicely balanced here, we•should like to watch what affect a smart tax on bachelors (to help this budget in these warlike times) might have in destroying the anomaly, and converting some of our•friends into flaming Benedicts.— Inverness Advertiser. "iIITIVEWifILITIA. ACT, which has received the royal assent, is now in operation. The militia may be embodied whenever a state of war exists, and her Majesty, since-the Act was passed, has sent a message to Parliament, on which steps have been taken to embody the force. It is provided that thetimeof training may be extended after a corps of militia is called out. The time of drill is not to be reckoned. Further; it is provided that notice of the time and place of meeting is to be sent by the command ing officer by post to the residence of the men as stated in their attestations,. and to be deemed sufficient notice. PasTn.—Two emissaries of Kossuth's were hanged'on the 29th ult. at a place called St. George, in Transylvania. Their names were Joseph Varady and Franz Bartalis. Two of their companions were reprieved, but will have to endure an imprisonment for 18 years in irons and with hard labour. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE KING OF HOLLA.ND.—A letter from the• Hague; of the 16th, says :—" The King yesterday incurred some danger, in consequence of the horses running away with his carriage, and gallopping at a fearful rate through several streets before the coachman could pull them in. His Majesty remained quietly seated lin the carriage, and in that way escaped all injury. After a short delay, the coachman was able to drive on to Maison de Bois, the palace where the King was goihg to when the incident occurred." MATunnoNy.—A Barcelona journal, the Correo, re cently inserted the following advertisement :—"I am a widower, without children; am forty-five years okl, am tolerably good-looking (at least so it is said), and possess in one of the most populous districts of this town , a shop, which does a good business. I want to marry again. I will give my name• to any honourable woman, even if she should have my own age, provided she possesses some fortune. Apply to the Correo, of Barcelona?' "In less than seven days," says the Correo, " not fewer than twenty-eight females, young, middle-aged, and old, pre sented themselves at our office to demand the•address of the advertiser." _ PRODUCE.—WhiIe the markets generally during the week have been very inactive , the amount of business done being small, and prices almost nominal, the interest has been centred in the pro posed alteration of the Sugar Duties. We give the following remarks on the subject from the circular of Messrs. T. and H. LITTLEDALE and CO., published this morning : GREAT Fran AT POPLAR.-04Friday morning, about three o'clock, a fire of a most alarming and destructive character broke out in the extensive range of premises belonging to the London Manure Company, situate at No. 40, New Bridge-street, Plough-wharf, Cubit's-town, Isle of Dogs,. Poplar. There was a large quantity of oil, vitriol, and other matters in the building, which burned with in tense fury, spreading destruction to all around. It was nearly eight o'clock before the fire was. finally checked, and not until property to the amount of several thousand pounds was consumed. RECITATIONS FROM MEMORY. From an advertise ment it will be seen that Mr. G. Melville will, this evening, recite from memory Shakspeares play of " Ham let;" and on Friday, the play of Macbeth," in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street. Of the unique and pleasing nature of. Mr. Melville's performances, the press speaks in terms of high commendation ' • and from what we learn a great treat may be anticipated. SYRIAN NOTIONS OF MEDICAL SKILL.—A doctor is thought nothing of here unless he resorts to violent remedies. I was told a curious anecdote of a soidisant doctor, who acquired a great reputation in Beilan. was much given to administering emetics, and having a very delicate patient, resorted as usual to this method of cure, leaving in the hands of the patient's brother three strong doses of emetic, which he directed should be ad ministered at intervals of three hours. The brother, finding the first powder had no immediate effect, gave the unfortu nate invalid the remaining two within five minutes. The result was violent sickness, succeeded byspasms and cramp, which in a few hours terminated fatally. Next day,the doc tor was astonished to learn, on inquiry, that his patient was dead, and evinced his concern in his face. " Never mind," said the brother, "it was so fated, but, Mashalla! you are a great doctor : the medicine you gave never ceased opera ting till the moment of my brother's death. It was a fine medicine, and if it couldn't cure him, nothing earthly could:"—Nea/e's Eight Years in Syria. OUR IMPROVIDENT CHANCELLOR OF THE RICHE QUERR.—The Worcestershire Chronicle tells the follow ing amusing anecdote :—" The Chancellor of the Exche quer, on his way from Hagley to London, to resume his official duties after the Easter recess, was called upon to pay his fare for the journey at Worcester. But when he came to examine the state of his personal exchequer, he found, to his discomfiture, that he had not enough cash to meet the demand, owing, we suppose, to an under estimate before starting of his probable expenditure. In this fix what was to be done ? There was no making up the difference with a deficiency bill,' and the Bank of _ _ " The proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to impose an addition of 15 per cent. on the Sugar duties, Colonial and Foreign, caused a suspension in the article for some days : but last week, since the proposition has been more clearly understood, a large business has been done in Colonial, favoured by the slight ad ditional protection to the sth July, and the fact that, after that date, (though the duty is to be equalized with Foreign,) it will be at the rate of 12s. per cwt., instead of 10s. as before fixed ; but what is more important, the standard samples, by which the duty will be levied, are to be raised in quality, and a gra duated scale of duties imposed, so as to admit all low dark Muscovado kinds at ls. less, say 118.—at which rate we anticipate Khaur, low kinds of West India, and possibly of Brazils and Manilla, but only of the lowest class, will come in,—whilst it is surmised that the better descriptions of Bengal, white Benares, and Cossipore and vacuum pan West India, will be charged the higher rates, say 14s. and 16s. It must be apparent to all that these changes are simply a boon to our home refiners, who do seem to watch over, and succeed in protecting, their own branch of the Sugar trade much more effectually than the importers can do ; but to raise the duty on one class of Sugar—such as Benares, for instance—hitherto•admitted at the ordinary Muscovado rate of 10s., whilst others of the same class are positively reduced, without any previous notice, is simply an act of legal fraud against the importer. Of course, ' these remarks are merely by anticipation, and we yet hope that the opinion, particularly of the East India body, may have sufficient weight to induce some consideration being shown to such imports as shall arrive to the 31st Decem ber next, being purchases made on the faith of the exist ing law." To-DAY there has continued a steady demand for Plantation Sugar, the sales, including Saturday's business, comprising 80 hhds., 400 barrels Bar badoes at 345. to 395., 50 hhds Demerara at 365. up to 425. 6d. for grainy, 30 hhds. Jamaica at 345. 6d. to 355. 6d., 30 hhds. Antigua at 355. to 365., 20 hhds. St. Vincent at 31s. 6d. to 345. 6d., a small lot of Trinidad at 355. 6d., 1300 bags Madras at 31s. 6d., and 5,000 mats Mauritius, from the quay, at 345. 3d. per cwt. Large transactions have taken place in Rum, upwards of 500 puns., chiefly Demerara, having been disposed of, but the exact terms have not transpired. No transactions to notice in Coffee. 80 bags Para Cocoa are reported at 275. 6d. per cwt. We have no sales of moment to report in Tea ; common sound Congou may be quoted at 11d. per lb. The Rice market is again rather highei, 1,365 bags good middling Bengal having chiefly realized 13s. 9d., and a small parcel of cargo lls. 6d., besides which, 600 bags damaged Arracari were sold at 10s. 6d. per cwt. for first class. We have also to notice 40 boxes Pearl Sago at 21s. 6d., 30 barrels Rio Tapioca at 425. per cwt., and 30 bales white Bombay Hemp at £26 per ton. THE WAR. Wool.—The attendance of the trade still con tinues to be engaged with the public sales in Lon don, which are progliEssing at an average decline of 2d. per lb. This series opened higher than was expected ; but, as we anticipated last week, have since given way to about the expectations of the trade. There is nothing new in this market, the general state of dulness which has characterised the trade for a considerable length of time still prevails. There has been part doing in English Rd Irish Mabing *kin, at 11A to 13(1, fox the BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL. England was not at hand to assist 'the minister in his emergency with a loan. The Chancellor was relieved by the courtesy of the booking-clerk, who, recognising his person, raised his hat, and said he presumed he was speaking to Mr. Gladstone. The Chancellor of the Ex chequer admitted his identity with that gentleman. The clerk intimated that it was not customary, that he was aware, to give'credit for railway fares, but if he (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) would remit the amount of the fare he was:deficient in postage stamps, he would make it right. Mr. Gladstone thanked him, undertook to do so, and, we are glad to say, was safely conveyed to his desti nation. With a punctuality which many lesser persons might well copy, he forthwith remitted the deficiency. We can only hope that in dealing with the public finances the right hon. gentleman will not cut matters so close as to run the risk of stumping' the nation as hewas 'stumped' at the railway station." THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.—This expe dition left Hong Kong on the 14th January, and when last heard of was at Loo Choo, a dependency of Japan, but governed by its own King. An officer of the party thus describes Loo-Choo You cannot, or rather it would be difficult for you to imagine the beauties of this island, with respect to the charming scenery and its marvellous per fection of cultivation, its ancient bridges, paved roads, cana ls, dilapidated works of defence, &c. There are five palaces in the city ; the one we visited is of very 'great extent, probably covering a space of three acres, with massive walls, quite equal to many of the old castles of Europe. The island contains a population of 150,000 or 200,000 souls, and we have as much control of it, and the authorities and people, as if it were a con quered country ; and, what is singular, not an unfriendly act or an instance of coercion has occurred in bringing these things about. We have explored the whole interior of the island, and surveyed the entire coast. The people, wherever our parties go, attend upon them and sup ply them with lodgings and provisions. At first they would receive no compensation; but the Commodore insisted that nothing should be accepted unless it was paid for, and there is now little difficulty in that way. Hitherto our whaling ships have never dared to enter the ports of this island ; now they can do so with perfect safety, and be furnished with supplies at fair prices. As an evidence of the confidence we have in their peaceful intentions, we shall leave a party on the island in charge of a depOt of coal established here this very day. The Regent has promised to take good care of them during our absence. We sail in three days for Jeddo Bay, the M ac edonian, Vandalia, Southampto, and Lexington haying already gone. FIFE AT AN ORGAN FACTORY. — On Sunday afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, a fire broke out in a building in Rose-yard, Rose-street, Soho-square, London, occupied by Messrs. Bevington and Sons, organ builders, Mr. Lit tleton, music printer, and Messrs. Hopkinson and Purviss, wholesale oil and colourmen. In the course of a few minutes after the alarm was sounded, the Rrigade engines and those of the West of England office kept pouring tor rents of water upon the fire, but nearly two hours elapsed befare the conflgration could be extinguished. •THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGNS OF 1828-29.—When the Russians invaded Turkey in 1828 they lost 50,000 men by sickness alone, by want of the necessaries of life, and neglect of the commissariat department; 50,000 Russians died on the plains of Turkey, not one man of whom was killed in battle, for their advance was not resisted by the Turks. In the next year (1829) the Russians lost 60,000 men between the Pruth and the city of Adrianople. Some of these, however, s ere legitimately slain in battle. When they arrived at Adrianople the troops were in so wretched a condition, from sickness and want of food, that not 7,000 men were able to bear arms ; how many thousands of horses and mules perished in these two years is not known. The Turkish government was totally ignorant of this de plorable state of affairs at Adrianople till some time after wards, when the intelligence came too late. If the Turks had known what was going on, not one single Russian would have seen his native land again ; even as it was, out of 120,000 men, not 6,000 ever re-crossed the Russian frontier alive.— Curzon's Armenia. SUNDAY SCHOOLS.—In 1851 there were 2,407,60 scholars upon the books of the Sunday schools in England and Wales. About three-eighths were in the Sunday schools of the Church of England, the rest were divided among the various denominations of Dissenters and the Roman Catholics, the largest share being taken by the Wesleyans (the original connexion), who had nearly half as many scholars as the Church of England. The num ber of teachers was 318,135, chiefly young persons; 10,383 (almost all in the Church of England schools were paid teachers, supposed to be mostly the masters and mistresses of National Schools. It has been estimated that the number of Sunday scholars under six years of age is about a sixth of the whole number, and that the propor tion above fifteen is at least a tenth of the whole. In the manufacturing districts the proportion above 15 is very much larger than in London ; the senior classes comprise many young persons of eighteen or nineteen, and the course of instruction in those classes is of a superior character. Many Sunday-schools sustain week-evening classes, where the scholars are instructed in some secular art or knowledge ; many have libraries for the scholars' use (and it must be recollected that the books are often read by the families of the scholars); and some have originated for the senior scholars " mutual improvement societies," where lectures are delivered and other means of intellectual progress are provided. Sick clubs, too, and provident clubs, and penny banks are frequently established in connexion with the Sunday-school. Excursions and festi vals, in which the children and their teachers join in re creation, are now universal. Thus there is in some degree (although too small) a constant kindly intercourse between the different classes of society ; and thus, perhaps, are being gradually fostered in the minds of the working people juster sentiments than hitherto' have been received of the disposition of the class by fortune placed above them. But in this department of its usefulness the Sunday school is yet but in its infancy, awaiting, probably, the time when ministers and influential members of the church shall recognise its undeveloped power for good.— Census of Edit-cation. SOLDIERS' Stocits.— On Saturday last the Guards were passed in review in honour of the Queen's birthday, and three or four men actually fainted on the parade ground. The men were at their best, well fed; fresh, and young. Yet out of less than a thousand soldiers three men fainted, whilbs ten times their number crowded to see them unharmed. The day was fine, and far from oppres sive ; even in the crowd, composed of men, women, and children, not the weakest of them suffered, while three young men out of a thousand picked representatives of their country's manhood fell senseless in the ranks. How is this to he accounted for? It is but too easy. The crowd, well dressed, ill dressed, or half dressed, were at least dressed at their ease, while each soldier was half strangled by a high, stiff, leather stock, and strapped and braced in all directions. The stocks were taken off, and the fainting men instantly recovered. Surely the time has arrived forfinally discarding all such remnants of barbarism and folly. A man is not a better soldier, he does not shoot straighter, march steadier, nor is he a more effi cient campaigner, because he is habitually kept on the verge of apoplexy. This is a point on which civilians may speak with as much certainty as all the field-marshals in the world. The custom of the stock is even as the custom of the pigtail, which, as may be seen in Hogarth's pictures, was considered indispensable to the Guards in his day. Indeed, the pigtail was comparatively a harmless folly, for, except the trouble to which it put the wearer, it could' scarcely interfere with his movements, save in case of pre cipitate retreat with an active enemy close in his rear. But the stock ! We entreat any of our readers who may enter tain'any doubts about the matterquietlyto tighten his cravat until his veins swell nice and blue about his temples, and then to make a sufficient knot. Let him then hitch a stiffly bound octavo under his chin, and in this condition commence any active exercise. The experiment should' not be a momentary one, fbr it must be remembered that the soldier is bound to carry this instrument of torture upon him on all services, and with a very heavy load of arms, knapsack, &c. We will venture, however, to say that any gentleman who will obey the above directions, and simply lounge about his room in-a dressing-gown for ten minutes, will have more than enough of it. The continental armies have had the good sense to discard an article of dress as destructive of freedom of action as it is of health andlife. Any medical man will explain the manner in which , con tinuous pressure at the particular point where the stock ' makes itself felt acts upon the circulation, and the destruc tive consequences that must necessarily ensue. What the stays are in the hands- of the female mantuamaker the stock is in those of the man-milliner who presides over the accoutrements and; dress of the British soldier. If those tall men in armour are posted at the Horse Guards rigorously to prevent the entry of common sense-to that mysterious building they are but too successful. Happily, they are too heavy liar service on the Danube, and, if we must despair of improvement at home, we hope that there, at least, the experience of our French allies may reach our generals, and that we shall soon hear no more- of half choked soldiers fainting upon the parade-ground. — Times. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. The Paris Moniteur of Sunday says :—The government has just received two despatches from Vice , Admiral Ha melin, commander-in-chief of the squadron of the Medi terranean, on the movements of the combined• squadrons in the Black Sea since the bombardment of Odessa. The following are the principal passages : " Ville de Paris, before-Sebastopol, May 1,.1854. 1 ` Monsieur le Ministre—The fourth day after the bom bardment of the imperial fort of Odessa, the wind having turned to the north, the two squadrons set sail on the morning. of the 26th of April, and took the direction to wards the western coast of the Crimea, as I had settled with Admiral Dundas. On the 28th, finding ourselves in sigbt of the land adjoining Eapatoria„ I detached the steam corvette the Caton, accompanied by the Furious, to explore the bay to the south of that town. The Caton, in accomplishing her mission, captured three Russian vessels, of which two were coasters. The Furious took a fourth. Already, in the morning, the Descartes, in cruising ahead of the squadrons, had met with an Eng lish brig which, having been captured on the previ ous evening by a Russian frigate, had been precipi tately abandoned by the, latter, when, perceiving the squadrons, she had started with all her speed to gain the port of Sebastopol. Of these four prizes, two have been sent to the Bosphorus; as regards the two coasters, they were sunk. On the 29th, the wind having allowed us to sail towards Sebastopol, the combined squad rons sailed towards the entrance of that port. They lay to there for some time, in order to see if it were true that the Russian squadron had determined to come out to meet us, according to the report which the Russian authorities had caused to be spread in the Black Sea, as we were in formed by the prisoners who were interrogated on the previous evening. If such, in fact, had been the intention of the Russian fleet, never did a better opportunity occur for its showing to the population of the Crimea that it was anxious to avenge the humiliation of the check which had been received in their neighbourhood at Odessa. The weather was fine, the breeze was from the south joli frail —that is to say, favourable for getting out of Sebastopol, as well as for getting into it again. I shall add, that in order to induce the Russian admirals to come out to meet us, we directed two of our ships to keep out of sight of the land of the Crimea, but in vain ; the Russian ships re-, mained immoveable at their anchors while we were thus waiting for them. " We have profited by the time while we were lying to before Sebastopol once more to explore the neighbour ing bays ; it was done by the Caton and the Furious., Other steam-frigates presented themselves at the very mouth of the port, and have examined with the greatest attention of what the Russian fleet was composed ; it ap pears to us to consist of twelve ships of the line, three sailing frigates, and a very considerable number of steam ers, the most of them of small dimensions. The Russian prisoners interrogated pretend that the ships of the line are to the number of 14, of which two, in truth, are not in a very good state, and the steamers, to the number of 26, of which three are large. What would appear to con firm the report of the Russian prisoners is the fact that two large vessels appeared from the top of our masts to be under repair in the basins of Sebastopol, and might, con sequently, be the two ships of war in a middling state, of which the prisoners had spoken." " Ville de Paris, before Sebastopol, May 5. " Monsieur le Ministre,—Since the last letter which I had the honour of sending to your excellency, dated Ist May, the two French and English squadrons have not ceased to cruise at a little distance and within sight of the port of Sebastopol, where the Russian Ships persist in re maining immovable at their anchors. This immovability not being calculated in any degree to slacken the opera. tious of war which Admiral Dundas and I have prqjected on the Russian coasts, an Anglo-French division starts this evening, under the gegamand 0 Rear Admiral Lyons, 1853. ~ 6d. 61d. to attack and destroy, as well on the coast of the Crimea as on that of Circassia, the establishments and vessels of the Russians, and to open ways of communication with the Circassians, and especially with their chief, Schamyl. This naval division is composed of the English steam-ship of the line the Agamemnon, carrying the flag of Rear Admiral Lyons ; of the French steam-ship of the line the Charlemagne, of five English steamers, and of two French steam-frigates--namely, the Mogador and the Vauban. " This last frigate and three of the English steamers will operate their return to the squadron, when that naval division, having executed all that is possible to be done towards the Bay of Theodosia, will direct its course towards the coast of Circassia, where two ships of the line and three frigates will be transported. " While these operations are being executed the remain ing seventeen ships of the two combined squadrons will cruise in sight of Sebastopol, in order to keep the Russian fleet in respect. " Towards the 15th of May I have reason to think that we shall be able to rejoin our naval division thus detached, at the anchorage of Balschik, from which place I reckon upon sending a steamer to Constantinople to give you information with respect to the operations which may have been undertaken or executed." The Moniteur adds : "The French steam corvette the Caton, and the English steam-frigate the Furious, have captured a considerable number of Russian vessels in the bay situated to the north of Sebastopol—very near to the shore, under the eyes and within the distance of a musket shot of 1000 or 1200 men forming the garrison of Eupatoria." "The steam aviso the Heron, belonging to the squadron of Rear-Admiral Le Barbier de Tinan, has sunk or destroyed in the Bay of St. Nicolo two galliots convicted of having got ready for piracy." HAMBITEGII, MAY 20.—" The French fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Deschenes, accompanied by her Majetsy's steam frigate Bulldog, Captain W. K. Hall, have passed the Belt in safety, and are en route to join Sir Charles Napier." BERLIN - , MAY 20.—" News has arrived in this city that the English have taken a fortress on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, and that 1,500 Russians have been made prisoners." " KIEL, MA.Y 20.—Eight French liners, four frigates, and four steamers anchored to-day in Baelk-roads, and leave on Monday." "SvocnnonM, MlT'l3.—lt is reported that Aland and Revel have been taken." " Pa..urs, SUNDAY NlGHT.—According to ndvices from Malta of the 17th, more than 10,000 French have arrived at that island since the Ist of May. The greater portion of this force has proceeded to the East. " The 14th Regiment of the Line and some detachments of the 17th Lancers have also gone on to Constantinople. COPENHAGEN, SATrapar.—The fleet is said to have bombarded and taken Bomursund, in Aland, and Gustaf sorz, at Hangay Point. This requires confirmation.- The second edition of the• Paris paper Patrie, published at seven, on Saturday evening, persists in its assertion that the capture of the Tiger is a fable. It says, an English commercial brig was taken and afterwards de livered by the combined fleets, and suggests that this cir cumstance gave rise to•the report. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. MONDAY EVENING, Milt' 22 LoyDox.—After official hours,. Consols recovered an& closed 88i buyers. Railways alsoimproved. On 'Change business was dull: P. Y. C. Tallow 61s. on the spot.. Linseed Oil, 375. 6d. to 38s. Scotch Pig Iron, 86s. Other articles unchanged. Tea : Sales—Of 38,000 packages, 9,000 sold, and the auction closed flatly. T•RE . WAR. THE BALTIC. The Times: city article says it is stated by the Finnish captains of vessels that have been seized and brought to England by our cruisers, that there are numerous small ports or docks similar to that taken by Admiral Napier and that there is no chance of their holding out : it seems, indeed, very questionable if the Russians should not have evacuated them,so as to spare their forces for other purposes. Letters report that prizes still continue to be taken by the English. FEANCE:—The Times' Paris, correspondent writes on• Sunday that rumours are again afloat of efforts made by Prussia and Austria to effect, even at this late hour, an. arrangement with Russia. TURKEY. — No later news of linportance. Accounts from Galatz state that lonian merchant ships, had been/ captured by the. Russian authorities there, and , the crews made prisoners of war. hOUSE OF LORDS,. MONDAY, MAY 22. Li reply to the Duke a - BUCCLEUGH, the Earl of ABERDEEN stated that the• Lord Advocate would imme diately introduce into the , other house a bill for the•pur pose of continuing the assessment upon the Heritors of Scotland for the support of the parochial schoolmasters, so as to increase their income. to the amount which they had enjoyed up to last November. The measure would, how ever, only be of a temporary character, because it was still hoped that an augmented provision might be made for them connected with a general system of eduoation. A discussion took place on the subject of education, in the course of which Lord KINNAIRD withdrew the motion appointed for Friday next, for an address for a Royal Commission to inquire into the state of education in Scotland; and the Duke of ARGYLE gave notice that when the bill, of which notice had just been given by Lord Aberdeen, should be brought in s he should state in detail the views entertained by government upon the important and extensive subject of education in Scotland. The Bills of Exchange Bill passed through committee. Amendments. made in the Law of Landlord and Tenant in Ireland Bill were reported. The Earl of CLAICARTY and Lord RBDESDALE gave notice of amendments upon the third reading of the Navy Pay Bill and Manning the Navy Bill, which were seve rally read a second time. The Boundary Survey in Ireland Bill was read a third time and passed.—Adjourned at 50 minutes past six. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY, MAY 22. Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply to a question, stated that no decisive intelligence had been received from Odessa, but that instructions had been sent to Admiral Dundas directing him to liberate no more prisoners except on the principle of an exchange. WAYS AND. MEANS. On the order for going into Committee of Ways and Means, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to Mr. T. Baring, stated the arrangements which had been come to for taking the financial discussion on the resolu- . tions submitted to the house. He denied that any change had been made by the government in the order in which the resolutions were to be taken. A short discussion followed, in which Mr. DIf3RAELI Lord J. RUSSELL, and Mr. GLADSTONE took part,—Mr. DISRAELI complaining that no opportunity had been given for discussing the resolutions on Exchequer Bonds. Mr. GLADSTONE explained that the resolutions were preliminary only to future arrangements, and by no means gave government the power to raise money at their discre tion for the next six years. Mr. T. RARING said he should move his amendment on the inexpediency of issuing any more Exchequer Bonds at present, the repayments of which could be demanded within the next six years. He proceeded to criticise the financial policy of government, which he described as wanting in prudence and caution, and this point he endeavoured to establish by comparing the present position of the national finances with what it was 15 years ago, when there was a large balance in the exchequer, and every sign of pros perity. Mr. Gladstone had, he said, disregarded the symptoms of danger which subsequently presented them selves, in the drain of gold and the rate of interest on Exchequer Bills. One great error was the successive re ductions of interest on such bills, in proof of which ,he referred to the purchase of Exchequer Bills by govern ment, by means of the funds of the savings banks, in order to bolster up the Exchequer Bill market. This course he considered wholly unjustifiable, and only to be adopted in a great emergency and difficulty, which diffi culty had been created by the Chancellor:of the Exchequer himself by his uncalled-for reduction of the interest of Exchequer Bills. He adverted in detail to various features of Mr. Gladstone's plan, as developed in his late speech, stating his opinion that his conversion of stock last year was not warranted by the circumstances. He denied the assertion of Mr. Gladstone that there was no loss on his monetary operations, which had been such as ought not to have been hazarded, except in times of the most perfect tranquillity. Mr. Baring further contended that the balances of the Exchequer had been wasted ; that we were forced to borrow on Deficiency Bills, which bills were rendered necessary by the improvident employment of the balances ; that the stock of the Savings Banks b ad been sold to pay off Exchequer Bills; and an addition thereby in§cle to the _debt—all s Nyhich he addiage4 00 Pr 994 9f TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1854. E t c-heO r the mismanagement of the Chancellor of the ef and the dangers which were foreboded if this P°llcr.ol. continued. He disputed the soundness of gr. stone's conclusion as to relying on the coming ill : t o for past liabilities, and argued that the disadvantsrm the Exchequer were greater than any tempe 3 , s l that might arise ; and the resort to Deficiency' 13''' het, rule was unsafe and not to be justified. He asked they were to be principles on which the finances ' l OO O country were to be conducted in future. He ing le . „ 4 o general remarks on the mode in which Mr. C 41 374 intended to provide for the expenses of the vair requirements of the country, maintaining that idle to suppose that we could, in the long rul l ' without availing ourselves of the national c reu r the way of loan, and that, in fact, the proposed ~.de quer Bonds were, to all intents and 1 01 7;1' loan. He anticipated great difficulty from the quer Bonds, and that the successor of Mr. 61 ' 5- t oit might find much embarrassment in providing fp,r re-payment. After alluding to the failures in get Exchequer Bonds subscribed for, he vindicated the 1",!. interest" from the charges brought against them 1.0 Gladstone ; and, in conclusion, called upon the C ll%°ce it of the Exchequer to avoid all meddling and tamPer ilig , i the finances, on account of the great dangers and e : 1 misfortunes which might be the result. (LOUu - from the Opposition Benches.) liowia" Mr. WILSON replied at considerable length, reference to the balances in the Exchequer ths' Gladstone was justified in the steps he then 0° ) that if his Exchequer-bill operation had stood v' l , 4 °° ;lo would have been a perfect success. He also defencle'p, other points in the financial policy condemned b L t o Baring, contending that, by the scheme of Mr. clowl .„ the unfunded debt had been reduced nPO,lOO'. £11,000,000, thereby effecting a saving of SO: c ial interest on that amount ; that the funds of the banks had been used with advantage to the p that, in all the monetary operations with the caution had been exerted by the government. 0 0 Mr. LAING described the discussion on Excher el h b o raised by Mr. Baring as a mere peg on which t" ftY vote of want of confidence. He defended the P° licY° government. nte Det i Mr. CAIRNS opposed the propositions of the C 11 3" I , al of the Exchequer. He contended that the b" war ought to be distributed over succeeding Ye 111. 5,. .( se Mr. WGREGOR and Mr. THOMPSON TDOP ported the financial policy of the government. „ a t 0. 1 Mr. DISRAELI stated it to be his conviction 11'00 policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer had b eeri t the first erroneous, and, in consequence, injuri °lls „ o country. He repeated, many of the argumen ts formerly adduced. He referred again to the Cli°, ce ril l scheme for the conversion of stock as the sew n 4 ,' pcis i mistake committed by him. The third great `[ .A error Mr. Gladstone had committed was, that sow" was imminent,, in 1853, he proposed a peace hudgYet.t), th e maintained that the Chancellor was not justified, ei information at his command, in repealing the had done, even though he had substituted o thers . 0 Disraeli adverted to what he termed a fourth 013 i, tY error in the financial policy of Mr. Gladstone, n aiDe. :,; reduction in the rate of interest, which. forced bi d v" I a purchase of Exchequer bills,, a nd the oetz tampering with the funds of savings-bank s. was another error—that, with a filll Pr e6 4 , 3 r- 1 0 0 the war, he closed the financial campaign' of an empty Exchequer. He severely criticised tu`'o of Mr. Gladstone for the present year, more esPe ci ae oid to his raising money by Exchequer Bonds. Il e A deo that the question involved a vote of want of 0 ' 1 ;0 since the house had already voted £10,00 0 , 000 to c.6..400 the war ; but the house had still a right to set its 7 tis iol , any portion of which it disapproved, and, in cone of' he referred in strong terms to the remarks of g r ' stone in his late speech relative to Mr. Pitt. Mr. GLADSTONE replied, stating that he had 11 ° . ..1 21— . retract or regret in reference to his various finin n 74 positions, and indignantly repudiated theeharge pering with the funds of savings' banks• clo l ' whether the right hon. gentleman was prepared 00 lenge the opinion of the house or the conntriZ Budget of 1853, or on the• other questions he line There was no tax which had been repoaled.of whicliveig cause to repent. He vindicated hims elf with rauche!pe from the charges of Mr. Baring. He emphatiel tested against a loan ; and, in conclusion, repellcor charge of disrespect towards Mr.. Pitt, and Wg: 0 0 pealed to the house to support the policy laid' • r 6 government. (Loud cheering.) e Mr. BARING briefly replied, and disc! motive in bringing forwa r d hi s amend t• 4 6.4 A The house divided on the resolution of the 0 0 of the Exchequer—For the resolution, 290; for the went, 186 ; majority for ministers, 104 f. _ u e Dr The resolution being agreed to ; and the F.0.:;0, 1 0 Bill and the Customs Duties Bill having been P7l the remaining orders despatched, the house awl a quarter past 2 o'clock. If Till , CONUNDRUM FOR CLASSICAL SCHOOLS° 'i o „Vie body asks you why Marc Antony, when he fled ,oir ° was like Nicholas ? answer, because he was a Punch. FUNDS, STOCK, AND SHARE 31A1/ n 5091rfe„ beit, 0 The English market depressed in tone, an' but 10°./ ceded per cent. General transactions limited, 4,croolof, ness, attributed to sales connected with recent de, c rs tD4 for the rise. Railway& languid, and closed wit" an d or tendency. Land and Banking Shares less active.ss lower. The only feature in the Foreign Stocks decline in Mexicana.. toy CLOSING PRICES. .r 0 Consols, Account .. 1 . Q 2 Bank Stock ..... •,rs OP Do. Money—. I —4 . Exqr. Bills, L. 1 34 ' • 1 k Three& Qr per Cents 881 1 ' Sf: FOREIGN STOCKS. ..•• Mexicans 241 rpanish Passive s , 0 Do. Spani Deferred • • Doh Threes l las & "t RAILWAY SHARES. 8 Amberg.,Nottingham, Leeds Northerl• ; t ell vi and E. Junction 4/ 1 London &N. „,,v` e .ool; Caledonian 544 3 Loudon & S• "" on Do. Preference .„ 01 Eastern Counties East Lancashire 391 601 Midland Stock •" „ 0 Edinburgh & Glasgovr 53 5 North British •,• r ;;Iro i I Great Northern Do. A 72 3 North Stafforda . boef, 6 Do. B —S. Eastern and - A n d 6$ , Great Western Lanc. and Yorkshire 6O/ Berwick ••• ! c Vss d London,Brighton,and York and 14: bi l ... Sooth Coast lOO 101 Do. Preference' California Go Ml ld t NINO SHARES. I i 4 I Noveau Monde LAND SHARES. ' ''' Australian Agricultural 45_6 (Peel River ..... .. S. Australian S. Australian Invest. 2i IN. B. Australia° toe I:,i CORN MARKET:. . but dend. ~o r ., . , t , - ,e. The arrivals of English Grain are very s-,..,g11' pty ceipt- of Foreign is large. The trade for '„, lit ~10, 0,: steadily, but there is scarcely anything. ( I O,T t o i vrer o it' Foreign . : Sales not pressed, but there is 11 „, glV„retiO' Barley is slow of sale , at late prices. Bea". ,ter r to altered. The value of English Oats is much ' 1 o sie by large supplies of Foreign, which we. e ratherir ARRIVALS. Fn it English. Irish. 3100 Wheat 1297 4 .40 Barley l5OO -- 5 , ', Oats 1250. 4880 4 Malt 5160. 90 E. IV' Beans , i ,„ Peas iii P' yiP4 1 P 0, Flour .• • BO6 1 cl f A fesitileat $ 00 1 SECOND REPORT.—As the market Pr°g,' ra l f . re ° b iit buyers appeared. English Wheat was ls• ~r,e i r t• e re d9 1 ,1 e ' . 5-' similar advance was demanded for Foreign, vhdl e ,',4l°.„, - ;) 0 ,i much done. Flour fully as dear. BarleY:rept ';''., soniti" not lower. Beans and Peas steady. Oats, er, e d,!", 4 o o ,Jore' brought quite former torms.---The market Cl t, tasli' stances, at a slight advance for English Vatticis6 at a similar rise of likto 2s. per qr. Other "" 0 1)5 A P ce' CATTLE MARKET. ,p 9P'cll lll o3 , Beasts sold readily at advanced prices. Tgoit d. . a t , 0 4. , maintained last Monday's prices. Calvesbro ed ''' be Beef So Li t tO 2s 10d to 4s 101 Pork .• • • " • gs Mutton Veal Hollandd m ß b ea s Sheep and Ca Beasts . .• Besets . . . . 23. c 51.4 1 00 A R RIVALS . cpiagB7. e.. 9: ...... ...................... .••''• Beasts Do. Sheep ............................. _ a Do. Calves ........................ .... reb Spanish Beasts .......................... •• 4 3° Do. Sheep ........................ ... ~ 41 Scotch Beasts ..................... .. o' Norfolk and SUffolk Beast; ........ ‘ •,•,11- sO Cambrid4e, Leicester, Lincoln, an i ':. . ...• ampton Beasts ....... .............. er e -- cbeaP dull 11 8,,i' Sugar : Foreign is inactive, but no t ~o f fee Aet a v PRO D U C .31 ll- E l'. r• I°6 ; t e i'l' ' sales large ; grocery lumps, 475. to 51s• ra - ',., a re. 'la, Ceylon, 438. 6d. to 445. 6d. Tea : Full and &coo. but dealers cautious, Saltpetre is dull ad. iniugutico; e 0 e ci 4 5 ton is not cheaper, but the demand is li ' ca ' l,s Tallow firmer. 39 CONS, - same time last year .. Deliveries, 5 $ same time last year. l'i`' ' ••••••••••• •I P re Aa ' S. ,pt T s A to L ck l 4, o 3 lN s : 97 3 s lA ca ß sE K s, lini a n g s a t io r. s 3 t ,9377'ticbi LONDON WOOL S to e raAtesr.eluctancGeLtolospGeroatlve—s:l; T w M_A_ fair, at 0 The demand for Wheat and Flour . is rates of Friday. Other articles quiet OP - liA6f.fie s t 961 Lancashire ; Midland, a n 5 ( lB Yorkshire, ; o r South-earnk s h ir e LEEDS STOCK EX C Dover;, 181. ---71C_S6Tl;4a1,2,d!,:k1cD0Coilv;-eadr:l.°6rit.ll. LIVERPOOL : 1. 00 ,_„ men „ Printed and Published every Tues,p i cii.Ely4tils , Proprietor, ROBERT PEARSON I ,' ? l.isAl. , „ w ork , Percy-street, at the STANDARD Ok , cgo , r, OFFICE, No. 4, ST. OsoitoAs GAS" Tuesday, May 23, 144. P i Of ti 0 ac Fnt app ~ ,ilti I) o'cl --___ 1 ti; 24 3 t %hi