The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

Eibcrpool ''ltaitbarbs FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. MONDAY MORNING. MlNrsrEns and military authorities have resolved, as usual in such cases, to observe a strict secrecy with regard to the movements of the forces, both naval and military— chiefly the latter. Malta, in the meantime, is the ren dezvous ; all after that is sealed. For this point our troops which have already moved are destined. Some idea will be formed of the anticipated extensive labours of the commissariat, and other army departments, when I inform you that four picked gentlemen of talent and experience were taken, two days ago, from the staff at the Ordnance-office, for the purpose of proceeding imme diately to Malta to officiate—the superior as paymaster of the troops, and the other three individuals to act as clerks. On Saturday, by order of the QUEEN in Council, the usual proclamation was ordered to be issued against the expor tation of arms, ammunition, and machinery of all kinds available for war purposes. This order can be, and is, acted on in periods of profound peace ; its issue at the present juncture is perfectly obvious. It is a curious co incidence that, at the very moment the prohibitory order was being framed by Ministers at Buckingham Palace, in presence of the SOVEREIGN and His Royal Highness the PRINCE CONSORT, one of the largest quantities of gunpowder, probably, ever seized was being removed from the ice well of the great railway carrier, in the Old Bailey, and taken through the streets of the metropolis for safety to the Tower. There is, I believe, no reason for supposing that the ammunition was contraband, or des tined for clandestine shipment, which, by the way, I can mention is now rendered impossible from the precautions taken by the authorities ; cautions made necessary from information of the proceedings of certain very patriotic people, whose names had better not be mentioned at present. The Horse Guards exhibit a most animated ap pearance by the, constant passing and repassing of general officers, and, indeed, of officers of every grade. Several scores of nice well-knit young fellows, short, but stiffly built, all gentlemen by their appearance and man ners, have mustered in the Court-yard of the War-office, several days lately, for the purpose of being entered for active service. It is impossible to describe their glee. The height of these young officers attracted much attention and observatiou : they were nearly all of one size, short of stature, as I have said ; by much shorter than- the Foot Gnirds ; and as there is a fashion in everything, tight, well-built little fellows, officers, and men, seem now to be A 1 at the War-office. Perhaps Viscount RA RDINGE, who belongs to this class, has taken a hint from some of the cracks of Lours NAPOLEON'S army, whose personnel is as I have described. One thing is certain, that the Coldstreams, a tall body of men, when last in Canada, were considered not so handy as men of less size. In other regards, of course, this corps is beyond animadver sion. The higher officers, including RAGLAN, CARDIGAN, CAMBRIDGE, &c., are, to a man, in "fine feather," and have made their arrangements for leaving at a day's notice. Meantime, much depends upon the receipt of the answer of NICHOLAS to NAPOLEON 's superb and manly letter. This answer will be the ultimatum. It is ex pected every hour from St. Petersburg ; although five days since it was posted on the Paris Bourse, and telegraphed to that of London, where it had no effect, and was at once pronounced to be fudge ! Those best acquainted with the telegraphic route from St. Petersburg to London, state that the answer cannot be sooner than to-day. Se veral literary gentlemen have been depatched from town by the journals to Malta, to follow in the wake of the army— some will be in the van Iknow—for the puropose of sending their reports regarding hostile operations ; other gentle men have been shifted from their established continental quarters for the same purpose. Still, the public wonder at apparent delays. " If Nimioras means to fight, are we not giving him great opportunities to prepare ?" this qiestion is put a hundred times a day. There is no time thrown away. We know that the CZAR requires time, and more of it than the combined powers of France and England. He is not stealing a march on us. The fact is, that Ministers are anxious to have a despatch from St. Petersburg, with peace or war in it, from NICHOLAS, and as that must come through NAPOLEON, we must wait a bit. To-morrow ? In consequence of all this, mere com merce and trade—those branches, I mean, apart from war and munitions of war—are languid in the extreme. To compensate, as it were, other departments have not for the last thirty years and more been so active. Shall I not doff the chapeau to HARRY BROUGHAM He has returned from Cannes, and, though seventy-six mortal-years old, is as lively as a kitten, and as brown as an autumn nut. He has been among his Peers each night since his return, and spurning the baron's bench, he has taken up his seat for the live-long night—barring when he moves about, which is sixteen times a minute — on the wool sack. He is very fond of that same seat, which surprises one, remembering how he was pushed from it. He tells all sorts of stories of Frenchmen—and women, too ;—lugs in French law, of which he is an ad mirer—and justly so. With the exception of a French tile and a waistcoat—neither improving him—Lord BEouGnAM dresses just in the same slovenly —no, care less—manner as he did a quarter of a century ago—those never-worn-out shepherd's plaid trousers gracing his shanks as then. BROUGHAM, since he and CARLISLE (MORPETH) were knights of the shire of York, has always used such nether integuments. The Yorkshire lads— cute uns—presented the knights with a pair a piece; they wore them—did much to make them popular : CARLISLE gave in ; BROUGHAM still stands out, wearing them win ter and summer, in France and England—save when he dresses for an evening, and then he does look like a gentleman, simply from the contrast he presents. He has been to see his old and dear friend ANGLESEY—now convalescent,— the finest, oldest, bravest, soldier, and cleanest yachtsman in England. His yacht, the Pearl, worthy of its name, is a picture : she is manned by the finest fellows that ever sailed—they are not in the QuEEls's command. The noble marquis is just ten years older than Lord BROUGHAM ; that is not far from ninety. I saw him not long ago, " stump" (he has but one real leg), from his yawl up the side of his yacht; he lost his faience, and was plump in the water, cork leg and all ; perhaps it kept him up ; in two minutes he was on deck as dry as a duck. The Times has thrown out a sugges tion for yatchtsmen sending their crews to mau the navy, should need be. To be sure they will : but from what I learn, and I had communication on Saturday with one of the highest functionaries of the Admiralty, there does not at present seem to be any occasion for such services. WE have all heard of the fable of the mountain and the mouse. Parturient, &c. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave the House of Commons and the country a famous example of it, when he proposed the long-promised "New Reform Bill." Save the mark ! On Tuesday evening, there was this accompaniment to the morale of the fable, that the noble lord favoured the House, and some fifty politicians out of it—id est in the galleries and under them—with one of the finest examples of " thimble rig" ever exhibited within the walls of Parliament, since the Earl of DERBY, then Lord STANLEY, first as wittily as bitingly applied the phrase to his political opponents of that day. There are but one or two good points in the measure ; all else is complication. It gives a member to Birkenhead ! Laugh n)f. Birkenhead is young : it never had a representative. It is rising, it is thriving, and, for a variety of reasons well known to your readers, must continue to rise and thrive. If Liverpool live. Birkenhead is to have a mem ber. Lord Join evidently imagined he had made a hit in this proposition, he swelled into magnificence, magni loquence, grandiloquence ; he looked to the right and left, and opposite, and all round, tapped the box on the table, and hungered for hear ! hear ! These he got ; which is more than can be said f or near l y a l l h i s other propos i t i ons. Barring Belgravia! Belgravia, in which lives the noble lord and Mr. SPEAKER, and hundreds more of the aristo cracy most respected, is to have a member, for is it not in the district of Kensington and Chelsea, both populous u nquestionably, but, with the:exception of a knot of busy bodies, Radicals in short, who meet once a fortnight, and eat a cheap and late dinner once a year, the great bulk of the inhabitants don't want a member—don't need a mem ber. But here is the secret impulse : it is a nice place for a fledging Whig to commence his summer fli g ht. Hi s constituents, at least three-fourths of them, with whom he will be in communication, are people of position ; commer cial or manufacturing intertst it has none, if I exclude two manufactories, one for floor-cloth, t'other for distilled water ! This point in the new Reform Bill gained a little applause. The proposition of giving two members to the Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn , is certainly a new idea—simply ridiculous. For years pa st, say thirty, and that will do, the cry has been, " too many lawyers in the house." The Inns of Court mentioned, and deemed neces "l7 by a wise minister to be enfranchised —how oddly the word sound s !— are governe d by elderly members of their own ; slightly gouty, fond of port and claret, which they have good and in abundance; shut their gates ; a politician h as no business there, so little are they influenced by the public voice, or the public wants. Again, 'eve r y l awyer in the House ' of Com ma ilits chambers in the Inas of Court, Ma' SIGEE and KELLY, and so on to the end of the list ; and were parliamentary interference—aid—required, they are there to demand and command it—cui bond ? Why represent the Inns of Court ? Because Lord JOHN Rus- SELL took a "pea" from below one "thimble" and must place it under another—or keep it in his palm, as monkeys do chestnuts in their mouths, first munched and then swal lowed. Lord JonN has disfranchised extensively ; in some cases deservedly so. He had got such a stock of members afterwards on hand to keep up the 658, that he really did not know where to put them, There's the short and the long of it. Transposition—" pea-shifting"—is the gist of the bill : counties and boroughs are swamped, or the landed aristocracy as opposed to manufacturing population : a " counterpoise" is created to influence house and land by the infusion of borough voters into county constituencies ; and again, operative ones into the boroughs. The debate was listened to with apathy ;—the house was certainly well filled : but nobody could understand why the noble lord should ask for a month for the second reading. Per- taps he thought, as he appeared to do when he proposed the bill, that men's minds by that time will be occupied with considerations of metal, if not more attractive, of more import. Both houses of our legislature, on Tuesday evening, pre sented a magnificent appearance,—the House of Peers supremely so. lam not to set readers asleep by analysing the debates in either house, though both were on interest- ing subjects : these were merely " pegs" upon which to hang speeches, for both motions were withdrawn. Nine peers sustained the combat in the upper arena. The motion was CLANRICA.RDE'S, for papers on the Eastern question : the ingenuity with which the old dive of CAN NING dealt with the subject was admitted by CLARENDON, who followed the noble mover. Next in order of speaking was rich ELLESMERE, in personnel delicate, cold, calm. His lordship will be much more at home when he gets actual possession of that peerless palazzo he has all but finished, situated on the margin of the Green Park, for the storing of which with the most rare and recherché works of literature and art his lordship's purse is always open ELLESMERE has had just sent home to him a truck-full of MSS. of original plays, farces, &c., which were in the pos session of an old licenser, and which will fill up the blank between the elder dramatists and those of a more recent date. The British Museum was too poor to buy them— ELLESMEUE was not. In a short time, anybody can see this and other " curiosities of literature, " with as much facility as if they had been deposited in the B. M. In the debate, MALmEssuns followed ELLESMERE ; next came one whose snowy head has not been seen for many a day in parliament—sleepy CHARLIE GRANT, the Whig Lord GLENELG—who, when young, comparatively, during a debate, dozed as a weazel in the sun, and, like that insinuating varmint, was as wide awake. For all the canny care, caution, nous, and it may be, gude manners of his country—honoured Caledonia— CHARLES GRANT still follows the bad example of turning his back upon the world—the reporters thereof. On the present occasion he was scarcely heard. Earl GREY, poor looking, withered and crippled in body, came next ; and was followed by the most intellectual-visaged man in the QUEEN'S dominions—the young Duke of ARGYLE. Fore head—" dome of thought"—towering in superfluous mag nificence ; eyes, Italian fire ; nose, exquisite (somewhat BILLY PITTISH), and correctly placed ; lips, classically compressed. A spectator wonders that such a one is a son of the rough north, rather than of sunny Italy. Lord DERBY was valiant, bitter—very, and taxing ; twitting government on the support of Earl GREY, who had ex pressed his own view of the question, to wit, that the government -was too hostile in its intentions,—that, in brief, Turkey was not worth a coffee berry. Nor was old ABERDEEN deficient in pluck and spite ; he told DERBY, very contemptuously, that he would be sure to blame government either way—with rashness or timidity. Mr. OLIVIERA, who, last vintage, ran over the light wine countries, and came home fraught with statistics of the grape, brought forward, the same evening as the fore going, his reduction of wine duties question. The hon. member's speech—wisely written beforehand, and got by heart for delivery—ought to be read by every wine mer chant in Liverpool, and every wine drinker in the three kingdoms. Mr. OLIVIERA. was snubbed (unreported) by Mr. SPEAKER, for bringing the question forward, know ing that Mr. GLADSTONE could not afford the reduction. It is curious that we have clarets and champagnes (? ? ?) as cheap as Mr. OLivisne. could wish them. The cheap wine-drinking dodge, I am glad to perceive, is dying away. About a year ago our artizans and others strongly patronized the large fourpenny ale glassful of sherry ; the taste appears to be undergoing a change for good ale, which is cheaper and better, and a thousand times more elevating ; and that is the question after all. " Tell me the company you keep," says one—" the songs of your country," says another ; even "straws thrown up" indicate which way the wind blows. These and a thousand other familiar illustrations might be safely taken as indications of a person's and a people's character. They say, when children are seen to " play at soldiers," it may be fairly rendered a prelude to the real play. I have been led into these hop-step-and-jump remarks, by having seen exhibited at a conversazione, a night or two ago—it may be both in sorrow and in anger—a list of books—l suppose I must desecrate the name—ordered for imme diate shipment to our Australian colony. No harm in sending books there, surely. Such books ! I shall not de file pen, ink, and paper, by naming them ; nor the eyes and ears of your readers. The class of works enumerates all the published trash, since the days when ROCHESTER was said to write. The secreted and obscene stores of parties well known, and suffering the penalties of such pub lications, are ordered to be ransacked, and, unfortunately, notwithstanding the exertions of the Vice Suppression So ciety, there are understood to be plenty of the worse than garbage to be had. The equally filthy and hidden treasures —for such they are considered—contained in that narrow and polluted avenue which skirts a portion of the greatest metropolitan thoroughfare, yclept Holywell-street, are likewise ordered to be obtained at almost any price. In the list referred to, scarcely one proper work is mentioned as likely to be in demand for the delectation of the count less swarms of gold-diggers—they chiefly—and others, now to be found in this part of the globe. The keepers of circulating libraries there—oh, gentle dulness, hitherto pure among us, thou press of Minerva ! how art thou fallen—the circulating libraries of Australia are making fortunes for their keepers, by lending such works ; none else among the million appear to go down. Their weight in gold is sometimes given for the ribald trash, after it has passed, all tatters, through the horny hands of hun dreds of diggers. So says the mem. accompanying this most unholy order, examined but the other night, as I have said, by some of the first scholars and litterateurs in the metropolitan circles. From such works the character of the great herd of the population of Australia may be learned. Good works are to be found there ; forbid it should be otherwise ; but what are these (few) among so many P Why are not these inflammatory publications inhibited ?—their exportation prevented ? It is publica tion, which is penal at home. Surely it is as bad to have such works current at Melbourne and Bendigo : they will do much more harm at the Antipodes than in this coun try. lam quite certain that if the Colonial Secretary had his attention drawn to the fact—which I do now—some means might be devised to put a stop to the impure supply. The war in Asia, in the midst of all this pother, is almost forgotten. Few persons are aware that the gallant soldier fighting on the side of the Turks there, PERTs PASHA, General GuYoN, is a subject of Queen VICTORIA. It has been said that GUYON is °c o Irish extraction ; that his name may have been GEOGHA.N, and, by a transforma tion natural enough, turned into GUYON—as SULLIVAN into SILvAIN. No such thing; the family is of French ex traction, the name spelt always as it is, and, further, the Pasha's brother, JOHN GuYoN, holds command in the British army. The mother of both distinguished soldiers is still alive, at that lovely Cockney retreat, Richmond, a few miles from the metropolis. When FRRIIC Runts. was elevated by the Sultan, a formula was granted by His Ma jesty to GUYON, reserving to him his "faith and obser vances." • " Safe malignity" is at work, or has been. I have no doubt at all that Lord JohN RUSSELL is spiteful—remem bers an injury, supposed or real, long and hot ; that he is, in short, what Joint WILSON CROICER represents him to be. At the very moment when I was turning out my last epistle, Lord JOHN was paying out Sir CIIA.S. NAPIER : there was a row : Lord JOHN RUSSELL, recollecting what the commodore said of him, put a spoke in the sailor's " wheel"—a " screw" was loose. I give you Reform Club gossip. NAPIER is only to be second fiddle. Beyond the proverbial uncertainty of the law, the uncer tainty of men and things theatrical is more profoundly uncertain. An example of this assertion was presented at the Olympic Theatre, a few night ago, in the production of a new dramatic sketch, by Mr. CHORLEY, the well known musical and dramatic critic of the Athenceum. Journalism and its professors have never been but to be tabooed in England; yet Mr. CHORLEY, without the gifts or accomplishments, much of goodly presence, winning manners, or conversation, has managed for several years to be received in the rather better circles. For example : in the avenue of the pit of the Grand Opera you may, without much exertion, overhear CILOELB; with a Lon THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. ton drawl, say he is "going up to the countess's box" — a bit of sinless vanity for which I have never blamed him. His writings on music and musicians sometimes charm and instruct ; he knows music, which critics generally do not, is a linguist, and has travelled; he furthermore has been a constant attendant on the theatres for twenty years ; has seen almost every new piece during that period, —remembers their fates ; knows well when a new drama ceases to edify and begins to weary. With all these advan tages, he presents a concoction of stale, common German . diablerie—long drawn out. I might call it something worse than mere devilry ; for all these pieces, wrap• them up as a skilful vamper may, where the arch-enemy of mankind, like a "blackleg," attempts to chouse us poor short-sighted specimens, is just short of being blasphemous; and lam not straitlaced. CHORLEY'S drama creeped through four tedious parts, without one scintilla to raise the expectation ;—to excite, save to risibility, where terror was intended to be evoked, was out of the question. The piece was damned. Mr. WIGAN, the lessee, who took the drama in hand, laid out to my certain knowledge much money in mounting it ; it was rehearsed many times and attentively ;—did WIGAN not have some notion that all might be, thrown away ? Not a bit of it. Here, again, the truism with which I discursively opened this para graph is exemplified. You shall find a clever manager,— author and actor rolled into one,—and he build the highest expectations on trash. I really believe the foregoing embraces all the novelty of the week. BROOKE continues nearly as hoarse as a raven at Drury-lane,—plays nightly to applauding crowds; new dramas are promised at every theatre ; but some of the most fecund of the writers are complaining of ill health. DOUGLAS JERROLD is ill at Brighton, with rheumatism in his eyes, of all organs in his little body ; MARK LEMON—Punch's Pilot (you might make a pun of this)—is growling over bronchitis. But both of these boys, and others I could name, write more rarified when they are on slops. Arrangements going on, apparently with success until a few days since, for the opening of Her Majesty's Theatre, it appears now have failed ; so we can have only one Grand Opera .this season;; —LABLACIIE, Gram, and MARL) being the chiefs at Covent-Garden, which opens in about three weeks. Il fanatico par la musica was exemplified on Wednesday, by a few of the musical people in London absolutely leaving town for Paris, to be present on the following evening at the first representation of MEYERBEER'S Star of the North" ("L'Etoile du Nord") : they returned in time for dinner on Saturday, high in their praise of the maestro's last achievement. NAPOLEON and EUGENIA. were there, and applauded much. The subject of the opera, concocted by SCRIBE, is Russian—PETEß and CATHARINE : the music learned, swelling, and heavy-ish. The idea of people going from London to Paris, to hear the first of a new opera, is certainly spirited. What next ? The repertoire at the Royal Italian Opera is one of the best, if not the best, in Europe : let us hope that the impresario will draw upon it more frequently than he did last year, rather than produce expensive novelties not worth preserving—works which could not and did not live out a night. COMMERCIAL 4 , MONETARY NEWS MONDAY NIGHT. TIEE active preparations for war which have been making during the week appear to have had little effect on the value of public securities, which have been maintained with but little fluctuation until to-day, when Consols receded, owing to the confirmation of the previous report that the Emperor of Russia had refused to negotiate on the terms proposed in Louis Napoleon's letter. The returns of the Bank of England show a decrease in the stock of bullion of £23,155, but this will be amply compensated by the subsequent receipts, which amount to nearly £BOO,OOO, chiefly in gold, from Australia. There have, however, been larger shipments to France, and no doubt heavy remittances will be required for the army in the East. _ _ Money for commercial purposes has, it is said, been easy, but it would appear from the increase in " other securities" and the decrease in " other deposits," that money had been more in demand. The Bank Directors, it appears, have also disposed of part of their Government Securities. The dividends announced by the various railways show a general improvement on this description of investment, and will, no doubt, create for them a more favourable impression in the public mind. The North-western will pay at the rate of 5 per cent., the South-western 5 per cent., the Great western 4 per cent., the York and North Midland 3 per cent., the Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 21 per cent., the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, 31 per cent. on the preferential stock, the Bristol and Exeter 5 per cent., the South-eastern 4 per cent., the Great Northern 41 per cent., the Hull and Selby £2 9s. 6d. per £5O share; the Gloucester and Dean Forest 4 per cent., the Dublin and Belfast Junction 5 per cent., the North London £1 ss, per share, and the Eastern Counties 7s. per share. . The market for Cotton manufactures has again been firmer, and prices have had an upward ten dency. This is 'partly owing to the favourable advices received from India and China, and to the firmness in the Cotton market. Woollen manu factures are still dull, but improvement is anti cipated when the season is fully commenced. In the hosiery and lace trades there is scarcely any thing doing, but as a little time will now serve to solve the problem of peace or war, improvement is shortly expected. Corrox.—The extent of business done during the week has been larger than for a considerable time past, and would no doubt have been still larger, but for the unsettled state of political affairs. For the week ending Friday the sales amounted to 69,600 bales, of which 45,360 were taken by the trade, 20,800 by speculators, and 3,440 for exportation. Prices have consequently been in favour of sellers, and middling may be quoted about 1-16 d higher. On Saturday the sales were 6,000 bales, including 1,500 on specu lation and for export. To-day the advices per Asia were received, but too late to have any influence on the market. The sales reached 6,000 bales, and prices were firmly maintained. The following is a comparison of present rates with those of the corresponding period of last year. 1863. 1854. New Orleans, middling ...613-16d. 6 15-16 d. fair 6O. 61d. Uplands, middling fair The more decided tone in the Eastern Question' taken by government, and the actual embarkation of troops, has had a beneficial effect upon our SHARE MA.RKET ; and it has been characterised by increased firmness and scarcity of stock all week. The amount of money waiting investment in this market at the present time is very considerable ; and, as the speculators succeed in producing a momentary decline in prices, the opportunity is eagerly taken by the brokers to buy up any stock offered. Many are waiting for the intelligence of the first brush of the battle, hoping that then a favourable time may occur to buy, which may pro bably be the case, unless the number of this de scription of investers prevent. War or no war, it LIFE INSURANCE. THERE is, perhaps, no class of men to whom the prac tice of Life Assurance is of greater importance than the Clergy. With few exceptions, their means of subsistence do not extend beyond their lives, and in many instances are more precarious, so that any provision for a widow and children can only be looked for from a policy of life assurance, in order that death may not leave the loved ones altogether destitute. Our readers will see, by an announcement in our advertising columns, that a new society has been formed, under the title of English and Irish Church and University Assurance Society, especially designed for the advantage of the clergy ; and not the least important of its features is, the reservation of twenty per cent. of its profits for that excellent institution " The Friend of the Clergy." As its claims to attention are de tailed at some length in the prospectus, we refer our readers to that interesting document. CARDINAL WISEMIN.—We have received a letter from Mr. J. WISEMAN, of Brunswick-street, in this town, re• ferring to a paragraph in our last paper, headed " Car dinal Wiseman absconded ;" and saying, "As you are perfectly aware that Cardinal Wiseman has neither ' absconded' nor ' bolted.' " We may remark that, in no other way does the letter contradict the paragraph referred to ; and, further, that we are not aware of any of Car dinal 'WISEMAN ' S movements, further than we find them occasionally related in newspapers. The paragraph in question was copied, as we stated at the time, from the Dublin Evening Express ; and we copy the following from the Morning Chronicle, a few days since :—" We believe that events will confirm the report with reference to Cardinal Wiseman, which appeared in our columns some time back, and which was contradicted by one Romanist contemporary, and doubted by another. It has, we believe, been for some time determined at Rome that the Cardinal will not return to England, or that, if he does, it will be only for a short time, to settle some of the temporal and spiritual affairs of his community. At all events, it is known that he has taken a palace adjoining the parish church in Rome, of which he is the rector, as one of the College of Cardinals, and that his carriage and horses have heen sent for from England. It is gene rally supposed that the Cardinal will still retain the title of an English Archbishop ; and that either the Right Rev. Dr. Grant, of Southwark, will administer the spi ritual affairs of the metropolitan district, or else that Dr. Ullathorne, of Birmingham, will be translated," is evident that there will be little or no decline in home securities (consols, perhaps, excepted, as in the early part of this century), while there may probably be a steady advance. We annex this day's prices :—Caledonians, 27 61 4 1 • Eastern Counties, 131 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 66i- 6 ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 ; London Stock, 104+ 4 ; Midland" Stock, 63 21; Newry and Warrenpoint, ; Dover Stock, 18 11-16 ; York, Newcastle and Berwick, 171 ; York and North Midland, 241. PRODUCE.--The markets during the week have been comparatively quiet, very little business hav ing been done, and prices with only trifling alter ations. TO-DAY there is scarcely anything to notice in Sugar, the busineis being confined to a small parcel of Cuba Muscovado at 365, 6d., and a few hundred bags clayed Manilla at 225. 6d. per cwt. Nothing has taken place in Malasses or Rum, and of Coffee, only 20 bales Mocha are reported, at 655. to 745. per cwt. The Tea market is without change, and onlf a few hundred chests common Congou sold at is. id. per lb. Of Rice, 5,200 bags Arracan have found buyers at 15s. 6d., and 200 tees, very low Carolina at 16s. to 16s. 3d. per cwt. 700 bags Saltpetre (to arrive) have been purchased at 345. 6d. to 355. 6d., and 60 bags East India Ginger at 18s. per cwt. WooL.—This market still remains in an inactive state. The business of the week has not been ex tensive, and prices are without alteration ; the trade being at present occupied with the public sales now proceeding in London, causes this mar ket to be very quiet. English combing Wools have given way from 10s. to 15s. per pack within the last fortnight, while Foreign descriptions (such as long Turkey, Scopia, Servia, fine Bosnia, and Oporto), which come into competition with them, are much the same, but in - this inactive state of the market may be expected to give way a shade. On the continent there is little or nothing to be done, unless at lower rates, than can be obtained here. Imports for the week, 1,901 bales, viz.:- 669 Russian ; 186 Mediterranean Ports ; 136 Buenos Ayres ; 569 East India ; 152 Peruvian; 99 Australian, and 90 Scotch. THE CHURCH PASTORAL-AID SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT. THE anniversary of this very valuable Church Society took place on Sunday last, and the annual meeting was held last night, in the Collegiate Institution. There was a very good attendance. The Right Rev. Dr. Graham, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, again graced the oc casion by his presence and presided, and the deputation consisted of the Rev. W. Cadman, of St. George's, Southwark, and the Rev. Joshua Hart, Vicar of Otley ; and, amongst the gentlemen present, we observed Revs. H. M`Neile, W. Cadman, J. Hart, F. Ould, F. Barker, F. Parry, H. Jones, W.H. Wright, W.M. Falloon, J. Jones, W. Rawson, J. Crump, H. Hampton, W. Pollock, H. Carpenter, J.Evans, W. H. Duck, J. Conor, Dr. Hume, G. Dover, J. Macnaught, S. P. Boutflower, T. Ingham, G. Read, W. Leveson, C. Hamilton, R. Wolsley, E. B. Chal mers, T. Robinson, S. Fenton, S. B. Sutton, H. W. Warre, W. H. Vernon, E. Gabriel, P. Gell, E. Jones, H. Marlen, J. 0. Powell, W. S. B. Matthias, C. W. Lawrence, T. W. Moeran, W. Hughes, Jos. Bardsley, J. Marland, Job Lea ; Messrs. J. Grantham, E. Higgin, R. A. Payne, H. Webster, J. K. Rounthwaite, H. Moore, S. Holme, Levi son, Adam Hodgson, Thos. Ball, and Geo. Holden. The meeting having been opened by prayer, The BISHOP said—Ladies and gentlemen, before I call upon the Secretary to open the proceedings formally by reading the report, I wish to express the pleasure I feel myself in meeting you again in support of the Pas toral Aid Society. On former occasions I have spoken to you of the necessity that there was for some further provision to meet the spiritual wants of the popula tion of this great town. We were all sensible of the necessity of such provision from the general aspect of the case, but there have lately been some statistical accounts published by official authority, which brings the religious condition of this town under our notice in a more palpa ble and tangible form,—l refer now to the report on religious worship which has been lately published in con nexion with the general returns of the last census. Of course the numerical returns that are given in that re port cannot be expected to be perfectly correct, but, at the same time, they may be fairly taken as the best approx imation to the truth that the circumstances of the case admit of. Now, from the report, it appears that, in the town of Liverpool, the Church of England makes provision in its schools and the several licensed places of worship in connexion with them—that it provides accommodation for somewhat more than 16 persons out of every 100 of the whole population of the town. It appears also from the same report that the other places of Christian worship have, of all denomina tions taken altogther, provided accommodation for not quite the same number, not quite for 15 persons out of every 100. Now I hope I have been for some time so far known to you as to make you sure that I do not wish to speak of other religious denominations in any narrow or uncharitable or ungenerous spirit. (Applause.) I look upon them as differing from our churches in various points of greater or less moment, but I still think that the points in which they differ from us are secondary, in their nature, to that great point on which I trust that, in the main, they all agree with us, I mean the great point of placing all our hopes of salvation on the mediation and merits of the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Applause.) lam myself attached, and sincerely and fervently attached, to our own Church, by the con victions of my understanding and the affections of my heart ; but I respect in other men the right of conscience and the liberty of judgment which I claim for myself ; (hear, hear, hear) and as many as fix their hope of salvation, where I humbly fix mine, on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, I look upon them all, notwithstan ding minor points of difference, as being my brethren in the Lord. Yes, I should be glad—l should rejoice—if they were, even as I am, members of the Church of England; but if they cannot be, I do rejoice that they are my fellow-Christians, and that they are members of the same household of Christian faith. (Hear, hear.) It is not, therefore, for any pur pose of invidious comparison that I have referred to these statistical account, of which I have spoken. Far from that. It is fora very different object. It is to show you that, notwithstanding what the Church of England has done, here —notwithstanding what Christians of other denomi nations have done here ; and let them have their credit and their praise ; but, notwithstanding that, time is still much room, much need, and an urgent call, for further exertions to meet the spiritual wants and necessities of this town. I fear that there are many, especially of the poorer classes in this town, who never attend any place of religious worship,—l fear that there are still very many in this town who never receive any religious instruction. Do not say that this is entirely their own fault. It may be to some extent their own fault ; but let me say it is also to some extent their misfortune. There may be, in some cases, no church or no place of worship near them, where they could be certain of finding a seat, even if they were to go. There may be no minister of religion near them, within whose range of pastoral visitation they come, in such a manner as to receive any effectual benefit. Now, all this, said his lordship, is a sad state of things. lam thankful to know it, the people of Liverpool have made in past years, and are still making strenuous exertions to remedy this state of things, and supply this sad, deficiency. New:churches have been built, new minis ters employed, a large staff of Scripture readers employed, and so on ; and all this is well, all this is an improvement in the right direction ; and 'this Pastoral-Aid Society, in behalf of which we are met, steps in to give you most valuable assitance in one of the most important branches of this great and truly good work. The Pastoral- Aid Society furnishes to Liverpool the stipends of many of your assistant curates, and of some of the Scripture readers in their place. Ido not know that there is any religious society that has any greater or juster claims upon your favour. In supporting other religious societies, which I rejoice you do as you do,—in supporting them as you do, you give your money freely for the benefit, for the most part, of those who are comparatively strangers to you,—of the poor emigrants who are going from your port,—of the poor seculars in our distant colonies,—of the benighted Heathen in our Indian Empire, or the Coast of Africa, or in all other places. Do I say, that you should not give, because they are strangers to you—do I say there is no return for what you do ? God forbid I should say . that. I trust that it is returned to you a hundred fold better than that, and more than any com parison like that can express, I trust it is all expressed in the blessings of God's grace upon your selves. But, in supporting the Pastoral Aid Society, let me say that there is this distinction. Whatever aid you give to it, you give for the aid of those who are your own fellow townspeopl^ who are employedin your service or toil ing for your comfort, or walking about your streets, or cross ing you as you pass along your doors. They lie about you, close to you, and are bound by the ties of neighbourhood ; and here let me say whatever you give is returned in the most literal sense,—nay more than returned. I believe, if my memory does not fail me, that, from the state of things, this year corresponds to the last. I believe that all the contributions for the Pastorial Aid Society amount to something like £1,500 or £1,600 a year, and that the town of Liverpool received last year from the society, and the secretary can correct me if I am wrong, somewhere about £2,500. That is to say, they received nearly £l,OOO more than they gave. (Hear, hear.) Now I admit that the Pastoral Aid Society was originally established with a view to the benefit of the large towns of England, and I know no reason why Liverpool should not be entitled like other towns to claim its fair share; but still you will pardon me if I say I should be glad for the sake of Liverpool, for the sake of its public spirit, for the sake of its Christian spirit,—l should be glad if in time we could melt down that balance which now shows us such large debtors to the society,—l should be glad if the time came when we gave asmuch tothe society as we takefrom it. Ido not despair of this. I know that the calls upon your Christian charity are great and many ; but I have ever found the gentlemen of Liverpool, and let me add to this the ladies of Liverpool also (applause), were ever ready to respond to every call of the kind with an open hand and cheerful heart ;—(loud and continued applause)—and I am sure that I should do the people of this place great in justice if I did not express my confidence that they will con tinue to do so, and that I may look forward with hope to see the balance to our society turned a little less to our disadvantage. (Applause). His lordship a fte rwar d s con cluded by briefly calling attention to the programme of the evening's proceedings. The Rev. T. C. CowAN, the secretary, read the _ _ IMPORT. The Committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the Church Pastoral Aid Society have the gratification of announcing, in their fourteenth report, the continued and increasing pros perity both of their own branch and of the Parent Institu lion. The immtance of the society's work, and its great value as an assistant to the church, are now fully recognised an each aucceesive year i and unilere arc they more the roughly appreciated than in our own immediate neighbour hood. One sign of its general prosperity may be found in the rise of the yearly income. In 1851 it increased by £2,500, and in 1852 by .4'6,133 ; the whole receipts in that year amounting to £40,228. Yet even this large sum is barely su ffi cient to maintain the existing grants for 338 curates, and 135 lay assistants ; and there are at this very time 57 pressing appli cations on the society's lint, waiting—and waiting in vain — for aid. In the state of our Liverpool Auxiliary there is also much to encourage. Five years ay it was supported by 23 of the local clergy ; the number this year is 54. At that time there were but seven branches. or separate associations ; now there are 27, five of which have been formed since our last meeting: The anniversary list five years ago containe.l only 12 churches this year the list of churches is 37, end the number of ser mons 65. In the same way the funds of the association, which in 1848 were only .R 746, amounted last year to £1.547, being an increase of nearly £3OO on the preceding year. In fact, so rapidly has the Pastoral Aid cause extended, that the small report, which formerly was quite sufficient, must now be abandoned for one of larger size. Yet, notwithstanding these signs of prosperity, the situ ation of the Liverpool Association, with respect to the Parent Society, has become more unsatisfactory every year. New grants have been made from time to time, until the number has risen (rotn 15 in 1848, to 33 in the present year. Of these 21 are for additional curates, and 12 for Scripture-readers ; and the whole annual charge on the general fund for main taining all these grants is £2,595. The result is, that the Liverpool Association receives from the Pastoral Aid Society (when all thegrants are occupied),.el,o t 9 more than it returns. This state of things is the more remarkable when con trasted with the relative situation of other towns. The Bristol and Clifton Auxiliary raised, last year, £1,449, and received in grants, £B3O. The Bath Auxiliary raised £386, and received in grants £290. So that these two associations, be sides supplying the wants of their own localities, provided a surplus of more than £1,200 for other less wealthy places. In fact Bath and Bristol are called upon to make up the deficiency of Liverpool. It is not easy to assign the reason for this inadequate sup port of a society whose claims are so strong and so generally admitted. To churchmen it displays a list of 18 bishops, 6 deans, 21 archdeacons, and nearly 3.000 clergy - a greater number probably than any other society can show. To the friends of the poor it points to a numerous clergy and an effective band of lay assistants stationed in the worst and most neglected districts, and often meeting with great bless ing on their labours. Subscribers are encouraged by the society's proved adherence to its original principles, and by the care which it takes in all pastoral-aid appointments, to add anothersafeguard to the general precautions of thechurch. No undue economy is practised, no attempt made to extend the society's operations at the expense of the labourer it sup ports, but every clergyman maintained by a pastoral-aid aid grant receives a fair stipend, equal if not superior to the general scale. When to these just recommendations is added the unde niable fact that in Liverpool there is no society whatever which gives such effective assistance to the church ; and that without its aid a large part of the poor would be left destitute of pastoral care; no motive seems canting to insure for the pastoral aid cause the warmest and most liberal support. The committee do, therefore, most earnestly appeal to the richer classes for more annual subscriptions and subscriptions of larger amount. They hope, also, that many more of the less wealthy will give their valuable aid as secretaries of congregational branches and as collectors in their various districts; and from all—rich and poor, one with the other— they will ask for a deeper interest in this great home mission and more of that effectual fervent prayer which goes up for a memorial before God. The committee have only to add their regret that the senior secretary, the Rev. W. Brewster, has been compelled by ill health to resign his office. They beg to tender him their cordial thanks for his valuable services, together with their sincerest wishes that his health may soon be restored. They have also to announce that the Rev. J. M`Natight, incumbent of St. Chrysostom, has accepted the vacant secretaryship. The Rev. Dr. M'NEILE, who was received with ap plause, moved the first resolution for the adoption, &c., of the report, and the appointment of a committee. He believed that it was as good a cause as ever they were moved in, .and we had the highest authority for saying that we should always be zealous in a good cause. The Church Pastoral Aid Society had happily selected its name,—it was descriptive and explanatory—it im plied that we had a Church and pastors, but that they required aid for the accomplishment of the great work that it seemed to imply. The aid was in accordance with the discipline and government of our Church. Dr. M`Neile then referred to his lordship's statistics, which he thought revealed a most deplorable state of things, and continued :—" Where is the remedy ? We all find there is a remedy in the Gospel, so freely supplied to us of God. Whose duty, let me ask, is it to supply the means of grace ?. You will assent readily to the great principle of the Divine equity, that from those to whom much is given much shall be ..required. You readily believe that privilege and duty go hand in hand—that wherever it has pleased God to confer the one, he has in so doing entailed the other. This principle applies to mankind in their corporate or national capacity, as it does to them in their social and individual capacity. It is the duty of a Christian state, I venture to say, favoured of God, with a reformed religion, a Christian Church, a translated Bible in its own language—it is the duty of a Christian state, so favoured, to take measures that shall secure the read ing of the Word of God by all the people in the country. I do not say that it is the duty of a Christian state to say whether people shall be taught other things. I think it very questionable whether gratuitous education in other things shall be for the good of society, whether secular education shall not be made to keep pace with industry and pros perity, and whether in pressing it gratuitously upon the lowest claases where there is no property, you may not • undermine the foundations of society. I will not under take to say whether that is so or not, but as to the know ledge of the Scriptures there can be no question. We have every reason to know where they are known good is done. They are the elements which God himself has placed to combine and to form for the healing of the sore places in man's character. It is, then, whatever may be said about secular instruction, it is the duty of a Scriptural state to see that Scriptural education shall be given amongst their people. • They cannot secure the hearing of the faith among the people of God. They cannot secure the means of grace, but they ought .to secure every means. But suppose they won't ? (Hear.) Suppose by their own action they are brought into such a collision that they cannot ? What becomes the duty of Christian men, if they find themselves in a Christian country which finds itself incapacitated in its corporate capacity for the discharge of this high duty? Surely, if we cannot do it in a corporate capacity, we should not throw it up and say, we won't in our individual capacity. Surely if we cannot do everything we would, we should do what we could; and voluntary contributions, voluntary societies have come to fill up the lack of service in our Christian state." (Applause.) Dr. M'Neile then went on to say that he remembered some years ago when in Lon don a society was formed for promoting Church ex tension by votes of public money ; but that had all gone by ; nobody dreamt of such a thing now. It was as right as ever it was, but people had aban doned it because it had ceased to be practicable,—so many of the members of the legislature had ceased to call the Church of England a national church, and only a fa voured sect, and so many members of parliament had joined in that liberal view, that a grant of parliament seemed hopeless. Our church was in the condition of a spouse who had made a bad match with a mate (he meant the state), and it had been in consequence a painful and distressing union. (Applause.) This view Dr. M`Neile elaborated with great ingenuity, and concluded by a very powerful appeal on behalf of the society to the religious feelings of his audience. Mr. E. HlGGirr, in a few telling remarks, seconded the motion, which was put to the meeting, and carried, of course, unanimously. Mr. SAMUEL HoLME, in a very eloquent speech, but which the lateness of the hour precludes us from giving as we should have desired, moved the next resolution, which was to the effect—that the meeting heard with great regret that the society receives from Liverpool £l,OOO less than it bestows, and that the circumstances called for further support. With his usual ability, Mr. Holme shewed the necessity for spiritual ministration amongst the humbler classes ; and dwelt at some length on the evils which beerhouses and drunken habits, &c., inflict upon the community. He was loudly applauded. The Rev.. Mr. CADMAN, of London, seconded the the resolution, appealing strongly to the generosity of Liverpool hi support of the society. He showed the spiritual destitution of his own parish, in Southwark, and the good which had been effected by the assistance ren dered to him by the Pastoral Aid Society. There were 11,000 people in his parish who ought to be preached to, but for whom the Church did not afford accommodation. It was a painful fact that the hold of our National Church on the working-classes, in large towns, was well-nigh lost, and this deserved serious consideration. Infidelity was extensive, and there were thirty-three discussion classes of such a character in London. Tailors and shoemakers seemed particularly to be prone to infidelity. He advocated the propriety of open air meetings, which he knew from experience to be attended with the best results, as he and his churchwarden witnessed one which was attended by over 300 men, who never heard the Gospel. He showed that the early closing movement, which was so warmly advocated, was taken advantage of, and that which was intended for the best purpose—the improvement of the mind—was spent in immorality, and implored his hearers to give the society their best aid, in order to stem this demoralizing current. A hymn, composed for the occasion, was sung during the collection, after which . The CHAIRMAN said the Rev. Mr. Hart would move the next resolution. The Rev. Mr. HART then addressed the meeting, and alluded to the very able manner in which the Rev. Dr. M`Neile advocated the duty of the State to provide for the education of the people, and the necessity of voluntary contributions. When he (the speaker) was made vicar, he found a little parish, which had ten townships, and but one vicarage. He then applied to the Pastoral Aid Society, and they instantly granted him two curates. One of these took up his residence at Burnley, and very soon established a bible class there, which was attended by a large number, and quickly a beautiful church, which raises its finger to Heaven, directing mankind to place their affec tions on things above, enhanced the scene. He and the other curates then devoted themselves to the formation of scriptural classes, and their labours were soon crowned with abundant success, as was evinced by the erection of another church ; so that there are now two churches, and two vicarages, as pretty as any in England. (Cheers.) It has been objected that the curates employed by the society are too frequently changed ; but this charge, in his opinion, afforded the strongest ground for the practice, as it gave an opportunity of carrying out the peculiarities of each. He then instanced the various ways in which these were manifested, and the benefits which accrued from the adoption of some. He concluded by impressing upon all the shortness of time, and urged upon them the necessity of casting themselves upon the merits of that Redeemer who died for their sins. The Rev. Mr. COWAN seconded the resolution in a few words. The LORD BISHOP then pronounced the blessing, after which the meeting dispersed. The following sums were collected at the various churches, in behalf of the society, on Sunday last :—All Saints, £l6 75.; St. Andrew's, £53; St. Augustine's, £5O; St. Bartholomew's, £l2 ls. 4d.: St. Bride's, £B7 105; St. Jude's, (morning collection,) £34 ; Christ hurch, Hun ter-street, £23 ; Christ Church, Everton, £35 ; St. James', Toxteth, Z2B; St. John's, £22; St. Luke's, £ll 65.; Mariners' Church, £6 10s.; St. Mark's, £6B Bs.; St. Mark's District Church, £ 2 145.; St. Mary's, Edge-hill, £29 ls.; St. Matthew's, Toxteth, £7; St. Paul's, £6 16s. I.od. • St. Paul's, Prince's-park, X 111; St. Peter's, Ever ton, 126; St. Silas, £2O ; St. Stephen's, Crown-street, £9; St. Thomas, Seaforth, £26 2s. 7d. NORTH-WESTERN ROEBERT.—At Marylebone Police office, London, on Wednesday, Thomas Goalen, remanded from last week, was committed for trial, for defrauding the London and North-western Company of 42,184 16s. 44 pu4 £4601 104, 74. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1854._ dgr LAST NIGHT BUT TWO. car PABLO FANQUE'S COMPANY AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. TO-MORROW (Wednesday), the 22nd instant, FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. T. H. JOHN, Acting Manager and Treasurer, On which occasion the following No'Velties will be presented for the first — time : An Eqw . strian ritantenvre, ettitlea "THE WAR IN THE EAST, or THE RUSSIANS ROUTED." THE RISE OF THE GREEKS in the GREAT STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY. - _ Mr. Pablo Fang ue w illeao6lN EY S PORTS MAN. Last Appearance of the celebrated Mare BEDA. In addition to the above, and several other Novelties pro duced, the Entertainments will conclude with a laughable Extravaganza, entitled TABLE MOVING VERSUS SPIRIT RA PPINGS. Mos PARDY'S CONCERT.—By an advertisement it will be seen that this talented lady is to give a concert in the New Music-hall, Bold-street, on Monday next. It cannot be necessary to enforce the claims of this native vocalist by any other means than by merely reminding our readers of the pleasure afforded by the members of her family to the amateurs of music in Liverpool; and by pointing to the fact that she will be aided by her mother and other estab lished favourites. CHESHIRE PROM THE Rocs To TRA.NMERE.—Under this title, our enterprising fellow-townsman intends to pub lish a companion picture to his admirable lithograph view of Liverpool. If equal to its predecessor, and we have every reason for believing it will be so, it will prove a wel come as well as an interesting addition to the collection of our local views. CHAMBER. OP COMMERCE—ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING YESTERDAY.—After the formal business was disposed of, a letter from T. B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P., was read, enclosing the answer of the Board of Trade to the memorial respecting the restricted supply of Peruvian guano. The government are quite aware of the import ance of the subject, and promise to use all their influence to induce the Peruvian government to throw the trade open. A letter and copy of memorial, for the reduction of stamp duty on fire insurance, from the Sun Fire Office, was read, to which the support of the chamber was solicited, and it was resolved That the council concur in the propriety of such reduction, and at the proper time will support it by the expression of their opinion." The sub ject of letters of marque and privateering was referred to the consideration of the Customs' Committee. Law of Partnership.—ln accordance with the resolution passed at the general annual meeting, for the council to express its views on this important question, the following motion was made ;—" That this council having given full con sideration to the report of their sub-committee, hereby affirm the principle set forth therein, viz., that the present law of partnership, in regard to unlimited liability, is un sound, inexpedient, and an alteration is urgently required." When, after some conversation, it was determined that a special meeting of the council should be held this day week for the discussion of the foregoing resolution. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. LONDO2L—After official hours, Consols for Money was 901 a ; Account, 90 Share Markets closed at the lowest point. On 'Change, Saltpetre firmer. 635. was asked for P. Y. C. Tallow. Tea, and other articles, unaltered. THE EASTERN WAR. The first battalion of the Scots Fusileer Guards and the third battalion of Grenadier Guards were inspected, this morning, by Prince Albert, at the Wellington Barracks. After going through their evolutions, the Prince ex pressed his extreme satisfaction with their efficiency. Both battalions were in heavy marching order, and ap peared in high spirits. They leave on Wednesday morning. The answer of the Emperor of Russia was brought to Paris on Sunday night, at ten o'clock. General Castel bajac has not yet arrived, and is not expected for a day or two. It is again stated as certain that Prince Napoleon Jerome will be appointed to the chief command of the French expeditionary forces, which will consist of 45,000 men. In financial circles at Paris all hopes of amicable arrangements are finally abandoned. There was a rumour that Batoum had been bombarded by the Russians, but its authenticity was doubtful. The partial insurrections among the Greek population are not deemed of much importance at the French Foreign office and it is expected they will cease when the Anglo- French expedition appears in Turkey. It is believed that orders have been sent by the Divan to Omar Pasha to resume the offensive ; and it is ru moured he will make an attempt to cross the Danube at Turtukai and Oltenitza, and make an advance on Bucha rest. Rifaat Pasha, who commands the army of reserve, has quitted his head-quarters of Sofia for the right bank, the point which commands Oltenitza. He was at the head of 35,000 men, composed of picked regiments. It was supposed from that movement that an important operation was contemplated. The condition of the Ottoman army was excellent. The General-in-Chief had taken all his measures to repel the Russians in case they attacked Kalafat; and the Turkish Government had also made the most energetic military preparations against the Russians, in the event of their attempting to turn the position of the army in the direction of Servia. HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDA.T, FEB. 20. Their lordships met at 5 o'clock. In reply to the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Lord Cue x- CELLOR said that the bill for the Reform of the Eccle siastical Courts did not extend to Ireland ; but the subject of applying a measure in relation to the Ecclesiastical Courts there was receiving his attention. Lord BE,OUGHAM said there was a necessity for a mea sure in reference to Ireland, but it might not be expedient to make it exactly of the same nature as the one appliable to England and Wales. Lord BEAUMONT gave notice that on Friday he should move resolutions, to the effect that, in the opinion of the house, the honour and best interests of the country re quired effectual means to be taken to repel the unjustifi able aggression of Russia upon the Porte ; and that the power and influence of this country should be exerted to place the relations of Russia and the Porte upon such a foundation as would secure peace to the Ottoman empire, and give it the opportunity of developing its resources. The House adjourned at twenty minutes past five o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-310NDAT, FEB. 2O The house met at 4 o'clock. Mr. LAWBENCB ELLK took the oaths and his seat for South Devon. _ A number of private bills were read a second time. Sir E. DERING gave notice that, on the motion for a second reading of the bill for amending the representation of the people, he should move an amendment to the effect that the state of foreign relations renders the present moment inopportune for the discussion of the measure of Parliamentary Reform. THE EASTERN WAR. In reply to Mr.Cosuxx, Lord J. RUSSELL said Go vernment had not come to any resolution at present re lative to a blockade of the commercial ports of Russia. In answer to Sir J. WALsix Lord J. RUSSELL stated ihat information relative to insurrectionary movements in Greece had been received ; but it was not clear by whom it was fomented, and the information was not of a specific character. In reply to Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. WiLsox explained the circumstances under which the proclamation, published this morning, was issued, stating that it was directed exclusively to Russia, except when there was reason to suppose that exportations of arms, ammunition, &c., were about to be made colourably to any other port. On the motion for resuming the adjourned debate on the Eastern question, Mr. COBDEN said that, notwithstanding the speech of Lord J. Russell on Friday evening, he was still in igno rance on more than one point, and, therefore, desired further information. He proceeded to take a retrospect of all the transactions and negotiations which have taken place from the beginning of the Russian and Turkish quarrel, the origin of which he traced to the demands of the French Ambassador (M. Lavalette), respecting the Holy Places. He argued that the diffe rence as to the interpretation put upon the Vienna note by the Porte, was not a sufficient ground of quarrel, and that such interpretation ought not to have been sanctioned by the allied powers ; also, that the Christian subjects of the Porte were utterly opposed to the policy of the Porte. He quoted largely from official documents, recently published, containing the instructions given to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and the opinion of that ambassador, respecting the treatment of the Christian population by Turkey,—it was impossible to put Christians on a level with the Turks, without an abandonment of the principles of the Koran. He disputed the assertion made by Lord Palmerston last session, respecting the great social progress of Turkey. We were now asked to form an alliance with a power which, by the evidence of the ambassador and consuls, was in a state of internal dissolution. In fighting on behalf of Turkey, we were fighting against the interest of the majority of the population of Turkey. On the question of our trade with Russia, he said much mis apprehension prevailed, for, though it was true that our exports were under £2,000,000, our imports from that country average £12,000,000 sterling, being three times the amount of our trade with Turkey. He dwelt on the im policy of sending our land forces instead of employing solely the navy. England, being invulnerable from her position, ought to refrain from fighting other people's battles. He was opposed to war with Russia, because the grounds of the quarrel were not sufficient to justify hostilities. He would not give six months' purchase for the popularity of any man who voted for this war. Lord J. MANiczus disagreed altogether from the views put forth by Mr. Cobden, and expressed his approval of the determination of the Government to resist the aggres sion of Russia, but warmly criticised the delay in arriving at this resolution. Mr. HORSMAN did not complain of the proceedings of government having been criticised ; but he dissented from the facts, the arguments, and the conclusions of Mr. Cob den's speech —a spe ec h which he regarded as full of fida cies. The question was not a mere dispute between two neighbouring states, but one of European policy. The point really was, whether the Emperor of Russia should be Emperor of Turkey also. Government had adopted the wisest course. He trusted that the conditions of peace will be that Russia shall indemnify Turkey for the expenses of the war. Mr. irRITMMOND said it did not appear what the reason was for going to war, He believed it would prove a regular war, and it owed its origin to the author-of mischief, the Pope. (Laughter.) It will be pert'''' , to make Russia pay expenses. He ridiculed the 11 ' maintaining a balance of power by means of the war which they were now entering. Mr. BUTT strongly urged the right of the 1 1 0 ag e. have full information as to the intentions of fl when a large increase in the estimates was asked for. Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT said the government had ue...'", 1 1 , , to complain of the course taken in the debate, hot b e Z , cated the reading of isolated passages from the Blue I: s c adopted by Mr. Layard and others, with a view t o 5 .! accusations against ministers. The l ea di n g objectious.r:: vanced against government were not justified by 0 tf lk , nor by negotiations. The common belief was weak, b: a nation of slaves was a delusion. The strength of consisted in her nationality; but what they wa n do was to resist the aggression of Russia, and not to t e i Turkey on account of merits some supposed her .14 less. Some points of Mr. Cobden's speech in this e,, 0 / and on other occasions had produced the most raisetto effects, though they had produced the highest adniro at St. Petersburgh. He concluded by a general vinclictoi of government in their policy of forbearance throuP the quarrel. Mr. Disanur, after alluding to the various 0 11 1131 ; whieh prevailed respecting the origin of the lagi'vell which was still the subject of controversy , sa id be be' f ' f i any oountry would more willingly bear the burden 1 0 4 when it knew why it was going to war. 0 $ r no way of ascertaining the causes of the by referring to the Blue Books, and he agree with those who thought we ought not to co t), , past, but only the future iu the Eastern questiomo( had a right to offer an opinion on the policy of g„ te meat, even though they might not go so far as a 4 .,bi1? censure. (Hear, and loud cheers.) After s'ke',i,o the progress of public opinion with regard to Ile>„ / many years past, reading extracts from the r irr e : i oi Kanairdji and from a dispatch from Count Nes s ' ne I Jan. 1863, shewing the policy of Russia to be ° 0 ascendancy. He contended that this ascendanelo intended to be carried out by means of the , lish and French Ambassadors. He vindicateuet, course taken by the Derby Government with respell.o the holy places, and dwelt upon the duplicity of ~,( 8 Nesselrode throughout the dispute, the Count fairly telling what he wanted, and the government asked him. (Laughter.) No formal demand made to Russia as to her intentions. He con Ai the opinion of Mr. Cobden, as to the declining Turkey, citing citing the passage of the Danube, and theAt of Oltenitza, and asserted that ministers would, 74 justified in going to war unless they h a d 'confiael strength and repute with Turkey. He criticised $ b length the despatches of our ambassadors at St. Peters I; and Constantinople, and also instructiohs sent out bi Clarendon, to show that a change of policy was $ upon the accession of the Aberdeen administraiiellf acknowledged by Russia during the , general eondos isll the conduct of . the Government had been marked by credulity or connivance ; on that point depeu, ascertaing what is the object of the was. were decided it may stimulate noble and rya efforts; and if war were carried on with • spirit the Drnube might be made a free ra et • • the Euxine a free sea; but, on the other hand, if Left Sitting. t 74 THE NIAGARA STEAM SHIP.— Th e follow i ng Ci e , tion of the alterations rendered necessary in this Il e ! sel, which will sail to-morrow with about nine linn oi y , the 28th regiment, will give an idea of the acconnn A tti afforded :—A very large portion of the permanent have been removed, and their places supplied with 7 . &c., of a nature more suited to the large number sons she has to carry. The after saloon, on deck P O fitted up with three tables along its entire lengtib,d will afford mess room to the major portion of the reg'W For this purpose additional accommodation has lead vided:, by placing an awning on each side of the „e supported by strong timbers from the railing on r of the saloon to a little above the bulwarks of Tables are arranged the full length of these coveht and when these are drawn up, which they can /ill very simple and ingenious contrivance, the spa i.OO available for promenades, or for the mustering and tion of the men. The fore saloon. which is rather contains two tables, and the sideways, on deck, P part, are fitted up with stabling for twelve horses'rt after part of the between decks, usually set ape r'" second class passengers, has been fitted up with s oc oi, of berths, about four feet wide, each of which is to ~r ee .,' modate two men. These berths are in tiers, bi height, and there are six in each row. With so nl o l tional berths, right astern and forward, adjoining ,I,e panion way, this part of the ship will accommodat:natt 260. The cabin forward is similarly fitted UP, „t accommodate, in single and double berths, an ° ; o o l # The lower deck aft, extending the chief cabin e f berths for upwards of 400 men, and i s fitted LIP i o fi liberal with those of the between decks ; and there i f , further accommodation fcrward. The 28th, Who /4 strong, rank and file, has been lately increased , bye, teers, to upwards of a thousand. They will p Liverpool to-morrow morning, and will proce", l s headed by their band in full play, from Tithebn r , station, to the Landing Stage, whence, if the ' o il permits, they will be towed on board the Niagn ril large barges connected with the Cunard Comp b 9 weather be not propitious, they will be taken on, steam tenders Jackal and Satellite. The Carabrrid is similarly fitted-up, will sail to-morrow for J 6 fi Harbour, where she will take on board 700 trooP s same destination. FUNDS, STOCK, AND SHARE MARKET' Owing to the news that the Emperor of Russia hadj rejected the last proposals for Once likely to be guile' him, English Funds much agitated, and declined O'„V per cent. Railways, influenced by the decline in tilitl), declined, on an average, 1 per cent. Caledoniarls,rd,l lower, were better supported than other stocks. and Mining descriptions, depressed. In Foreigno t l receded on sale nearly 2 per cent. ; Mexican and D uty 1 per cent. lower. CLOSINO PRICKS. Consols, Account .. l 902 1 Bank Stock ...... • •i; 19~ Do. Money.— I 901 1 Excheq. Bills, L & Three&QrperCenta 92* FOREIGN STOCKS. Mexicans__ 24* iiSpanish Passives .••: 111 Spanish DeferredThre e s 39 Do. Threes 3i 4 Russian ... •••" Swedish ..... .••• Amberg.,Nottingham, SHARES. London & N. Wester London & S. Wester!, Manches., Sheff, an Lincolnshire ...•• Midland Stock ..•••• Midland Halves.. • ••• North British ..... Do. Preferinc, Norfolks ........•••• North Staffordshire •• ' Shrewsbury and 1 mingham . ...... • Do. L. & N. W gu ar. S. Eastern and Do cef d York, Newcastle, $ 5 Berwick ..... • Do. Extensi ° ", Do. Preferene, York and N. Midla n d Do. Preferenc e. ' SHARES. Agua Fria ....... / B. Australian ....•• '• Freehold • • Australasian ... . ' Colonial Mariposa ......... ••' SHARES. Peel River ......••• Van Diemanr ..... • •• N. B. Australian ••'' RAILWAY and E. Junction Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Do. Preference East Anglian Eastern Counties East Lancashire Eastern Union A Ditto B and C Edinburgh & Glasgow Great Northern 9l 2 Do. B — Great Western Lanc.and Yorkshire. 63 6 Do. Fifths 7 6i Leeds Northern l3l London,Brighton,and South Coast 96 7 MINING Novean Monde — Registered — Cordeliera Ave Maria Carson's Creek — Port Philip LAND Australian Agricultural 40 2 S. Australian Invest li I B. American — CORN MARKET. o il 0 e The supply of English Wheat is short; . of foreign , / . 11_, The quantity of Spring Corn on offer is limited!. ~,r, lish Wheat trade opened firm, and an advance of_; ill; was demanded, but there is not much doing ' 135,,/ Foreign is held steadily at a small enhancement ; I", rather slow of sale, but previous terms are requir7 Sp ' has met a moderate demand. Beans and Pen 0 , steadily at late rates. The Oat trade is firm, a., per qr. advance. ARRIVALS. English. Irish. 1 4 Wheat 1776 Barley 4620 584 d i Oats 3571 13154 Malt 6Oll VI ; .1 Beans Peas. _ Flour ... — 747 40 0 6 An advance of Is. per quarter on English W• hoo. e if e, partially realised for fine White. A clearance, l o re effected at the full currency of Monday last. me i steadily at quite previous terms. Flour, toWn: OA altered ; American. somewhat steadier. Barley , 1,0 Beans and Peas dull, but not lower. Oat trade O r ''' ~„ Gd. advance. 390 PRODUCE MARKET. fo il bu t . 0 0 Sugar : In Foreign the demand is not better t . , 1,,, are asked. Refined is in good request. Cotree,:o are limited ; Native Ceylon, 475. 6d. to 4 95.6 d. ' o ci, ordinary Condon , is. lid. Rice is in active denlioeo rates for East India. Rum; Few sales at last we ed. Cotton : The sales are small, but full terms are a" TALLOW MARKET. Tallow is firm and in good demand. Stock,. against 38,335 casks same t i me last year. Del l, casks, against 2,013 casks same time last year. CATTLE MARKET. 111 The beast trade is better. Sheep s old at Frid ay Calves 6d. per atone dearer. 4 1 to Beef 2s 10d to 4a 8d [ Veal Mutton..... 3s Od to 5s Od 1 Pork 3B ARRIVALS. Beasts 2710 Calves ......... Sheep and Lambs Norfolk and Suffolk 8ea5t5........... . Cambridge, Leicester, Lincoln, and Nort" . ampton Beasts ....................... • • Scotch Beasts ......................... ". Irish Beasts Holland Beasts ..................... 01) . Do. Sheep ........................... Do. Calves ........................ Do. Pigs Spanish Beasts ........................... Do. Sheep ........................... French Beasts 110 6 ..1 15' MANCHESTER STOCK EXC , °Ls Caledonians, 261 27 ; East Lancashire, 16k ; 66i j ; Midlands, 63 62 LEEDS STOCK EXCHAN° • Ls Manchester, She ffi eld, and Lincoln, 23i. Yorkshire, 66; Dovers, 18 3-16. t 4 LATEST SHIPPING INTELLI OO f • YARMOUTH, 10nr.—The Essex, barque, o, been totally lost, together with her crew. l oon' DEAL, 19TH.—Arrrived : Euphrates, frony, Maud, from Algoa Bay; Circassian, from vid; r oo 2 4 rior, from Demerara.-20th: Plantagenet: p s ic. Balmoral, from China; Anna Kemball, fronl Shepherd, from Bombay; Virginia, from Calla LIVERPOOL: Printed and Published every Tuesday Proprietor, ROBERT PEARSON TtrAu";/,r4 Percy-street, at the STANDARD GENE O ', OFFICE, No. 4, ST. GEORGE'S CRESCO'I Wuesday, February 21,1854