The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

Emptrial parliannitt. HOUSE OF LORD .--TURSDAY, JANUARY 26 ied this day by her Majesty in person At aquarterpast_tWo o'clock her :led by the neat officers of state,entered the how( and remaining standing until aced. Her Majesty directed the Usher of the is mon the House of Commons to t ness Prince Al Rod; Sir Aug ho wore a tus Clifford, to sum . His Royal High- - Mitrstial's uniform entered with the royal procession, and took his seat in the chair of state prepared for him on the left of the throne. — The Speaker, in-his state robes, attended by an immense , body of members, having appeared at the bar, the Lord Chancellor, on his knee, banded the speech to the Queen, which her Majesty read iu her usual clear and distinct man- THE SPEECH 111 k Lords and Gentlemen " I have the satisfaction to receive from foreign powers assurances of their friendly disposition, and of their earnest desire to maintain pea The position of affairs in the Levant had long been a cause of uneasiness and a source of danger to the general tranquillity.—With a view to avert the evils which a cdntinu- auce of that state of things was calculated to occasion, I con- Chided with the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan, a convention intended to cification of the Levant ; to maintain the integ rity and independance of the Ottoman Empire ; and thereby to afford additional security to the peace of Europe I have given directions that this convention should be laid before you I rejoice to be able to inform you that the measures which have been adopted in execution of these engagements have been attended with signal success ; and I trust that the )bjects which the contracting parties had in view are on the eve of being completely accomplished " In the course of these transactions my-naval forces have co-operated with those of the Emperor of Austria, and with land and sea forces of the Sultan, and have displayed upon illantry and skill. sions their accustomed g " Having deemed it necessary to send to the coast of China a naval and military force, to demand reparation and redress for injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects by _ . . the officers of the Emperor, of China,. and of indignities of fered to an agent of my crown, I at the same time appointed plenipotentiaries to treat upon these matters with the Chi- nese governtnc last accounts, in negotiation Emperor of China ,nd it will be a atification to me, if that government shall be induce 1, by its own sense of justice. to bring these mat- ters to a speedy settlement by an amicable arrangement. Serious differences have arisen between Spain and Por '•out the execution of a treaty concluded by those poweri in 1835, for regulating the navigation of the Douro ; but both parties have accepted my mediation, and I hope to be able to effect a reconciliation between them upon terms honourable to both. I have concluded with the Argentine Republic and with the Republic of Hayti treaties for the suppression of the trade, which I have directed to be laid before you ' Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have directed the estimates for the year to be laid be- rer sensible of the importance of adhering to the A economy, I feel it my duty to recommend that sion be made for the exigencies of the public dequate prc 31y Lords and'Gentlemen Measures will be submitted to you without delay, which have for their object the more speedy and effectual adminis tration of justice. The vital importance of this subject is to ensure for it your early and most serious consi- deration " The powers of the Commissioners appointed under the Act for the amendment of the laws relating to the Poor, ex pire at the termination of the present year. I feel assured that you will earnestly direct your attention to enactments ply concern the interests of the community . . It is always with entire confidence that I recur to the and assistance of my Parliament. I place my reliance our wisdom, loyalty, and patriotism, and I humbly implore of Divine Providence, that all your councils may be so directed as to advance the great interests of morality and religion, to preserve peace, and to promote, by enlightened legislation, the welfare and happiness of all classes of my Immediately afterwards her Majesty quitted the house, and the royal procession returned in the same state to Bucking- ham PalaCe. Their lordships adjourned, but reassembled at five o'clock, when the Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack. Lord BEAUMONT (late Mr. Myles Stapleton who has made good his claim to the dormant peerage of Beaumont) took the oaths and his seat. Viscount MELBOURNE laid the convention entered into between her Majesty and the Emperor of Austria, the Em peror of Russia, the King of Prussia, and the Sultan, for the pacification of Turkey, on the table. The LORD CLIANtELLOR then read her most gracious Ma jesty's speech, during the reading of which Lord Brougham entered the house, and, walking up to the conservative side, shook hands with the Duke of Wellington, and then took his seat in his usual place. Lord DUCIE, in moving the address, touched upon the various points of the speech. Dear and necessary as peace must be admitted to be, be was satisfied that their lordships would be the last persons in the world to wish that England should lose that high position among nations, which she must necessarily lose if she should be guilty of any culpable ne glect of interfering in a case in which her interference would become necessary, more especially in such a case as that which had recently occurred. He believed that the country owed a deep debt of gratitude to the heads which had planned, and to the hands which had so nobly executed, that series of of operations which had ended so satisfactorily. With re gard to the expedition to China, he was glad to learn, from the speech, that there was every probability of our differences with that country being brought to a speedy termination. Their lordships should, however, recollect the dilatory nature of our Chinese friends. The occupation of Chusan was, he thought, an event very much calculated to hasten their di plomacy. Events had taken place in India since they last met, which were calculated to forward the prosperity of this country, and to secure peace in that quarter of the globe. With regard to the legislative measures recommended in the speech from the throne, it would be useless for him to dilate upon them at any length, because they had both of them, he believed, in principle, received the sanction of their lordships' house. (Hear, hear.) Canada was no longer disturbed, and it was satisfactory to know that the Canadians seemed fully satisfied with the working of their new constitution.' With regard to our domestic affairs, we were at present in the en joyment of quiet. Agriculture was in the most prosperous state, and manufactures were rising from the depressed state in which they had been of late, into that limited and uncer tain state of prosperity beyond which they could never rise so long as duties of a restrictive nature were continued, which rendered it impossible for any human foresight or precaution to prevent a recurrence of famine prices in articles of sub sistence. (Hear, hear.) _ _ Lord LURGAN seconded the address, and deprecated the charges made against the government of having neglected the arsenals and shipping of the country—charges, he said, suf ficiently disproved by the recent events in Syria, and more particularly before the bristling guns of Acre. Lord BROUGHAM felt it necessary to guard himself and the house against being supposed to sanction all that had been done by the government, because they might support address to her Majestry. He saw enough in the tone of seech to fill his mind with the most gloomy apprehen ', comparing the speech of this year from the throne 'Ast year, it would be found that the former did t strong assurances of a desire on the _...eign powers to maintain peace with this country which were to he found in the latter, though no man would be more glad than himself it' they could be still applied with strict truth to our present position. It was true that our arms had been, owing to British valour, triumphant ; and it was possible that the wars we had engaged in were defensible; but if defensible, it could only be on the strict ground of ab- Ile could not concur in the opinion enter ._ ay sonic people—that this country should, on no ac count interfere in continental politics ; but there was a great ' difference between keeping aloof altogether, and eternally in termeddling and keeping up a sort of übiquity, always acting, negociating, and intermeddling everywhere as if each country in Europe was part and parcel of Great Britain. The noble lord then adverted to the singular policy pursued by this country with the professed view of preserving the integrity of lie Turkish empire. The power against whom it was neces ars, to guard by keeping this integrity was Russia, and yet "as but a short time since the government had united with 'estroy the Turkish fleet; and why was this fleet ,yed ? Not for the purpose of securing the indepen _Ace of Greece, for that was already accomplished, but to compel an inroad upon the integrity of the Turkish empire by thrcing the Sultan to give a certain portion of Turkish territory to Greece. The government was equally consistent with IVleheinei Ali. At one time he was treated as a subject. and at another as an absolute sovereign, just as it suited the purpose of the moment. In 1839 he was offered Egypt in hereditary absolute sovereignty, and again was he offered the Pachalic of Acre without the fortresses—another inroad on the integrity of the Turkish empire. In 18 40 the offer was repeated, with the addition of the fortresses; and yet, after all this the government made the integrity of the Turkish em pire the ground for giving up our alliance with France, in order to unite with the remains of the holy alliance, thus sacrificing the true and solid basis of the peace of Europe, and of the good understanding between France and England. The noble lord next adverted to the fact that the only power of whom there was any apprehension, as re garded Turkey, was Russia, and yet England united with that very power to carry out the recent policy in the east ; and he intimated that Russia was very unlikely to have en tered into any such scheme—a scheme apparently opposed to her own interests and to her designs on Turkey, unless she could perceive greater advantages in perspective, and these advantages he thought her policy would foresee as an inevitable result of a breach between France and England. He thought also that if France had any real designs on Egypt and the east, this country had more to fear from an alliance between that country and Russia to carry out their respective objects, than she could have to fear from either, while the good understanding with France was preserved. Viscount Melbourne anticipated a unanimous vote on the address, arid was therefore unprepared to enterinto a defence of the foreign policy of the government, more particularly after the effects which it had produced. The address had been framed with singular caution, in order that noble lords :night vote for it without binding themselves to an opinion upOn any one of the topics which were adverted to. He had tio wish just then to call upon their lordships to approve of a policy which, he admitted, was bold and hazardous ; nor would lie until he had placed the necessary' documents before He was prepared to make out a case for the wars been undertaken, if not of necessity, at least of I expediency, for the preservation of the peace of , and be believed it would be found that the only g 0 which could with justice be brought against the go vernment, was that of the delay and procrastination which had taken place in order to procure the acquiescence of Fiance in the course pursued. The Duke of WELLINGTON said he had long looked at th e state of affairs in Syria as being hazardous to the peace of Europe. Having seen this danger while in office, it was with great satisfaction that he found the present government had, taken the subject into its consideration. The phrase " al- . Lance with France" had been much used, but he did not know of any- other alliance except that of a mutual good un derstanding, which left either free to act separately, if ao in clined. He was himself an instance that nations might so `et without giving offence to others ; for at the Congress of Verona, previous to the invasion of Spain by France, he was t of for a the sa .cessity )licv and ambassador from this country, and he was left alone by the repres4ntatives of all the other powers ; but he never thought that England had a right to look upon that as an offence. We differed from the other powers as to that expedition to Spain, but took no offence • and neither had France a right to take offence because she differed from the other powers on the eastern question. He could not admit that there had been anything discourteous in the conduct pursued towards .France, and he thought France had no more reason to com plain on this bead, than he had at being left alone at the Congress of Verona. In justice to Russia, he must say that, on a former occasion, no power could be more anxious than she was to induce the maritime powers to prevent the inva sion of Syria by Mehemet Ali, in order to obviate the neces sity of her sending an army to Constantinople. He believed that no person bad done more than himself, since he had the honour of serving the crown in 1814,—nay, no one had done half sQ much to preserve the peace of Europe, and to keep up the best understanding between this country and France, and to place France, as such a great nation ought to be, in the councils of Europe ; feeling convinced that if France did not hold her proper position in those councils, there would be no.security for the peace of Europe, or ,fo r justice or sound .decision upon any subject. Lord BROUGHAM thought that, in drawing that last state ment from the noble duke. he had rendered most essential service to the peace of Europe. The address was then agreed to, and their lordships ad journed. HOUSE OF COMMONS-TUESDAY The attendance of members was scarcely so numerous as it usually is at the commencement of a session ; the only oc cupants of the treasury bench at two o'clock were Sir Henry Parnell and the Attorney-General, while the front bench of the opposition was at that hour quite unoccupied. Mr. Ewart entered the house shortly after two o'clock, and seated him self for a while on the front opposition bench in the place usually occupied by Sir R. Peel, but he soon crossed over to his old place, and joined Mr. Hawes on the second bench on the ministerial side. The only conseravtive member of any importance who was present at' this time was Sir F. Pollock. Shortly after two o'clock however, the house began to fill rapidly. At twenty minutes after two o'clock Sir Augustus Clifford, the gentleman usher of the black rod, announced to the speaker and the house that her majesty required their im mediate attendance at the bar of the Hous'e of Peers, and in obedience to this announceplent the speaker, accompanied by the greater number of members then present, and preceded by the sergeant-at-arms, bearing the mace, left the house. The speaker returned after an absence of about ten minutes, and the house adjourned during pleasure. WRITS ISSUED DURING THE RECESS The SPEAKER resumed the chair at half-past three o'clock, and informed the house that during the recess he had issued new writs for the election of members to serve in parliament for the borough of Carlow, in the soom of Mr. Vigors, de ceased; for the county of Mayo, in the room of Sir Wm. Brabazon, deceased ; and for the. Kirkcaldy burghS, in the room of Mr. Robert Fe rguson, deceased. NEW ,MEMBEiR9 Mr. CARLEW took the oaths and his seat for the county of Wexford, and Mr. Pigot, the Attorney-General for Ire land, took the oaths and his seat for his re-election for Clon mel. There was an error in the date of the return for the borough of Carlow, but after some conversation it was amended, and Colonel Bruen took the oaths and his seat. POOR. LAW Mr. E. J. STANLEY gave notice, on behalf of Lord J:Rus- sell, that the noble lord would, on' Monday, the Ist March, move for leave to bring in a bill for the continuance of the poor law commission for a limited period. REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS. I IMr. E. J. STANLEY gave notice that on Wednesday, 3d February, Lord John Russell would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the registration of par liamentary electors in England and Wales ; and that on Thursday, the 4th February, Lord Morpeth would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the registration of voters in Ireland. (Hear.) DRAINAGE OF LANDS IN IRELAND Mr. E. J. STANLEY gave notice that Lord Morpeth would move, on the 9th of February, for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the drainage of lands in Ireland. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (IRELAND) Mr. E. J. STANLEY gave notice that on Tuesday, the 2d of February, Lord Morpeth would move for leave to bring in a bill for the better administration of justice in Ireland. EAST AND WEST INDIA DUTIES EQUALIZATION Mr. E. J., STANLEY gave notice, on the part of Mr. La bouchere, that, on Tuesnay the 2d of February, he (Mr. L.) would move for leave to bring iu a bill to equalise the duties on East and West India rum. RAILWAYS Mr. E. J. STANLEY gave notice, that on Thursday, the 4th of February, Mr. Labouchere would move for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of railways. NEW WRITS Mr. E. J. STANLEY then moved new writs for the county of Monmouth, in the room of Mr. Williams, who had ac cepted the chiltern hundreds ; for Canterbury, in the room of Lord Albert Conyngham ; and for the borough of Wal sall, in the room of Francis Finch, Esq:, who had accepted the chiltern hundreds. Mr. KEMBLE moved that a new writ be issued for the eastern division of Surrey, in the room of Richard AlsEiger, Esq., deceased.—Ordered. NOTICES OF MOTIONS Mr. FRESHFIELD gave notice that on Thursday, he would move for the production of any written communication which had taken place between the Lords of the Treasury and the Commissioners appointed to inspect harbours, relative to the port selected for the departure of the East India mails. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH Mr. KELLY gave notice, that on Tuesday, the 9th of Fe bruary, he would move for leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of the punishment of death in a certain case. PRIVATE BILLS Mr. EWART gave notice that it was his intention to move for a new constitution of the committees on private bills, in order to provide against improper local interests, and in creasing the responsibility of members on such committees by reducing the number. Also, that on Tuesday, the 9th of February, he would move for the reduction of the duties on East India produce, including tobacco, and to assimilate the duties upon such produce to those levied upon the produce of the West Indies. (Hear.) IRISH REGISTRATION BILL. Sir T. 13'numANTLF., on the part of the noble lord, the member for North Lancashire (Lord Stanley), gave notice that, on the 2d of February, he (the noble lord) would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the registration of voters in Ireland. (Cheers.) Mr. O'CoNNELL was about to give, notice, when he was interrupted by The -SPEAKER, who said the hon. member ought to put his name upon the list. COPYRIGHT, Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD gave notice that to-morrow he would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law re lating to copyright. 11013 AS IHJSINKSS Mr. BROTHERTON gave notice that on the sessional order being moved, he would move that no new business be com menced after twelve o'clock. (Loud laughter.) IDOLATRY IN INDIA Sir R. INGLIS gave notice that, on the 4th of February, be would put a question to the right hon. the president of the India board relative to the employment of the troops in India at idolatrous festivals, and upon the answer to that question would depend the course he would think it his duty to take. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION Captain PECHELL gave notice that on Tuesday, February 9, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the tithe recovery act, entitled the sth and 6th William IV., and to take away the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts in all matters relating to tithes under . a certaiu amount ; and that to-morrow he should present a petition from Sarah Young, who was then confined in Monmouth gaol, for not appearing to a citation of the Bishop of Landaff. PARISH CONSTABLES Sir E. KNATCHBULL gave notice that on Monday, the Ist of February, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the payment of parish constables. COUNTY CONSTABULARY Mr. HODGES gave notice that to-morrow he should move for leave to bring in a bill relative to the appointment of the county constabulary. COUNTY COURTS Mr. Fox MAULE gave notice that on Tuesday, the 9th February, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to im prove the practice and extend the jurisdiction of county courts, and on the same day he should move for leave to bring in a bill to extend the Court of Chancery in matters of bank ruptcy' REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.-IRELAND Mr. O'CoNNELL gave notice that if the bill of the noble lord, the member for Lancashire, did not contain a clause to define the franchise, he should divide the house on the motion for leave to bring in the bill. (Hear, and a laugh.) THE NATIONAL DEBT Mr. HERRIES wisbcd to know if there would be any ob jection to his moving for certain returns relative to the funded and unfunded debt ? and gave notice that he should move for these returns on the motion for going into com mittee of supply. MAJESTY'S SPEECH. - THE ADDRESS The speech from the throne having been read, Lord BICABAZON, in moving the address, congratulated the house on the birth of the Princess Royal, and how grate fully they should thank the Almighty Giver of all Good that he had deigned to hearken sad to answer the nation's prayers to protect her Majesty through all the perils she had under gone, and to give to the country a direct heir to the throne, who, he sincerely trusted, would have her mother's virtues, and would preserve unimpaired the constitution of the coun try. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the achievements in I n dia and China, he said it was pleasing to reflect that in all these undertakings her Majesty's efforts had been either crowned with success, or were upon the eve of being so. With re spect to the political state of the country, he had no hesita tion in asserting, that upon the success of the measures of her Majesty's present government the interests of the coun try mainly depended. The course they had hitherto pur sued had been attended with the most beneficial results. It was to be sincerely lamented, that, in the course of events, France had thought it necessary to withdraw her assistance from the other great powers, which had Confederated solely for the purpose of maintaining the pesce of Europe and the safety of the political relations. It was satisfactory to know, and it was matter of self-congratulation to this country and to her Majesty's ministers; that the righteous objects they had in view, and which it was their determination to secure, had been attained without the assistance of France, and even in spite of her opposition. To the former minister of that country another had succeeded, in whose abilities and mode ration Europe had reason to repose every confidence. They might hope that France would yet see her error, and would enter again into friendly relations with this country, and re new her former intercourse with us. The immense resour ces, and the many dependencies of that great empire, im posed a very serious responsibility on those who had to con duct its government ; and it was to him matter of rejoicing to find in the measures and principles of our colonial policy that love of justice, and those principles of liberty, on which a free country should ever act. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY, in seconding the address, dwelt at some length on the glorious achievements of our arms in India and China, from which he anticipated the best results. The policy of his noble friend had made this coun try the arbitrator of foreign nations, in spite of the attacks of France and the cry at home. The government had done their duty, and were it the last act of his noble friend, he might fairly exclaim— " To-morrow do thy worst, for I Have lived to-day." (Laughter.) Mr. GROTE then rose and censured the policy of govern ment in making war on a power which had never been un friendly, and which never had done any injury to this country. He dwelt at much length on the foreign.policy of the country, in a tone of disapprobation towards the course adopted by the government. Mr. JAMES defended the conduct of the government. Lord. J. RUSSELL entered at great lengtliintotiieeastern question, and defended the government from the charges made against it by Mr. Grote. Most of the points touched upon were the same as had been under discussion in the House of Lords. In reply to an observation of Mr. Grote, to the effect that the present ministry were finalists, and op posed to all reform, he said that such was not the case, for they were friendly to reforms, particularly in matters more immediately connected with trade and commerce, but they did not conceive the institutions of the country to be grie vances because they were looked upon in that light by others, and they were firmly resolved to maintain: he established church, the hereditary peerage, and the hereditary monarchy of this empire. Mr. MILNES regretted that France had not been treated with wore deference by the British ministry. Mr. titIME, after a speech of considerable length, moved s an amendment to the address— " To thank her Majesty for having called them together at a period when the finances of the country, the condition of our working classes, and our foreign relation 4 in every quar ter of the globe alike required the most grave consideration ; to declare that, regarding war as the greatest calamity that . . commerce anti manufactures, the house could not but view with intense apprehension and regret, the interruption of that peace which we had now for some years happily enjoyed ; that they viewed with especial uneasiness the state of our re lations with France, as they considered a - cordial alliance with that power essential to the peace of Europe ; that they regarded with distrust the convention with Russia, Prussia, and Austria, under the pretext of preserving the integrity of the Ottoman empire, which had been injured by Russia more than by any other power ; to state to her Majesty, that while they fully recognised the power of the Crown to make war, they considered it their right and their duty to inquire and examine into the exercise of that power ; to beseech her Ma jesty to direct her ministers to lay before that house the ground upon which they had advised the employment of her Majesty's forces in Syria, with full information to enable the house to judge of the wisdom and policy of-that course which her Majesty informed the house had been attended with sig nal success ; to express their surprise at her Majesty's ad visers havingrecom mended increased establishments, attended as they must be, with increased taxation, and their regret that her Majesty had not directed the attention of the house as to the increase of an expenditure beyond the revenue ; and to the distress and discontent which prevailed to an alarming degree amongst the labouring classes throughout the kingdom, and the causes of it ; and the best means of re lieving her Majesty's faithful and loving subjects." Sir R. PEEL would decline to agree to any thing like cen sure on the government on the ground of its foreign policy, until all the documents should be laid on the table. He was, however, of opinion that a proper degree of courtesy had not been observed towards France, and referred to the explana tions of M. Guizot in the French chambers, in which he stated that he was not aware of the execution of the treaty by the other allied powers, exclusive of France. He was of opinion that the intention to sign it should have been confi dentially comtnunicated to M. Guizot, who was a warm friend to England. The right hon. btronet strongly condemned the omission of the name of France from the speech, and said it would have been in no degree derogatory to England, and would be very conciliating towards France, if there had been in the speech au expression of regret for the disagreement which had taken place between the two countries, and a hope for a speedy return of the cordial understanding which formerly existed between them. . Lord PALMERSTON said that no fair opportunity would be lost in endeavouring to conciliate France, but be could not allow that there had been any discourtesy towards that coun- try—on the contrary, a great number of concessions had been made to France, with a view to obtain her co-operation, and at length a final one was sent, to which a positive refusal was received, on the ground that to coerce! the Pacha France could be no party. After that communication it would have been vain, he contended, to have again solicited the coalition of France, when it was the decided intention to take coercive measures. All the documents, however, connected with these matters would be laid before parliament ; when hon. members would be better enabled to judge of the correctness of the course pursued by her Majesty's government. He would only add that if the same zeal had been displayed to enlighten the people of France, upon the course pursued by the British government, as had been displayed to mislead and excite them, there would have been no danger of collision be tween the two countries. He regretted that this irritation had been excited in France, but he hoped ere long to see the two countries once more resume their former good under- standing. The amendment of Mr. HUME not being pressed, the ad dress was agreed to, and the house adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.-WEDNESDAY The House of Lords met at one o'clock, and proceeded to Buckingham Palace, to present to her Majesty the address in answer to the Speech from the Throne. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY Sir ICINGLTs, on bringing up the report on the address, took occasion to comment on the absence of allusion in the Speech from the Throne to the recent repeal agitation in Ireland. _ _ _ _ _ Lord J. RUSSELL thought the opinions of the Government were sufficiently well known upon the subject, and had been sufficiently expressed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. He had also some doubts as to the policy of increasing the importance of the cry for repeal, by alluding to it in the Queen's speech. The report was then agreed to. Mr. BROTHEATON again brought forward his oft-repeated proposition, that no new business should be brought forward after 12 o'clock at night, if objected to by five members. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the only effect of any such mo tion would be to procrastinate the public business, and to compel them to discuss matters of law in the absence of lawyers, and matters of trade and commerce in the absence of merchants. Mr. O'CONNELL said that the only merchants and lawyers who derived advantage from the present system were those resident in London. He would suggest that the house should meet at ten o'clock in the morning, and sit until six or seven in the evening, devoting two days in each week to committees. It was, in his opinion, a glaring absurdity to do business at night. Mr. H umE suggested that it would be well, to have an un derstanding that no debate should be adjourned more than once, in which case those gentlemen who intended to speak, and were in the habit of delaying to do so until the last mo ment, would adopt a different practice. On a division, Mr. Brotherton's motion was lost by a very large majority. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD moved for leave to bring in a bill for the amendment of the law of copyright; but Mr. War burton expressed himself as being taken by surprise, and, after some conversation, it was agreed that the bill should be postponed until Friday. The house then adjourned. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. (From the Morning Flerald of Wednesday.) PROCESSION TO THE HOUSEOFLORDS From it being generally known that her Majesty would open the session in person, the area in front of Buckingham Palace, along the Malt in St. James's Park, and the whole line of the royal route, was crowded long before the time ap pointed for the Queen's departure for the House of Lords. Shortly after twelve o'clock, the carriages of the nobility and gentry, having orders from the Lord High Chamberlain, began setting down company at the House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor was among the early arrivals, and it was after one before the foreign ambassadors and ministers arrived, among whom we noticed the following members of the corps diplomatique :—His Excellency Prince Esterhazy, his Excellency Chekib Effendi, Turkish Ambassador, his Excellency Baron Bulow, his Excellency Baron Brunow, his Excellency the Swedish Minister and Countess Bjornstjerna, his Excellency Count Kielmansegge, his Excellency Baron Biome, his Excellency Count Potion, his Excellency Count Potion, his Excellency the Dutch Minister, his Excellency the Neapolitan Minister,. Baron Borquency, the French charge d'affaires, &c. The peeresses and ladies of rank present included the Duchess of Cleveland, Viscountess Palmerston and Lady Fanny Cowper, Countess of Verulam, Countess of Jersey, Countess Cadogan, Lady Stuart de Rothsay and Hon. Miss L. Stuart, Lady Denman, Countess of Clarendon, &c. The Ashantee Princes, in their characteristic costumes, were among the distinguished foreigners, and attracted much notice. _ _ A detachment of the royal horse guards (blue), commanded by the Hon. Cecil Forester, came early and formed the " house party," who do duty within the House of Lords. A troop of the royal horse guards kept the line of procession from Buckingham Palace to the houses of Parliament, and a battalion of the foot guards was drawn up in front of the en trance with their tine band. . The Marquis of Normanby, in passing George-street, was slightly hissed, but the Home Secretary was apparently not generally recognised, and, consequently, escaped the discor dant sounds that might otherwise have reached him. Vis count Melbourne came, to all appearance, in a job chariot. It was a wretched " turn out," without even the noble pre mier's coronet on it, and his " gentleman" was equipped in his morning out-of-livery suit. The royal procession was formed at Buckingham Palace at half-past one o'clock, and her Majesty and Prince Albert, conducted by the Earl of Uxbridge, Lord Chamberlain, and preceded by the Lord Steward and the Master of the Horse, left the state rooms, and descended the grand staircase to the state carriage, her Majesty's train being borne by the pages of honour in waiting. The state procession left the palace in the following order : A carriage, drawn by six bays, conveying Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Hobhouse, and Col. Dingle, gentlemen ushers, and Mr. Samuel Hancock, exon in waiting. A carriage, drawn by six bays, conveying Lord Alfred Paget, equerry in waiting ; Captain Seymour, groom of the robes ; Masters Wemyss, Byng, and Wilson, pages of honour in waiting ; and the silver stick in waiting. A carriage, drawn by six bays, con veying Lord Kinuaird• master of the buck hounds ; the Right Hon. George Stevens Byng, comptroller of the house hold ; Mr. Rich, groom in waiting ; and Col. Bouverie, equerry to Prince Albert. A carriage, drawn by six bays, conveying the Earl of Ilchester, captain of the yeoman guard; Lord Hill, G.C.8., gold stick is waiting; Earl of Surrey, treasurer of the household; and the Earl of Morley, gentleman of the bedchamber to Prince Albert. A carriage, drawn by six black horses, conveying the Marchioness of Normanby, lady of the bedchamber ; the Earl of Errol, K.G., lord steward of the household ; Lord Robert Gros venor, groom of the stole to Prince Albert ; and the Earl of Listowel, lord in waiting. The Queen's marshalmen, two and two; the Queen's footmen, in state liveries, two and two ; a party of the yeoman of the guard, in their coronation costume. The state coach, in which were the Queen and Prince-Albert (his royal highness wearing a field marshal's uniform, with a collar and star of the most noble order of the garter); Lady Portman, lady in waiting ; and the Earl of Albemarle, G.C.H., master of the horse. The royal cortige was escorted from th&palae-P by a party of the royal regiment of horse guards. On the Queen passing under the marble arch, the specta tors faintly cheered her Majesty, and along the Mall the cheering was far from being general, There was a slight de lay opposite the Duke of York's column, caused, we believe, by a part of the harness of one of the horses coming un buckled. The royal procession on passing through the Horse Guards, was more favourably greeted than at any other part of the rdute, but the plaudits there did not go beyond com mon enthusiasm. Along Parliament-street, until the arrival of her Majesty in Palace-yard, the applause of the assemblage was but partial. The procession arrived in Palace-yard a few minutes before two o'clock, and on the state carriage drawing beneath the porch of the House of Lords, the band struck up God save the Queen, and a royal salute was fired on her Majesty's alighting. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by Prince George. arrived shortly before the Queen, and were received by the military with the usual honours. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was not present. THE GALLERY OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS. It was about two o'clock, when the opening salute of the very indifferent species of ordnance made use of on these solemn occasions, announced that her :Majesty had arrived at the entrance of the House of Lords. The gallery and painted chamber of the latter were occupied, at each side of the passage for the royal cortege, with as many ranges of spectators as could be therein accommodated, almost all of whom had taken care, under the permit of the Lord Cham berlain's ticket, to secure their places even at as early an hour as twelve. It is a great gratification to the fortunate few, whom it may concern, to be allowed this near inspection of so interesting a spectacle, and it is only to be regretted that the favour should be in no slight degree neutralised by the unreasonable practice of enclosing the procession between two living walls of dismounted horse-guards, whose bearskin caps are familiar with the ceiling and sadly unaccommodating to those who would glance either over or between them. This is a most uncharitable pageant. During the two hours that elapsed from the time when the spectators had attained their seats and the arrival of " the blues," the former had abundant matter to excite their attention, in noting the con stant and most graceful train of the peeresses proceeding to their places within the house; the peers in their robes, hastening, as they arrived, irregularly in the same direction, and the many groups of ambassadors and attaches with their suites in full feather, and the novelty of foreign costume also, led forward, ever and anon, by the pursuivants of the herald at-arms. Amongst these, an Asiatic Prince, with a dark, aqueline visage, that would do honour to the desert lineage of Ish- mael, and costume of pui'ple velvet, richly and elegantly em broidered in gold, was singularly conspicuous, and seemed himself vividly affected by the influence of the scene around him. On one of the seats in the gallery, or passage, were the two Ashantte Princes, whose dress, in the highest style of our west-end fancy; indicated ycung gentlemen of very sufficient civilisation, but whose physiognomieS presented, both in regard to tint. and turn of feature, as striking a con- trast as could well be conceived to the characteristics of that most fair and royal face upon which they too came to indulge a curious gaze. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George, the latter in his full uniform of the 13th, came im mediately before her Majesty. When, at length, the signal of the royal approach was given, the Premier, the Lord Chancellor, and other noble lords of the Cabinet, proceeded with the heralds-at-arms to meet her Majesty, whose arrival at the house was speedily made known by the discharge of the ordnance alluded to ; the rattle of the guards' carabines as they came to the ab rupt "present," and the shrill sonorous salute of four trum pets within the walls. The whole escort of gentlemen pen sioners, heralds, and officers of the household and cabinet slowly advanced, in all their richest official costume, and in the midst of them appeared her Majesty and his Royal High ness Prince Albert. The procession turned into the spacious chamber to the left of the gallery at its entrance, and her Majesty having there assumed the crimson robe of state, which was supported by her ladies of honour and pages, again came forth and proceeded to the house, the crown being car ried on a velvet cushion by the Earl of Erroll, and Viscount Melbourne bearing the sword of state. Her Majesty, happily appeared in excellent health, per haps with a line more of fulness in her figure that when she last trod in this scene of ceremony. Her Majesty's dress presented a very gosamer of delicate lace over white satin, and she wore her tiara and other ornaments of the finest brilliants. His royal highness also looked exceedingly well, had on his field-marshal's uniform, and wore the collars and stars of the Garter and the Bath. His royal highness held her Majesty's left hand, and thus they entered the house. INTERIOR OF TH E HOUSE On the entry of her Majesty intalhe house, all the peers and peeresses rose, and remained standing until her Majesty desired them to be seated. Her Majesty having taken her seat on the throne, Prince Albert occupied a chair of state on her left hand. The attendance of the female noblesse was unusually great, induced, doubtless, by the recent happy event, which iu their minds threw around her Majesty and her illustrious consort a halo of increased interest. The benches in the body of the house were soon filled after the opening of the doors, at twelve o'clock, and several inroads were made upon the seats intended to be reserved for the peers. The strangers' gallery was also entirely occupied by ladies, and before the peers, by their presence in numbers, had asserted their supremacy, the meeting appeared like a conclave of " le beau sexe," at the ancient mysteries of " bona Dea," shining brilliantly amid plumes and diamonds, and silks and satins of every hue and texture. The floor was a rich parterre, redolent of the hiirmony of colouring. The peers entered shortly before one o'clbck; and on the arrival of her Majesty there were about forty. Amcng them we no ticed the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, the Dukes of Somerset, Cleveland, Norfolk, and Beaufort; the Marquis of Normanby ; the Earls of Redesdale, Devon, Clarendon, Ripon, Cardigan, and Shaftesbury ; Viscounts Melbourne and Beresford ; Lords Portman, Monteagle, Langdale, Denman, &c.; the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of London, Durham, and Rochester. The judi cial seats were fully occupied by the judges. There was a full attendance of the corps diplomatique, including the Aus trian, Turkish, Russian, French, Prussian, and Belgian am bassadors. Their excellencies wore the uniforms of their several countries, and were decorated with various orders. Prince Esterhazy, in the uniform of the Hungarians hussars, made a very splendid appearance. In the gallery, on the right of the throne, surrounded by ladies, sat Kurreen Khan, a Persian grandee, who seemed to view the ceremony with much interest. Prince George of Cambridge sat on the woolsack, immediately facing the throne. Her Majesty looked exceedingly well, with rather more enbonpoint than when we last saw her, and appeared in the enjoyment of ex cellent health and spirits. The Queen being seated on the throne, the Lord Chancellor hearing the great seal, Lord Melbourne holding the sword of state, the Duke of Soin,..T set bearing the crown, the Earl of Shaftesbury having the cap of maintenance, the Earl Marshal, the Lord Chamber lain, and the other great officers of state, arranged them selves around her Majesty. The usher of the black rud, Sir Augustus Clifford. then, by command of her Majesty, summoned the House of Commons to the bar. After the lapse of a few minutes the Speaker appeared, accompanied by several members of the House of Commons, or rather, we should say, thrust in by them ; for the honourable mem bers, in their anxiety to obtain admission, were not very particular in the order of their coming, and the elected head of their assembly advanced to the bar with railway speed. The noise caused by this rush having subsided, the Lord Chancellor, on his knee, presented the royal speech to her Majesty, who proceeded to read it in her usually clear and collected manner, and in so loud a tone that each portion of it must have been audible in every part of the• house, in the deep silence that prevailed. The music of her Majesty's voice has often been the theme of admiration, and its sweet ness was apparent in every sentence that she uttered. (The speech will be found in our parliamentary report.) It will be seen that no mention was made of the birth of the Royal Princess, an omission which struck us as rather strange— " Innis pent-etre non." Her Majesty did not in the robing room exchange her tiara of diarothuls for the crown, but continued to wear it throughout the ceremony. RETURN OP HER MAJESTY. This great business of the day occupied about a quarter of an hour in time. When it was over the doors of the house were again thrown open, and the royal cortege, as it had entered, retired. Her Majesty, as she passed through the gallery, appeared to address his Royal Highness in very ani mated spirits, and thus, after having fora few moments again visited the robing chamber, departed for the palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert entered the state carriage at 25 minutes past two, the band playing the national anthem, and the cannon firing a royal salute. A great number of persons were disappointed at the ab-• sence of the Duke of Wellington, who was not at the opening of the Parliament. The, equipages, with the exception of the Turkish ambas sador, Prince Esterhazy, and Baron Bulow, were not de aorwing.of notice. -, , • . The Queen slid P ri nce ./kiberitotla - ex(iinent health and spirits, and while the band was performing the national air ou leaving the House of Lords, his Royal High ness seemed highly pleased, for he was beating time until the procession began to move. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were received at Buck ingham Palace, on their return, by the Lord Chamberlain. The yeomen of the guard were on duty at the grand hall, and the Queen's guard of the grenadier regiment of foot guards were on duty, with the band of the regiment, on the palace lawn, and received her Majesty with the usual honours. JOURNAL OF THE MONEY MARKET. MONDAY EVENING. — This has been a quiet day in the Funia, and prices much the same as before. Consols 89i to 90 for money, and 901 to * for the account. Bank Stock was 1681 to 91. India Stock was 249 to 251, which shows a slight decline. Exchequer Bills 5s to 7s premium. The Foreign Securities chiefly speculated in are quoted as follow. Spanish Active with the Coupons were 2.51- to ir Portuguese Five per Cents 32 to 1, the Three per Cents 20 to A. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents 501 to 1, the Five per Cents 99 to 4. Belgian 98 to 9. Brazilian 73 to 4. London and Birmingham Railway Shares were 85 to 7, Great Western 27 to 8, the Half Shares 13 to 14, Gosport 61 to 61 premium. South Western 57 to 8 per share. North Midland 23 to 1, the New 3 to 1, South Eastern and Dover 15 to 141, Eastern Counties 144 to 4, Blackwell 44 to 34, Brighton 61 to 1 discount. WALSALL ELECTION , The excitement in this town in consequence of the election is much increased since our last publication. The inflam matory harangues of Acland and his itinerating brethren have been delivered, and have tended in no way to check the already excited populace. The friends of Mr. Gladstone cannot now pass along the streets either by day or by night without receiving a salutation either of groans, hisses, and yells, (which by the bye are harmless things in themselves) or of stones, which are not vei y comfortable at any time. 'file Acland party are in fact aware of the certainty of defeat, and the fact has so enraged them, that it hai driven them to des peration. We may mention one of the most disgraceful at tempts at intimidation that it was ever our lot as journalists to record. On Monday evening a party of Mr. Gladstone's friends met at the _White Hart, Caldmore, and were atten tively listening to a speech of calm reasoning against the re peal of the corn laws, by Mr. Bassett Smith. About nine o'clock this peaceful assembly was disturbed by a noise out side, and on enquiring it was found that it was caused by Acland at the head of a large body of bullies. The conser vatives determined not in any way to be parties to a breach of the peace, which was certain to take place if they remained in the room, as Acland had entered the room, displaced the chairman, and stopped Mr. Smith from proceeding. The conservative party therefore left the room to the dastardly miscreants. Another tine specimen this of freedom of elec tion ! ..„.. On Thursday evening a large body of electors favourable to Mr. Gladstone were addressed at the large room of the Turk's Head Inn, by Mr. Simms, a commercial gentleman connected with the house of Messrs. Crompton, paper manu facturers, of Manchester. On Tuesday circulars were issued by Mr. Gladstone's friends, stating that Mr. Charles Wil kins, barrister-at-law, would that evening deliver a lecture on the corn laws, at the assembly-room of the George Hotel. As soon as it was known to Acland, a hand-bill was issued, and the batman dispatched for the third time that day, to inform the inhabitants that a counter lecture would be de livered by him (Acland) on the same evening, in the space in front of the George Hotel. The mayor and borough magis trates anticipating that this opposition of-parties would most likely lead to a breach of the peace, very wisely waited upon Acland and recommended that his meeting on the bridge should be abandoned, and he had thtt good sense to tecedeto the recommendation. The town-crier was then dispatched to countermand the meeting, and give notice that it would take place at the Dragon, as usual. Mr. Wilkins entered the assembly-room shortly after seven o'clock, and was greeted with several hearty cheers from the large assemblage, chiefly voters. After Mr: John James had taken the chair, Mr. Wilkins proceeded in a very forcible and eloquent manner to explain the fallacies of the anti-corn law agitators, and the delusions that had been practised upon the people before and at the time of the Reform Bill. At the close of the lecture some person put several questions to Mr. Wilkins, which he replied to in a very satisfactory manner. A person then (whose name, from compassion, we forbear to mention) then presented himself, and wished to address the meeting in re ply ; but in such a state of inebriety was that gentleman, that he could scarcely utter a sentence c orrectly, and after various attempts to speak, he was advised to defer it until he was in a proper state to do so. We must say we were sorry to see the gentleman in such a predicament, as he only wanted hi s " cap and bells" to complete his character. The persons who composed this meeting were plentifully supplied with groans, mud, and stones as they proceeded home : among others, we may mention Mr. H. C. Windle, who received a blow from a stone on the back part of his head, which, how ever, we are happy to say was not serious. The cause of Mr. Gladstone is, we are happy to say, going on gloriously, and we have no doubt but, that in our next publication, we shall be able to give the state of the poll, placing Mr. Glad stone in a most triumphant majority. Lord Ward, who has been recently indisposed, is now considerably better. His lordship, however, is not y e t al lowed by his medic a l a dvisers to take exercisein the open air. THE WHEAT CROP.—The weather has on the whole been fine since our last, and the floods caused by the sudden melt ing of the snow are already beginning to subside. In some parts of the country, very serious damage has been do ne t o property, and even life has been sacrificed. How far the young wheat plant has suffered, it is yet impossible to say : in many districts large tracts of land are still under wat er , and fears are r easona bly en ough entertained that at least some injury has been done. Me are not disposed to think, however, that this can be very considerable in a national point of view, though, undoubtedly, very severe to indivi duals. Indeed, so far as the season has yet advanced, there is every reason to believe that the . young wheat has stood the frequent and trying changes which have taken place in the weather during the winter uricommouly well ; and, ex cept in low situations where the inundations have been the most extensive, th e pl an t is generally described as wearing a very healthy appearauce.—illark-lame Express. LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH-STREET For Me BENEFIT of M. WAYLETT, ik.nd Last Night but one of her Envagement, on which occa- sign only Mr. ALEXAN DER LEE Will sing his Ballad of " Woman loves ye best. Mr. HOSKINS • Will appear, on this occasion only, in a favourite character Third Meeting of THE LADIES' CLUB. riiHIS present FRIDAY EVENING, the 29th instant, the Entertainments will commence with FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS. Mrs. Maitland Mrs. Waylett. After which the latur,hable Interlude of WEST COUNTRY 'WOOING. Eliza Fielding Assuming the character of Betsey Wheeler, in the Somerset setshire dialect, in which she will sing some snatches of old English ballads. In the course of the Evening, MIS. WAYLETT WILL SING SEVERAL SONGS To be followed by the petite Co►nedy of THE LOAN OF A LOVER. Mr. Hoskins. Gertrude Mrs. Waylett To conclude with, for the third, time, THE LADIES' CLUB. Mrs. Fitzsmith Mrs. Waylett. Peter Spyk Tickets may be had of Mr. FOGG, at the Box'-office, and at the usual places. THP CLOSE OF TIIE EXHIBITION OF THE THREE CARAUL A RRANGEMENTS having beettmade to forward these ..C1 magnificent Pictures to Glasgoiti, after the CLOSE of the PRESENT MONTH, the amateurs oOpainting are respectfully informed, that the Exhibition at theIJNION ROOMS, SLATER STREET, will only remain OPEN until SATURDAY, 6th February, which is allowing one week longer to those who may not have seen these Pictures than was originally in tended. JOHN BENTLEY, Keeper. 2U h January, 1841 OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION ROOMS, TOSTOFFTCE-PLACE, ON MONDAY NEXT, FEBRUARY 1, WITH PICTURES BY THE QLD MASTERS rip HE Proprietor of the THREE CAIiACCI having recently received a very valuable Collection of PICTURES, con signed to his care by a Noble Family in Italy, is enabled to withdraw from London a few PICTURES of the first class, with a view to their being exhibited in Liverpool, for the pur pose of extending a knowledge of the Works of the Great Masters of Painting generally, and promoting the interests of a SCHOOL OF ART. In furtherance thereof, the SATURDAY of each week,will be devoted to those Artists and Students who may choose to avail themselves of the opportunity of studying these Pic tures, between the hours of Nine o'clock in the Morning and Three o'clock in the Afternoon ; with the privilege of making Copies of these Pictures in Crayons or Water Colours, but without their being squared or moved from the places where they hang on the walls of the Exhibition Room, in order that, as recommended by Sir Joshua Reynolds, they may accustom themselves to trust to the correctness of the eye, and not depend upon any fictitious aid. During these six hours of study, Artists only can be ad mitted ; but for the accommodation of Strangers visitine: Liverpool, the Exhibition will be open after Three o'clock, and until Five o'clock, of the Saturday Afternoon. Season 'rickets, for Visitors, will be delivered at the usual rate of Five Shillings, to those who may inscribe their names in a Book for the same. Postoffice-place, January 25th, 1841 TO CORRESPONDENTS ERRATUM—CAPTAIN PIDDING'S TEAS.—In last week's advertisement it was stated that Captain:Pidding's tea was reduced 9d—for which read is per catty package of Gun powder. Mr. Sheldon's letter can only be inserted as an advertise- men t. We think " A Subscriber " is a little " too hard " upon the managers of the Subscription Concerts. Ebt Lthnpool tartbar73. FRYDAY MORNING, JANUARY 29, 1841 We have repeatedly called the attention of the pub lic to the lamentable supineness evinced by our Town Council when the interests of Liverpool are vitally af fected ; and amongst the questions hostile to the wel fare of the town which have latterly gained strength, and upon which our local representatives appear to be stow the most extraordinary indifference, the claim of Manchester, and the inland towns generally, to the privilege of bonding goods, is one of the most promi nent; and, from the proceedings of a public meeting held in Manchester during the past week, we learn that that question is to be strongly agitated during the present session, and, as its advocates would have us believe, with the prospect of certain success. Are the inhabitants of Liverpool, we ask, prepared to oppose a concession so pregnant with certain danger to their interests as a mercantile community ? * We do fear that they are not. We fear that the members of that body, which ought to be, and is the publicly recognised organ of the opinions of the people of Liverpool, are not only unprepared to oppose such an aggression against the interests of the town, but that, in pursuit of their own selfish purposes, they woilld,readily submit to any and every aggression, prejucliciitl and Itowever ruinous. . We address ourselves, therefore, not to them—not to the Council — not to the Dock Committee; but, in the few remarks which we shall to-day offer upon the subject, in reply to the views of the Manchester meeting, we address ourselves to the common sense of our readers and, of the legislature. We leave, for the present, out of ques tion altogether the comparative expense to the reve nue of the present system of bonding, and that of bonding inland ; we will not attempt to form an esti mate of the number of additional custom-houses and officers which will be required ; we will not advert to the insecurity of conveying goods from seaports to the different inland bonding depots, but confine ourselves to an examination of the present grievances complained of and the advantages to be derived by the inland towns from the proposed new system. And first we will examine the case of grievance as respects our Manchester neighbours. The merchants and manufacturers of that town complain that they should be compelled to bond their imports—their cot ton and drysalteries—within a distance of an hour and a half's transit of their own warehouses or factories ! A very serious grievance, truly ! They complain that, owing to these imports being bonded in Liverpool, they are compelled to employ Liverpool brokers in their disposal ; that they are saddled with additional porter age and cartage; and that they are unable to inspect their merchandize in bulk without incurring the trou ble and expense of a journey to Liverpool. By a state ment drawn up by Mr. T. 0. Lingard, agent to the Old Quay Company—a very disinterested witness !—it is calculated that, by the present system, the cotton trade alone of Manchester has paid to Liverpool, for cartage, brokerage, &c., in three years, the sum of £315,807 18s., the greatest portion of which the con cession sought for will enable the cotton manufactu rers, brokers, warehousekeepers, &c., of Manchester, to appropriate to themselves. It is possible that about one-tenth part of the hard ship complained of may be real. Perhaps one-tenth part of tha contemplated saving to the people of Man chester might be effected—at double the expense to the revenue; but we are fully confident that the ultimate result of conceding the privilege of bonding would be productive of disappointment and heavy.losses to those towns availing themselves of it. Whilst the novelty of the scheme lasted, we have no doubt that warehouses would be built sufficient to bond all the cotton con sumed in Manchester for a twelvemonth ; and we have as little doubt that when that novelty had worn off the same warehouses would be two-thirds empty. For a time the cotton kpiunerfri_stf Rochdale,__Oldham„Ash tOn-under-Lyne, Stockport, &c., might keep stocks of cotton bonded in Manchester warehouses instead of in Liverpool ; but so long as canal conveyances exist from Liverpool direct to those towns, we apprehend that, so far as the cartage, &c., spoken of, is concerned, those stocks may just as cheaply be kept in Liverpool. In the course of another year or two, by the formation of a junction line of railway through Manchester, we shall possess a continuous railway conveyance to all these districts, and the necessity of merchandise stopping at all in Manchester will cease. We have already railways and canals to Bolton, Preston, &c. ; and these manufacturing towns would consequently never make Manchester their bonding port. It is just possible, too, that a conservative ministry may some of these days take off altogether the cotton duty, and there will then be no necessity for bonding that article at all ! With respect to a number of other articles of mer chandise, extensively consumed in the manufacturing districts, and which the Manchester importers complain of their inability to transport at once under bond from the vessel in dock to their own warehouses, we will simply inquire of these gentlemen what would be their position in ease such cargoes, on inspection in Man- chester, were discovered, which is no unusual case, to be wholly or in part unsuited for that -market ? They must be brought down again to Liverpool for re-expor tation, and an additional expense of cartage, carriage, &c., incurred, which would entirely preclude the pos sibility of there being so re-exported with any hope of a profitable return. But let us briefly glance at the prospect of aggran dizement which the people of Manchester hold out to themselves as the result of the measure being granted. That town we are told will in future, to the total ex clusion of Liverpool, be the market of the manufac taring district around, for the raw material of their manufactures and for every description of foreign pro duce. She will provide her own brokers, her own warehouses, her own carters and porters ; in short, Liverpool will be from henceforth a decayed and de serted town, situated at the mouth of the river Mersey, and Manchester the modern Tyre which is to spring up, out of her ruins. We are shortly doomed to see " the flags " of our busy Exchange grass-grown, and the " lads " thereof standing. " like patience on a monument," waiting to pick up the few crumbs which the men of .Manchester in their merciful humanity may allow them to sustain life withal. No need of new warehouses henceforth on our dock quays or elsewherel Our merchant vessels, consigned to Manchester brokers, will unload their precious cargoes into flats in the river, in very mockery of Liverpool and her docks, her warehouses, her merchants, and her brokers ! We must confess that we are a little incredulous as to this miraculous transformation. We cannot believe, whatever may be the opinion of such eminent wiseacres as Mr. Mark Philips, M.P., and Mr. John Brooks, boroughreeve, that, as importers, our Manchester neigh bours possess such an overwhelming influence in the affairs of the world. Liverpool has also her importers of cotton, of drysalteries, of foreign and colonial pro duce of every description ; and we do therefore think that a portion at least of the merchandise which enters her noble river would still be marketed and ware. housed in the good old town. The inevitable result, then, of the inland bonding measure, as regards the community, would be that the buyer of the manufacturing districts, instead of being able to find in one large market the entire stock of the merchandise which he seeks, must visit three or four markets ; that instead of making their entire purchases through the medium of one confidential broker, in Liverpool, or any principal seaport ; he must, have three' or four brokers employed in different bonding towns, each of whom will be bidding for a monopoly of his orders, and anxiously pressing upon him that particu lar quality of merchandise which happens to be stored in his own market. As a measure of general advantage to the community the whole scheme is a mere bubble ; and we are confident that the merchabts and brokers of Liverpool, apart from any consideration of their own interests, will be of our own opinion. It is undoubtedly of importance, however, that the legislature should be enabled to see it in the same light, in order that the positive injury to the interests of Liverpool with which it is pregnant may not be wantonly inflicted for the sake of so worthless an object; and therefore we urge upon our fellow-townsmen the necessity of letting their voice be heard in vindication of their own properties and welfare within the walls of Parliament. We re- peat again, the merchants and other parties interested must look alone, with respect to this matter, to their own exertions, for undoubtedly they will receive no assistance whatever from that body which professes to be their representatives. The Queen's speech has now been read in every pare of the United Kingdom, and we venture .to say that there can be but one opinion of that extraordinary doc ument. It is universally acknowledged to be the most meagre and unmeaning speech ever put into the mouth of Queen Victoria. The Whigs have always been con spicuous for the terseness and brevity of the royal speeches which they have annually manufactured, as well as for the careful avoidance of all topics that might lead to unpleasant parliamentary discussion ; but this year they have fairly excelled themselves in the art of mystification. They have studiously left out every subject that would have led to anything like a division in the House of Commons. The principal feature in the speech is that which Talleyrand designated as the very acme of royal speechmaking—the concealment o: the thoughts and opinions of those from whom ii ssued The foreign policy of the government and the foreig] relations of the empire constitute the subject of eight out of the thirteen paragraphs of which the speech is composed. There is no allusion whatever to any ques tions of a domestic character further than a hint at some new job which is now in embryo, and which will have for its object the engagement of a fresh swarm of briefless barristers in the capacity. of commissioners. The only passa'ge in thewhole" speech which merits any attention is that in which the Queen is made to say that she has directed the estimates for the year to be laid before the House of Commons, and in which she assures the house that " however sensible of the impor tance of adhering to the principle of economy, she feels it to be her duty to recommend that adequate provision be made for the exigencies of the public service." The apologetic tone of this paragraph would lead us to infer that large demands will shortly be made for the pur pose of defraying the expenses incurred in the carrying out of Lord Palmerston's schemes of foreign policy. A departure from the vaunted principle of economy is evidently contemplated. The blessing of cheap go vernment is a dream never to be realised under Whig domination. The promises of retrenchment which these hypocritical politicians have held forth are to be thrown to the winds. In addition to the increased taxation of last year we may now expect that fresh burdens will be imposed upon the people. The " negative qualities " of the Queen's speech are singularly illustrative of the cowardly policy of the present administration. They have not dared to make a single allusion to the Repeal agitation—a topic _which under a Conservative ministry, would, we feel assured, have occupied the most prominent position in the whole speech. It is perfectly notorious that O'Connell has repeatedly boasted that there are hundreds of thousands of the Irish peasantry who have banded themselves into a conspiracy for destroying integrity of the em pire. It is equally notorious that the Popish hierarchy and priesthood of Ireland have long since made an open parade of their adherence to the principles of this traitorous confederacy. Why was there no mention made in the speech from the throne of this conspiracy ? Is the integrity of the empire of less moment in the eyes of our Whig governors than the disputes of foreign nations ? Or are they afraid of losing the suffrages of " the tail " by adopting an honest and straightforward line of policy ? Does not their marked evasion of this topic afford another pregnant and unequivocal proof of their truckling subserviency to O'Connell ? Has not their allegiance to their royal mistress been once more placed in abeyance to their love of place ? Have they not shown to the whole world that they dread the frown of the arch-agitator more than they do the loss of their own reputation ? The silence of the royal speech on the subject of re peal ought to lead to some immediate and substantive motion on the part of the Conservatives, having for its object the effectual suppression of that treasonable agi tation. We trust that some one of the leading mem- Ors of the opposition wilt test the loyalty of the nii= nistry on this question. Let them be called upon to declare whether they are or are not prepared to vindi cate the prerogatives of the crown by putting down the repeal agitation. Let them be asked to prove their determination to uphold the integrity of the British Empire before the House of Commons votes any sup plies for " the exigencies of the public service." The speech does not contain a single syllable on the subject of Canada, where, at the present moment, one of the most important changes in the system of our co lonial policy is in progress—a change which may prove fraught with the most momentous consequences to the welfare and prosperity of the mother country. Equally silent is the laconic speech from the throne on the subject of the Disputed Boundary question— a question which may eventually lead to a rupture be tween this country and America. Was it impossible to introduce any compliment to Lord Palmerston on " the satisfactory progress of the negotiations" with the government of the United States in reference to this vexata questio ? What a contrast does the conduct of our dastardly a dministration afford to the straight forward language of the President of the American States ! India, again, is not mentioned in the speech, al though expensive armaments have been going on in that part of the British dominions during the past year, and although several engagements have taken place there within the same period, one of which, at least, has proved eminently disastrous to the British forces employed. Why this mysterious silence on the subject of our Indian affairs ? At a time when such a vast expenditure is being incurred by this country, in its naval armaments, one might have expected that some reference would have been made in the Queen's speech to our financial con. , . . [ition and prospects. But, no ! Not a word is Whig lered as to the prospective increase of our national lurdens. Were the ministers afraid of having their roasts of " retrenchment and economy weir faces ? thrown in Even the congratulatory portions of the speech must strike the reader as somewhat novel in their construction. The very first paragraph contains the ominous announcement that the Queen " receives from foreign powers assurances of their friendly dis- The omission of the significant term " all " n this sentence cannot but give rise to unpleasant in .:erences. What foreign powers are there from whom we have ceased to receive assurances of their earnest position." lesire to maintain peace ? Is France among the num ber ? Why is France passed over as if that country no longer formed any portion of the great European commonwealth ? It must be evident to the most cursory observer that the whole of the Queen's speech was specially con cocted with a view to shun discussion, and to avoid the still more unpleasant alternative of a division in the House of Commons. However, a trial of strength will take place in that arena before another fortnight has elapsed, and we shall then see whether Lord Mel bourne has not acted prudently in securing for himself the patent for a marquisate. LOCAL NEWS, We can, from experience, highly recommend Mr. Eggle ston's Vegetable Paste as a cure for the tooth-ache.—See adv. The Rev. George Dover, M.A., curate of Chesterfield, has been appointed to the new church in Naylor-street, to he called St. Bartholomew's. Mr. Dover was for some timer curate at Huddersfield, where he endeared himself to the in habitants by his zeal and activity.amongst the poor, and he has been selected by the trustees on account of his high cha racter, and his fitness for .such a peculiar district. The church is to be consecrated on the 9th of February next. The ecclesiastical character is preserved in its architecture, and it will seat about 1200 persons. LECTURE ON THE GERNIA.N LANGUAGE.—Mr. Bertiu 'champ delivers his second lecture this evening in the Royal Institution. A numerous attendance may be expected to wait on the learned professor. WALSALL.—On Wednesday the new writ arrived tram the under sheriff by the 12 o'clock train, and the day of no mination is fixed for Monday—the day of poll for Tuesday next.—Staffordshire Gazette. . THE THREE CARACCI.—The three beautiful pictures, to which really the Liverpool public have become attached, are to leave next week. We advise all those who have not in spected them to visit the Union Rooms without delay. We believe more than a thousand persons have attended within this last week. The collection at the Post . -office Rooms are splendid specimens of the old masters. There is a modern one of a national character which will stir up many an Eng lish heart. Fashionable arrivals at the Grand Junction Hotel :—The Most Noble the Marquis of Downshire, the Earl of Hills borough, Lord Bramberstone, the Lady Heron Maxwell, Captain Needham and family, Colonel Cameron, Captain Mainwaring, R.N., Captain Byng, Major Mahone, Miss St. Leger, Captain Drummond, J. H. Sugden, Esq., Captain Doyne and family, Sir George Cornwall, Captain Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Hay and family, General Burgoyne, Mathew Deane Freeman, Esq., H. Ponsonby, Esq., the Right Hon. Lord Gerald Fitzgerald, H. John Porter, Esq., D. Allender, Esq., Robert Napier, Esq. BRITISH PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.—The committee of this association have just issued an address at the close of the first year of their labours. We extract from it a startling statement as to the progress which Popery has lately made in this country :—Popish colleges, monasteries, mass-houses, nunneries and convents have one by one. sprung up around us, till their number is alarming. In the year 1814, there were only forty-five Papal chapels in England and Scotland; but now, within an interval of only sixteen years, they have increased to five hundred and twenty-two. Popish proces sions are openly paraded in defiance of the statute called the Emancipation Act ; shows and pretended miracles are openly exhibited ; in our colonies there are no less than twenty three Bishops and two Superiors of Mis Luis from Rome,. with numerous assistants, many of whom are receiving public support and pay from our government; in London, the " Catholic Institute" has been established, directed by all tl.e Vicars Apostolic of Britain, a peer of the realm being the president, and all the Romish bishops and priests of Bri tain and the colonies, and the Romish peers and members of parliament the committee. The machinery, in full operation at home and abroad, zealously and perseveringly employed, and conducted with an unexampled unity of design —every iheasure undertaken being originally concocted at Rome, and thence proceeding, through the agency of Jesuits, in every direction—presents a formidable engine for working and ad vancing the scheme of Popery. When is added to this, the influence of Popery in high places, the distinctions which are every day being bestowed on Papists—distinctions of honour, emolument, and power—it will not surely be deemed an ex travagant supposition that unless some check be speedily in terposed, the supremacy of Popery will again be established in all our civil and ecclesiastical departments. The spread of Popery in its religious mask, and the influence of it in its political aspect, are perceived and deplored by many, who nevertheless withhold their support from the Protestant As sociation, lest in joining they should become, or at least be considered political partisans. It is to such especially that the committee would appeal ; requesting them to reflect, that the principles of . the Protestant Association are emphatically religious and scriptural. It desires not to have any con nexion with politics, as partaking of party feeling; but see ing that religion is employed by Romanists to injure our po litical fabric, and that the influence they acquire through po litics is employed to undermine our Protestant Institutions. it is impcissible effectually to check their advaueara, t by meeting their assaults in both direction s . To enlighten the victims of Popish darkness, is a most important object. and duty. ANTI CORN-LAW NONSENSE.—The Morning Chronicle has the following paragraph :—" The Opertative Anti Corn- Law Association of Liverpool have distributed three thou sand copies of the annexed pithy questions :—" Does dear bread bring high wages ?—Bread in 1840, is double the price that it was in 1835. Are wages doubled ?—No ! Cheap bread and down with the Corn Law "! ! ! Perhaps some other questions may occur to the readers of the above very honest interrogatories. Are the labourers always better off in pro portion as bread is cheape t ? Bread was but two-thirds of the price in 1835 than it is in 1841. Were the labourers one third more prosperous in 1835 than they are now ? Wheat is now but two-thirds of the price that it was fourteen months ago. Are the labourers one-third better now than they were fourteen months ago ? Have not the labourers to pay for many other things as well as bread ? If they have, why is it assumed that the price being doubled, wages should alter in the same proportion, in order to make the labourer's condi .. tiou equal ? 'But the most important question is this.—lf you employ the labourers in foreign countries to grow the corn for English consumption, how are you to find employ ment and wages for the English labourers who now raise the corn for English consumption !--Morning Post. REASONS FOIL FAVOURABLE COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS. —With respect to general commerce connected with manu facturers, we can now only state that our favourable im pressions arise from these causes principally. I—That most of the raw materials of manufactures are held at low prices. 2—The stocks of goods in foreign markets are not large ; and they are, generally speaking, laid in at unusually low rates, which must act favourably for the exporters in realizing sales. 3—The manufactures of the continent have been paralysed by. numerous bankruptcies—twelve principal firms in the single town of Magdeburg—and cannot enter into successful competition with those of England for want of confidence and D ower—especially in the spinning departments. 4—Our great customers in the United States manifest a power and a willingness to buy ; the last packet-ship left Liverpool with a freight of £l,BOO, whereas many of the preceding vessels of the same class went out of dock with £5OO, £6OO, or £7OO freight. We anticipate that this power will continue at least equal to what it is at present. s—The Australasian colonies have been crippled by scarcity of provisions, and enormous high prices of the necessaries of life ; the West India colonies by deficient produce; and the Canadian, by deranged cur rency and political disturbances. The force of all these untoward influences is lessening, and these colonies will have more power to consume manufactures. 6—The plantations of sugar, cotton, and indigo in the East Indies, are, we be lieve, in a thriving, prosperous state, and the various markets in that quarter may he expected to continue good. 7—China. If our ministers do not neglect the commerce of England as Lord Castlereagh did at the general peace, there will be an opening for British t ra d e i n thi s quarter, o f an extraor di nary, we might say, of au unprecedented, character. One of our missionaries, who speaks the Chinese language and has lived many years in the country, reports that he saw above four hundred vessels employed in the coasting trade on the north eastern shores of China, of from 200 to 500 tons burthen each. The carriage of tea from the province in the north, where it is produced, to Canton, in the south, for the con venience of delivery to the English, costs 600,000 dollars annually. Nearly all this may be saved by our having a settlement at Chusan ; and the interchange of commodities may be exceedingly increased from that centre. We have no hesitation in saying that it is quite possible for our trade with China, within a short term of years, to be increased in a more rapid progression than that which marks the decennial aug mentation of our trade with the United States.—Circular to .Bankers. THE Sour KITCIIENS.—During the winter season, when employment is scarce, provisions dear, and all the sufferings of the poor enhanced,.by the severity of the weather,-we be lieve we are correct in asserting, that none of our excellent charitable institutions is found more effectual in the abate ment of human misery than that which, at a merely nominal price, dispenses supplies of warm and nourishing food. That the subscriptions to the funds of the soup committee have been liberal, we rejoice, while we confess that we shall have an increase of gratification in finding this liberality doubled and q uadrupled in years to come. There is always, in spite of the most energetic exertions of benevolence, a large sum of misery in the back ground, and, if we cannot quite banish suffering altogether, we could wish, whatever other priva tions may be endured,,that none among our fellow-beings should have to endure the pangs of hunger. Many, we have no doubt, have been saved from starvation by the operation of this charity, which, we trust, will always have munificent support. We have heard that some few parties have ex preesed discontent, that a portion of the subscriptions are not returned to them in tickets for distribution. The worthy individuals who desire such return have, we think, conceived erroneous impressions of the working of the charity. It might be sufficient to say in reply, that the objects of the committee and of those who support them have been ad mirably carried out under the existing system ; but it may be necessary to show, that the rule which has been required would positively subtract from the utility of the institution. The subscriptions are for the purpose of enabling the com mittee to sell to the poor, at a price far below what it would cost them, a wholesome and palatable food. The purchase money received from the poor, and that arising from the sale of tickets, is absorbed into the general fund. It is reason able to suppose, that the gentleman who subscribes a few pounds to the charity, is still disposed to scatter a few pence into the hand of poor creatures who solicit alms as he passes on his way. He may feel that it will be more beneficial to give so up tickets than money, in whi c h case t h e proper course is, to purchase the tickets with w h at h e wou ld otherw i se have distributed amongst the craving needy. If he were to re ceive back one-third of his subscription ; and, supposing this t o be general, the conseque nce would be, either that the operations of the institution would be curtailed to that a mount, or the subscribers would be called upon to contri bute the deficiency, in which fatter case, to reverse an old saying, they would be merely putting money into one pocket which they would have to take out of the other. Indeed, as we feel certain that the charity would be supported to its pre sent extent, the difference to the subscribers would be just nothing, while the committee would be put in the unpleasant situation of appearing to exact a greater amount of subscrip tions. At present all goes smoothly, the objects of the charity are fulfilled, while it matters not to the subscribers where they get their tickets, since they must be paid for either through increased subscription or by purchase, otherwise the institution will lack support, an alternative which we 44A sure not one of theta will desire.—Courier. „„6„v-