The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-29 00:00:00

Commercial Salris. THIS DAY. On account of whom it may concern. Taut DAT, the 29th instant, at Half-past One o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 14, Fenwick-street, About 100 Bags FLOUR, from Genoa.—For particulars apply to Y. & M. HARNETT, Brokers. ex Milan (s.)' On account of whom it may concern THIS DAT, the 29th instant, at Ts , Brokers' office, 16, Ezchasge•bn elve o'clock... -0-, About 500 Bags RAPESEED, all faults, landed ex Clangregor, stranded on Crosby beach, and now lying in the Wreck abed, north end Prince's Dock.—For farther particulars apply to Messrs. Bohtlingk, and Co., Merchants, or to J. H. RAYNER & CO., Brokers. TO-MORROW TO-MORROW, the Ist March, 6 Bales of Sea Damaged COTTON, ex William Gibson, from Bombay; lying in No. 7, Ware house, Albert Dock.—Apply to ARMOUR & CO., Brokers. NEXT WEEK MONDAY On sec° nt of whom it may concern he 3rd March, at One On MONDAY next, 1, Exchange-buildings, faults, About 159 Bales COTTON, al just landed ex Ocean Rover, from Charleston ; 103 lying weet side Waterloo Dock, and 56 in Swainson's Warehouse, Back Goree.—Apply to George Cooke and Co., Brokers, 1, Exchange-buildings, or to ANTHONY SWAINSON, Broker, Virginia-buildings. TUESDAY account of whom it may conce brt TUESDAY next, the 4th March, at lialf-put One o'clock, at Messrs. Golding and Nash's saleroom, Corn Exchange, trnnswick-street, About 1400 Loada Westport OATMEAL, ex Eliza.—For further particulars apply to J & M. HARNETT, Brokers, AFTER NEXT WEEK THURSDAY the 13th instant, at the Broken' office, 10, Oldhall-street, 142 Bales WOOLLEN RAGS, 99 Do. COTTON DO., &6 Do. CANVAS DO., 15 Do. HEMP SACKING, 13 Do. ROPES, 3 Do. CLOI H, 23 Do. BAGGING, 3 Do. MIXED STUFFS, 2 Do. GUNNIES, 10 Cases and 2 Boxes Mnntz's METAL, „ 1 Do. and 1 Do. COPPER, 99 9 Do. and 1 Do. BRASS, 3 Casks COPPER and BRASS, 13 Packages PEWTER METAL, 9 9 23 Boxes WROUGHT IRON, 39 74 Coils ROPE, ~ 31 Tons ex Ben Nevis, f_ro_m Melhonrne.—Apply to Messrs. Richard- Merchants, or to COX, BROTHERS, Brokers. On THIMADAY, about 30 Tons. fp 30 „ „ 16 „ 13 Ciit 5 Tons, 12 Cwt 23 .„ son, Br, Tsai ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES In TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. —Any EARLY DELIVERY OF THE "NORTHERN TIMES." subscriber within four miles of the Liverpool Exchange, or at Rock-ferry, Tranmere, Birkenhead. Woodside, Oxton, Claughton, Seacombe, Egremont, or New Brighton, who does not receive his copy of the "NORTHERN Timm'," by Eight o'clock will oblige the publisher by addressing a note to him at the office notifying the fact, in order that the cause of complaint may be investigated and removed. 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FRODSHAM, Secretary. fi74e Antern firrits FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1866 THE great Russo-Turkish war has at last dwindled down to an armistice and a diplomatic conference, in which profound secrecy appears to be the sole remaining hope of success entertained by one and all of the conferees. Their Excellencies Hum and Mum, aided by the diplomatists liusEr and SILENCE, have completely eclipsed Field Marshals and Commanders-in-Chief We are still at war, however, and on the skill, coolness, and determination, of our representatives in the Council of Nations, depends our future triumph, and the restoration of the world's tranquillity, on a just oard enduring foundation. Our Generals in the Crimea have had to contend with and overcome little beyond that which is incidental to the iuvasion of an enemy's country. They triumphed and won immortal renown by that coolness, dogged determination, devotion to their country, and love of justice and humanity, which the representatives of France and England are now expected to shew when fax?. to face with those men who, if they do not share in the authorship of the bloodshed we have witnessed, have joined in the cries of war, and directly participated in its enormities. Lord CLARLNDON stands at this moment in a more exalted and responsible position than any which a CASTLEREAGH or a PLANTAGENET ever filled. To him is confided the duty of placing a price on the thousands of heroes slain, to preserve the honour of our heroic army in the field, to secure to the millions of the East that repose, and release from bloodshed which common humanity demands, and to obtain for the industry of his native land access to those markets which an all-wise PROVIDENCE has created, and which despotism alone had dared to close against us. Diplomatic hyperboles and unintelligible clap trap, such as are resorted to in courtly circles to confound an inquisitive butler or talkative foot man, will not be received as the language which ought to be employed in such a mission. Lord CLAIIENDON must speak out boldly and distinctly. If the independence of the SULTAN, and the ame lioration of his Christian subjects are to be guaranteed, the terms of that guarantee must admit of no double reading or equivocation. If Russia or Austria is not further to interfere in the affairs of tho Principalities —if the banks of the Danube arc to be cleared of military defences, and all the Russian arsenals swept from the rivers and streams of the Black Sea, ani the navigation of those waters thrown open to the commercial shipping of the world, there can surely be no dif f iculty in putting the very few points they embrace, in concise and plain language. As for talking of exchanging Kars for the positions won by the Allied armies, at such terrific cost, and held by such appalling sacrifices, itwould be offering a n insult to the memory of th ose heroes who have f a ll en in the Crimea, trust L ord to t hose wh o h ave sur vived, which vie Lord CLAUIENDoN will hurl back upon th os e who broa c h i t, with all the contumely it deserves. In discussing 4 , 4 4 : 3 affairs of War, questions of finance must inevitably arise, either directly or And here the British Envoy should 1 _ remember that England was a heavy loser by the terms of peace agreed upon by CASTLEREAGH, at a Conference which was also held in the French capital. It may be that Lord CLARENDON Occupies a seat in the same chamber, iu the identical spot, and at the very table, at which CASTLEREAGH con sented to England's being saddled wish 200,000,0001. Lor d I indirect Such another compromise CLARENDON can scarcely expect his countrymen to submit to ; and therefore he would do well to keep his mind clear on this point, and not suffer his head to be addled, as the astute TALLEYRAND bothered the brains of our Hibernian Ambassador. Secresy cannot always be maintained, with respect to what transpires at the Conference. Parliament expects to hear from it the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as soon as its labours have been brought to a close. And when the House of Commons has the whole of its deliberations brought before it, they will become the property of the subject, and the people will be at liberty to form their own opinions of all they disclose. Our Paris Correspondent stated yesterday that the Conference commenced with a little squab bling, between Lord CLARENDON and Count ORLOFF, with regard to the terms of the armistice, which the Russian diplomatist contended ought to have extended to the blockade of the Baltic and Euxine, as Russia has little or no need of an armistice by land, but seeks to have her ports elieved fi m the bl ockade. From this, it appears that the Count's Imperial master has no wish whatever to stop the effusion of blood. All he asks i 3 the removal of the blockade from his ports that he may be enabled to get in ammuni tion and other supplies to carry on his unholy work ! Lord CLARENDON is said to have firmly refused Count ORLoTr's modest request, and in this the noble earl may rely on the unanimous support of his country. If Russia does not want an armistice we certainly do not, as the present numerical strength of our army and navy, together with our wonderful financial elasticity, prove most conclusively. With anything like a great martial spirit in the Crimea, the Allies might sweep the Russian hordes off the face of the earth, while our fleets could lay waste the entire Russian seaboard. We were never better prepared for aggressive and defensive warfare, and if Lord CLAP.ENDON should consent to terms which will not satisfy the justice and humanity of our cause, he will find the popular opinion of England and Europe generally less in his favour than if he were to retire without ceremony from the Confer ence, leaving England to carry on the contest single-handed, and against all odds, The public must not, however, place too much reliance on any rumours emanating from Paris under existing circumstances. Should the Conference be aban doned, we shall not know it until it takes place— and should peace be the result of its labours, we must wait for its official announcement before we can judge of the justice of its terms, or the pos- Bible length of its duration THE Limited Liability Bill now before Parlia ment possesses the unavoidable disadvantage common to all legislative measures. It is full of verbiage, technicality, and repetition which the law-maker has, from time immemorial, employed to convey his ideas and to give effect to the complex machinery by which he hopes to work them out. The principle embodied in an Act of Parliament, like all others which are really intelligible, lies within the compass of a nut shell. The difficulty with which a large majority of men can detect the diminutive essence of such productions gives rise to an endless confusion of ideas and much heated vituperation, where the utmost simplicity and straightforwardness form the leading characteristics. In the whole course of our experience, we scarcely remember a case in which these remarks would apply with greater force than to the present discussion. It must not be forgotten, however, that Parliament, by the bill of last year, recognised the justice, and actually established the principle, of Limited Liability The arguments employed on that occasion, both in and out of Parliament, swept away long-cherished prejudices and overpowered all opposition. Few greater triumphs were ever gained in the Senate than that which led to the Royal assent being given to the bill of last year. The principle embodied in that statute has become a portion of our municipal polity, and all that is sought now is to introduce such changes as will render them really operative and more generally beneficial. At first it was proposed not to extend Limited Liability to private partnerships. But this has been found to give the Joint Stock system incalculable advantages over private or individual skill, industry, and enterprise. It has been found that men would not advance money to private con cerns as sleeping partners, or on any other terms, when they could embark a certain amount as share holders in a public company, in which they could only be made liable for the actual sum for which they subscribed. The law of last session could not, therefore, be left as it was, in common justice to private firms and individual traders requiring additional capital. It is, consequently, proposed to extend the s i mp l e principle of limiting ; the liability of capitalists and shareholders to the actual sum they agree to embark in any undertaking, to private partnerships, as well as Joint Stock companies; and the real question is simply whether this principle be really equitable and just to all parties. The means by which that principle is to be extended roust, as a matter of course, occupy many pages of print, which must contain the usual per tentage of legal verbosity and parliamentary mystification. But while few will be found openly to deny the justice of the principle, there are many who attack it stealthily by laying hold of the wording of particular clauses, and who would lead us to believe that the measure will create a " pecuniary interest diametrically opposed to " moral duty." Those who speak of the morality of the present law of partnership ought, in common fairness, to dwell a little on its palpable injustice, and the license it affords for companies to incur debts to four times the amount of their capital, and then shake off their liabilities altogether, and, not unfrequently, after carrying away the lion's share of the wreck which they themselves had caused. Under the new law, we shall know who and what we are dealing with. If a company or a firm starts under the new Act with a capital of 10,0001. or 100,0001., the public will know that beyond that amount it is not entitled to credit, and that those who go beyond the registered means of any concern do it at their own risk, and not as they do at present, relying on making innocent shareholders and capitalists liable for the delin quencies and extravagances of those in whom they have been led to confide. It was this base system which prevented capital from flowing freely into the channels of trade, and which induced men to resort to false and fraudulent estimates of profits, to induce the people to embark in public works which cease to be a national NORTHERN TIMES.—LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 18b6. benefit when they yield anything beyond a fair commercial profit for the money invested in them, By the proposed change, Parliament seeks to get rid of this immorality, and to enable all parties to see what their risks are in carrying for ward, and dealing with, Joint-Stock and other part nership concerns; and it would be difficult to conceive any course which would give a more wholesome check to the creation of those specu lative chimeras which have ruined so many thou sands. To the details of the new bill many objections will, doubtless, be raised, but the prin ciple it embodies is unimpeachable. And whatever alteration may be introduced into its enacting clauses, its chief feature cannot be impaired, and the public will not rest satisfied until it is brought into full and impartial operation. The shareholders must constitute the principal creditor interest in all our Joint Stock concerns, and they cannot be much longer left without protection. At present, they are wholly at the mercy of irresponsible managers and directors, whose liability ceases with the sale of any shares they may have in the concern, or their dismissal from office for having made away with the substance of the shareholders. He would be a brazen-faced philosopher who would stand up in this age in defence of such a system, and direct a series of ad captandum rebukes at those who venture to advocate the proposed change. Parliament being pledged, however, to the principle of limited liability, it is morally bound to see it carried into full operation, and not left to sit as an incubus upon the commercial en terprise of the country, to mar the development of those new trades and sources of profit which have added so much to the wealth and general prospe rity of the nation within the last quarter of a cen tury. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. ♦ LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY EVENING. There has been no change in the Cotton market to-day, and with a fair supply and a moderate demand prices continue steady. The sales to-day amount to 8,000 bales, and include 8,000 taken for speculation and export. The Liverpool Share Market has been dull and inactive to-day with Consols, and closed without animation. Dovers alone have been in good demand. The following were the closing prices : Aberdeen, 1.2 i 138•. Chester and Birkenhead, 14} 141. Caledonian, 28k 281. Chester and Holy head, 12i 13. Eastern Counties, 91 91. East Lanca shire, 17fi 17k. Great Northern, 23 23i. Ditto A Shares, 91, 10. Great Western, 58t 581. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 821826. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 151. London and North Western Stock, 991 100. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 24i. Ditto Preference, 11 118. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., ke p Midland Stock, 64'1691. North British, 7i North Staffordshire, fif 60. South Eastern, 20 20 1-16. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 19 19t. York and North Midland, 25126. Leeds Capital Stock, 151 16. Dutch Rhenish, 11-16 p Ditto New Shares, 2 3-16 2 5-16 p. Great Western of Canada, 25 13-16 25 15-16. Do New Shares, 31 3! p. Great Luxembourg, 91 9d. By way of Portugal advices have been received from the Brazils, five days later than those pre viously received direct. The mail steamer Tamar reachei Pernambuco on the 28th of January, and proceeded on the same day to Bahia. There had been but little change in the markets at any of the ports. Exchange on London at Pernambuco was quoted at 281 d to E3-Id, and at Rio at 271-d to 27td. In the Manchester Goods Market there has been no change to-day. Only a small amount of business has been done in either Goods or Yarns, and prices were the same as on Tuesday. The later intelligence received this morningfrom the Brazils is not of mum importance, no change in the general aspect of commercial affairs having taken place in the short interval which had elapsed between the departure of the previous mail and the date of the present advices. In coffee but little was doing, and it was anticipated that the accumulation of stocks of that commodity would occasion a reduction in value; but holders, not withstanding, exhibited much firmness, and it is probable that no change will be occasioned by the policy pursued by the merchants- In other respects the news is of but little interest. Accounts from America mention that the finan cial position of the different States continues satis factory ; and the money markets generally are well supplied with specie. In the State of Philadel phia the following are the particulars of the gold received at the Mint, and the coin issued during gold bars, the past year :—Gold deposits, 10,534,103 doll ars ; g 1 0 0 1 ,5 d 3 c 4 0 idno dollars , silverl 0, 594,454 dollars;deposited, inclufinedi d g l silver separated from Californian gold, 2,680,556 dollars; silver coinage, 1,419,170 dollars. Total deposits, 13,214,660 dollars; and total coinage, 12,648,952 dollars. The meeting of the shareholders in the Port Royal and St. Andrew's Copper Mining Company of Jamaica, was held yesterday, and the following report of the directors was received and adopted:— The directors regret that their report to the share holders upon the present position of the undertaking pre sents nothing of a favourable character. The expectations entertained by the mining officers of the successful result of the operations at Silver Hill have not yet been realised, and the opinions of Mr. Lowry, the chief officer, and of Capt. Clemes (the captain at the mine), differ entirely as to the expediency of proceeding, Mr. Lowry being still sanguine of success, if the works are continued, and Capt. Clemes utterly despairing of any favourable issue. The directors have determined, in this conflict of skilled judg ment, to print, for the information of the shareholders, the successive reports of these two officers. The opinion of the board, on the whole, is, that the prospect of success is too doubtful to induce them to continue operations at Silver Hill. They have, therefore, given full discretion to Capt. Clemes to stop further expense, and to arrange for vacating the agreements of the miners. These steps do not necessarily import the winding up of the company, which is constituted for general mining in Jamaica, and not re stricted to any particular mine. The directors recom mend that a discretion be given them to call a meeting for a dissolution, or to allow the company still to exist, as circumstances may occur to render either course advis able for the interests of the shareholders. Of course all unnecessary expense will be stopped. The directors havo only to add, in conclusion, that they are sincerely desirous to act according to the wishes of the shareholders, and that any suggestion emanating from the meeting shall 2 t 0 f f t i h n e h l a s n t d have their b es t cons id erat i on. The b a l ance - sheet chewed an expenditure of January, , of 2lBBl.l2 a. 1 1 1 8 d 5 . 5 ; and 4 th 3 e 3o a l m . 3osu.n d.rom cash The English Funds experienced a fresh decline of i per cent this morning, owing chiefly to the continued downward movement of the Paris Bourse ; the rally of 4 per cent took place on the news of the great rise at Vienna, but towards the close heaviness was again shown, and the final quotations were 4 per cent worse than those of yesterday, the prices being noted at 91.-: to 9l i The first few days of the Paris Conferences are considered to form a very critical ,-; peod, and thus speculative purchases are restricted. The ten dency towards recovery is also checked by the high value of money, In Lombard street, to day, there was a good demand for accommodation. In the Stock Exchange, short loans arc obtainable at 5 to 54 per cent. upon Government Securities. As much as 15 guineas per cent, was paid to day as insurance on the James Baines. The Freight market continues very flat, with very little disposition on the part of merchants to engage tonnage. Until the question of peace or war is definitively arranged, operations in freights will be limited. Tonnage offers very freely, and rates are accordingly maintained with difficulty. There is some degree of firmness in the rates of freights for coals to the East Indian ports, consequent upon the decline of freights home, but the demand for tonnage not sufficiently expensive to cause any material advance in rates. The Railway Share market, to-day, was very dull. The following were the quotations at the close : Caledonian, 57} sit. Eastern Counties, oi 91. East Lancashire, 72 73. Great Northern, 91$ 964. Ditto A., 81 82. Great Western, 60 604. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 824 82g. London and North Western, 1021 1024. Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire, 244 244. Midland Stock, 714 71-4 North British, 29 30. South Eastern and Dover, 674. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 774 78k. York and North Midland, 58 584. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE CONFERENCES. PARIS, THURSDAY. The Plenipotentiaries held their second sitting to-day. Of course nothing was allowed to transpire with reference to their deliberations. TURKEY. A Trieste despatch mentions that the Hatti Scherif, published by the Sultan, relative to the reforms in favour of the Christian subjects of the Porte, had been read in presence of the ecclesias tical, military, curl, and Christian dignitaries of the Empire. THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. The only quotation we have to make to-day is the following :—Three per cents. at 72f. 90e. FRANCE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, Another meeting of the Conferences was to have taken place to day, bu't none has been held. It turns out, according to the explanations given by the government organs, that the Conferences ar e not to meet every other day, as hail been expected and as was announced, because the time required to draw up the minutes of each sitting will prevent such frequent meetings. This means, no doubt, that the " minutes," instead of being a frank straightforward account of what really takes place, will be modified so as to suit the views of each Plenipotentiary. This explanation, however, is not satisfactory to the public, who imagine that " some- thing is amiss." To-day, some'of the Plenipotentia ries having nothing to do, have been down to St. German's. In spite of the secrecy to which the negociators are bound, the impression is pretty general, in well informed quarters, that peace is not by any means so certain as it was the fashion to suppose. The discussion, which I told you yesterday, is believed to have taken place about the armistice, was cer tainly not re-assuring ; and, to-day, I hear it said, with some confidence, that the Russian negociators though they had paraphed, as the phrase is, the draft of the articles to be discussed, have intimated that they must "refer to St. Petersburg for instructions" on certain points of the fifth article of the conditions. It is said also, not only that they are not disposed to consent to the destruction of Nicolaieff so easily as had been imagined, but that they will not even consent to the destruction of the Northern forts of Sebastopol without a struggle. Another circumstance, which has had some effect in diminishing the hopes of peace is this—lt is confidentially asserted, amongst military men, that the Emperor lately wrote to Marshal Pelissier to beg of him to inform him frankly how the army under his command would receive peace; and that tha reply of the Marshal, just received, is to the effect, that the army would be highly dis satisfied with peace, until something on a much grander scale than has yet been attempted, be done against the Russians. In consequence of the more gloomy view which is taken of la situation to-day, the Bourse has again declined. Another circumstances also influenced it—though that circumstance, also, is not of the most reassuring character possible :—lt is that the agens de change, fearing that the Conferences may take an unfavourable turn, and knowing that such an event would, in all probability, cause a terrible fall, have called on their clients to give the extra security for the payment of their losses—if any. An affair was mentioned to me the other day, of such an extraordinary character, that I refused to believe it, and, therefore did not notice it; but it turns out to be too true, and this it is—Lord Cowley, our Ambassador here, thought fit to demand that he should take precedence of Lord Clarendon in the Conferences, on the ground that he held the higher dignity of the two, inasmuch, as in his capacity of Ambassador, he represents the person of the Sovereign, whereas Lord Clarendon is only a simple minister. Lord Clarendon answered, that as Minister of Foreign affairs he was Lord Cowley's superior, and as such was determined to take the first place. In high dudgeon Lord Cowley referred to London for a decision, and he was peremptorily ordered to con tent himself with the second place. But he was so indignant at this, that he notified to Count Walewiski, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, that ho would not attend the grand dinner which he gave on Monday to all the plenipotentiaries, so as not to meet Lord Clarendon. Count Walewski, fearing that the absence of one of the English plenipotentiaries on such an important occasion would produce a bad effect, entreated him to attend, but Lord Cowley refused; thereupon, in order to lessen the effect of his absence, the Turkish ambassador, Mehemmed Djeniil Bey, was induced to stop away also. In the concert, however, which followed, Lord Cowley deigned to show himself. It is greatly to be regretted that the Eng lish plenipotentiaries should have squabbled about such a puerile and paltry thing as a matter of personal precedence. Surely the representatives of a free couutry ought to be wise enough to disregard such tomfoolery. As the matter stands, it seems that Lord Cowley is in the wrong, for Lord Clarendon is his superior :—and most undoubtedly he is his superior in intellect. THE COURT The Queen held a Levee (the second this season) on Wednesday afternoon, in St. James's Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert arrived soon after two o'clock from Buckingham Palace, escorted by a detachment of the Royal Horse Guards, and were received at St James's by the Lord Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain, and the Clerk Marshal. Viscount Palmerston had an audience of the Qneen before the Levee. Her Majesty and the Prince entered the Throne-room attended by the Duchess of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes, and the great officers of State. The Queen wore a train of white poplin em broidered in gold and coloured flowers, trimmed with fringe to correspond. The petticoat was white satin trimmed with white satin ribbon. Her Majesty's head dress was formed of emeralds and diamonds. The Foreign Ministers were introduced, after which numerous presentations took place. The Queen and Prince Albert returned to Buckingham Palace after the Levee, attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting. Her Majesty's dinner party included the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Mr. Buchanan, the United States Minister; Count Titzthum, the Saxon Minister; the Earl of Eglington, the Earl and Countess of Mount Charles, Viscount Monck, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord and Lady Robert Grosvenor, the Right Hon. B. and Mrs. Disraeli. and Sir Benjamin Hawes. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. -THURSDAY, The royal assent was given by commission to the House of Commons offices bill. The charitable uses bill was read a first time, and the joint stock banks (Scotland) bill went through committee. The turnpike trusts arrangements bill was read a second time. APPELLATE JURISDICTION The Earl of DEBBY moved for a select committee to enquire whether it is exped;ent to make any, and if so, what provision, for effectually securing the efficient exercise of the functions of that House as a court of appellate jurisdiction, and to report thereupon. In explanation of the motion, the noble Lord mentioned several objections to the manner in which their lordships exercised their judicial functions, the smallness of the number of judges, the uncertainty in this number, the absence of any compulsion in obtaining their atten• dance, the consequent uncertainty of their being present, the probability that on appeal cases the same judges might hear and decide, as had already adjudicated upon the question, and the house sitting only a portion of the year, and the want of an adequate tribunal for Scotch appeals. After remarking upon the difficulties arising from these circumstances, he referred to the various pro positions for the improvement and strengthening of the jurisdiction of the House as a court of last appeal; amongst other propositions he mentioned the introduction of life peerages, the creation of official peerages, to be held by legal officers during life or office. and the admis sion of ithe judges. . When the House acted in its legal capacity he gave the preference that their lordships had then the power of calling the judges and urged that it would be of great advantage. if they had their co-operation in speaking and voting. He' also recommended that the Vice-chancellor and other eitity judges should be cal'ed to sit and vote in cases of appeal, and that in Sootch cases the lords of session should be called. He would content himself with the suggestions and leave the matter in the hands of the committee. Earl GRANVILLE would not make any objection to the motion, as he wished the important question introduced by the noble earl to have a full and dispassionate consi deration. He would, however, move to insert after the word " jurisdiction" the words, " and further, how any fur ther provision would effect the general character of the House of Lords." His object in this addition was, simply to provide a larger scope to the investigations, and to include certain questions arising out of the Wensleydale Peerage case. He regretted that a difference had arisen between the House of Lords and the Crown, and that party feeling had been introdnced into the question, Mr. Disraeli having, in the other House, used it as a ground of attack upon her Majesty's government, though he believed the conservative leader disapproved of this course. After some observations from Lord CAMPBELL, Lord BROUGHAM, Lord St. LEONARDS, and the. LORD CHANCEL- Los, the motion, as amended by Earl Granville, was agreed to. . . _ Their lordships rose at ten minutes past eight o'clock HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. ROYAL ASSENT TO BILLS. The Usher of the Black Rod summoned the Speaker to attend at the bar of the House of Lords to hear the Royal Assent given by commission to several bills. PETITIONS. Sir .T. PAarNaroN presented a petition from members of the medical profession in favour of the Medical Prac titioners Bill before parliament. Sir J. SHELLEY presented a petition from the hay dealers in the metropolis, praying for a measure to pre vent frauds in packing hay. Several petitions were presented against the opening of the Crystal Palace and British Museum on Sundays. FOREIGN ENLISTMENT Sir DE LACY EVANS ga;;;;;JCethat on the first favourable :opportunity he should move a resolution dis approving of the conduct of the Government in refusing to raise troops in the Colonies, while they carried on enlist ment in neutral States contrary to international law. CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS. Sir J. PAxINGTON wished to put a question to the Government in reference to a letter which he had received from Mr. Fidler (late Commissary General), who stated that he had addressed a letter to Lord Panmure, in reply to the charges made againstthim by the Crimean Com missioners. Mr. Filder stated that though the report was dated the 10th of June, he had not any idea of the charges being brought against him till he read them in the papers seven months afterwards, and added that it would be no answer to him that he would have an opportunity of giving explanations before the new commissioners. He (Sir John Pakington) wished to inquire whether it was the intention of the Government to give Mr. Fidler the same means of exculpating himself that had been allowed to Lords Lucan and Cardigan ? Mr. PEES said he was not aware that Mr. Filder had addressed a letter to Lord Panmure, though he had been informed that it was his intention to do so. Should he intimate his wish that the statement should be laid before the House, there would be no objection on the part of the Government to its production. In reply to Mr. Roebuck, Lord PALMERSTON intimated that the motion of the hon. and learned member would not be allowed to be brought forward as a substantive motion to-morrow. In answer Ito Mr. Stanley, who made some inquiries respecting the new commission to inquire into the Crimean report or Sir J. McNiell and Colonel Tulloch, Lord PALMERSTON said the general practice was, in such cases, to conduct the enquiry with closed doors, but in the present case the Government had deciled that it would be expedient to admit the public, reserving to the court the power of conducting any part of the proceedings with closed doors. The committee would have no power to administer oaths without a special Act of Parliament. BRITISH MUSEUM. Mr. HEYWOOD asked whether the Government, in conse quence of the vacancy of the offices of principal librarian and secretary of the British Museum, intended to carry out the recommendations of the Royal Commissioners of 1850 with respect to the abolition of the two offices, and the appointment in their place of two officers to he nominated by the Crown, the one distinguished for attainments in literature to have the supervision of the library, the manuscripts, the prints, the antiquities, and the medals; and the other, eminent for attainments in natural history, to have the supervision of those departments of the Museum which were devoted almost exclusively to natural history ? Tha CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was not intendad to disturb the present arrangements. REFORM OF THE CITY OF LONDON, Sir J. SHELLEY asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the bill for the reform of the Corporation of the City of London would be bruught for ward by the Government ? Sir G. GREY said he hoped to bring it forward on an early day. ;ABOLITION OF ECCLESIASTICAL couars. Mr. Coilzen asked the Solicitor-general when the bills for the abolition of the 'ecclesiastical courts, and the transference :of their jurisdiction to other tribunals, would be introduced by government ? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said certainly before the recess. ALDERSHOT CAMP BILL, Mr. MACAATNEY asked the Clerk of the Ordnance whether he had any objection to lay upon the t a bl e , pre vious to the second reading of the Aldershot Camp Bill, a plan of the roads and ways intended to be abolished and closed under the provisions of the bill. Mr. MossELL said the plans had been lodged with the clerk of the peace of the county, and if the hon. member wished for them to be produced, he should move for them. Mr. MACARTNEY gave notice accordingly, MONETARY REFORM. Mr. MUNTZ moved for a select committee to enquire how far the present monetary system is in accordance with the revenue of the country, and to consider whether it could be improved and amended. He referred to vari ous hazards that our monetary system had run from railway speculations, gold discoveries, and other circum stances, and the difficulties arising from the fixed value of our coinage, and moved the appointment of a well con stituted committee to do justice to all classes, and all parties, and to give peace and prosperity to this country. Mr. PEACOCK supported the mot ion. He believed that the main object of the motion was to inquire into Sir Robert Peel's bank charter act, the principle of which had failed. He would support the motion with a view to devise some method to save the Bank of England from the effect of a monetary crisis, such as it had just passed through. Mr. DRUMMOND believed that it would be found impos sible to alter the present state of the case, or to prevent precious metal being the sole measure of value. He referred to the answer of Sir A. Young to the convention of PariS, when asked what would be the best law to pass with regard to the price of corn—" That the best advice he could give was to order the clerk to pnt his inkstand down the throat of the first man who talked about corn,' , and he (Mr. Drummond) recommended that the same course should be pursued with regard to those who talked about the monetary 'system. (laughter) The hon. member alluded in the course of his speech to "Macaulay's History " creatiug much amusement by speaking of it as an amusing romance, which all had heard of called a History of England by Mr. Macaulay. Mr. MALINS supported the motion. He alluded to the act of Sir R. Peel limiting the issue of bank notes to the quantity of gold plus 14 millions, and stated that the quantity of gold had diminished in the last six months from 18 iillions to 10 millions, and might in the next three months be reduced £ 3,000,000 more. There wo u ld then be of which th e pu b lic could leaving only £1,000,000 oo notes, ,o 00 notledfot withonly £le2ssi'llltt°loan".l:2oof, unemployed ; and he wished to ask under the circum stance 3 what security would be provided that in three months there would not be a national bankruptcy. Mr. P. URQUHART, Mr. WILKINSON, and Mr. H. BA /LLIK, opposed the motion. Mr. GLYN supported the motion, urging that it would -- - be expedient to enquire whether the quantity of notes should be limited, and on the oth er hand, whether it wa s necessary, in all cases, to issue 414,000,000 over the sum representable by gold. Mr. NEADEGATE supported the motion. Sir. W. CLAY thought the question should be left wit h the Government, but if they assented to the motion for s select committee, h 3 would not oppose it. The hon. member was int erru pt e d i n th e course of hi: speech by a motion that the House be counted , b ut there being 60 members present, the debate proceeded. , / a , After some remarks from Mr. T AYL OR and IW' HEY WORTH, that The CHANCELLOR of the E XCHEQUER did not thin k t a committee of fifteen member s wou ld b e a ble to coo thic i a speculative and theoretical enq u i r y as to the ex ist l monetary system, but if the question was, as it had beeo stated by some, the appointment o f a se l ec t corm/ 0° 4 1 40 consider the operation of the Bank Cha r ter Act or it should have been brought before the House Wit h th a t avowed object. This, however, he contended , w as the proper time to investigate the operation of the ac' li r a . 1844, as there h a d l a t e ly b een great deman d s upon pd bullion of the bank f a r s hip men t s t o f ore i gn s horeS , a n such an inquiry c ou ld no t, th ere f ore, so ear ly hi t i le session, come to a j us t conc l us i on. U n d er these citc o l stances, believing that a committee, from its length sitting, was a very imp er f ec t secur i ty for nat i on al cre dit; if there was any danger t o b e : appre h en d e d , which th e ,)t was not, (the amount of b u lli on b e i ng on the incr easo,) he was not prepared to agre e t o th e mo ti on before the House. Mr. SPOONER defended the m o ti on , d en yi n g that it w so S 1; speculative in its terms. The hon. member argued Be lo the Bank Charter Act o f 18 4 4, o bj ect i ng to leave t remedy, in case of pressure, to th e Ch ance llor of t o chequer, who would p ro c ee d b y sett i ng as ide an 11° E 1 of Parliament. ph let Sir C. WOOD followed in d e f ence o f th e Bank "'"airn Act of 1844. He did not deny, however, that incloil its working might be beneficial, but from existing cite: be stances, the consideration of th e quest io n co uld n° be properly conducted, and no fair decisskn W ild , the arrived at. The mo ti on a i me d at t h e destruc tion ih tbs t act of 1844; and he warned the house of the lois er9 ;d4 would be occasioned by] th e d estruct i on of t h e stall" - value of the coinage. •• u R n the Mr. Mururz then repli e d an d c h arged every one " f ( it speakers on the question with m i srepresent i ng hinhA g C. Wood especially), an d d en i e d th at he h ad sa id anl" h " about the destruction of th e ac t o f 1 8 44 . Ho i ts Elie simply for inquiry, and if, as th e Ch ance ll o r o ' e :me Exchequer stated, the inqui r y wou ld t a k e a long they had best at once set about it. The House divided and the numbers were— For the motion . . Against it Majority against the motion 47 TALROT V. TALBOT. etl Mr.J.G. PHILLIMORE moved for a copy of the je"'":., t o f of Mr. Justice Torren s , one o f t h e Judges of the CaT'iboh Common Pleas in Ireland, i n th e case of Tal b o t V. ' 3 Dla9 i ' before the High Court o f D e l egates of Du b l i n . in atO! 1855, and other pro cee di ngs b e f ore the ConsistorY sa id Dublin, from which the appeal was made to t` l ' n P Court of Delegates. It app eare d upon the evidertcpeo" barrister of some standing and a mag i strate of i',.;:501, tability, that the learn e d ju d ge h ad relied upon he`-citso evidence, and had misrep resente d w i tnesses- Tb ,„e,.the was this—A man charg e d hi s w i fe with adultery I`,seu purpose of divorcing her, because he had become P °s ';oo', '3 of property entailed, an d hi s w i fe had borne him ;10' The hon. member det a il e d c i rcumstances in the 661,404 of the husband, wh om h e d ec l ared as a detestab l e ' r' io and who-e evidence ought no t t o h ave been takelit'tbo court of justice, yet the j u d ge h a d decided aga'ns sh° woman, who was innocent, and the result was th at tie became a raving maniac. Th e h on . an d l earn ed /R e , to man then proceeded at so me l engt h to quote pls° 3l- the show that the decision was given in contradiction t A ° t hitt judge's own opinion of th e t rut h of the evidence, 011' the witnesses had been tampered with. Mr. J. C. EWART seconded the motion. t" Mr. WHITESIDE contended on the evidence th at decision of the judge was just, and he observed th 3t mce4 Talbot would not at first believe the charge, till eee v '„d o f by his own eyesight of his wife's guilt. He ca mpllil l w r o ra the course taken by hon. members in bringing f ttiob' unsupported charges against members of the b: de' declaring that such conduct would be fatal to the jos , pendence of the bench. and to the administration i ° ;lief tice Ina the United Kingdom. Ia the case IOW," Idt• were considering, the judgment, was entrusted Zunot Justice Torrens, as senior judge; and he wished i", i;v erc`i why the attack was not mad e upon the Judge The d '` bill was then in the Hous e o f L or d s, and the ' 9 "J - 0 00" this motion was to forestall th e di scuss i on o f a cowl ) " tribunal. tiao Mr. J. FITZGERALD moved a negative of the m°:' the the which he thought the s p eec h es oppos i te to whl° ge House had listened, would plead his justificatio ° ' the would refrain from expressing any opinion W TI that matter at issue upon con s tit u ti ona l groun ds, I ° l. o o House had no auth or ity t o act as an APF" Tribunal. if 13° Mr. PacRE would not have opposed the moti°"yous° had not heard that the divorce was to be tried in the to of Lo r d s; b u t, t h at b e i ng the case, be would not 3grrei'° remove the questi on f rom w h at he considere d the tribunal to decide upon it. Mr. WALPOLE and Lord PALMERSTON opposeu tion. To o, After some furth er discussion, in which Capt 3 i n il eg te Mr. NAPIE R , and others, took part, the motion w 99 tived. rea d /I The Drainage Advances Act A men d ment Bill Was 41 r el third time, and passed. ° tt The Secretary to the P oor L aw C omm i ss i one rs " Bill, was read a second time. rl [he 115°' A , Vi tie6 ANNUITES BILL. 1 The House th e n wen t into l committee on the ..-- 11 Bill. ta il 0 . 4 On the motion of the C HANCELLOR o f the E:ccll-tr°lA. a clause was inserted to th e etf ct that none 0 1 " t,"'„s')trtle sions of Act 22nd, George 3, chap 45, should be e ° a ct. to extend to any subscriber or contributor under thi s The bill passed through committee. d 01 The Consolidated F un d (£ 1,631,005) 1 3111 611 Exchequer Bills bill went through committee. The house a(journed at half-past twelve o'clock. THE OVERLAND MAIL, The Indian mail left Alexandria on the 22nd Fel L 'b intelligence from C a l cu tt a to J an. 24 t h • B om b a y, F o e r itoaf Hong Kong, J an . 15 t h ; Shanghae, ' Jan. Bth - (> 3 0 11 : Jan. 15th. Oude is to be annexed, with General as chief commissioner. L o rd C ann i ng arr i ve d at v : tbe / ' on the 28th Jan. The B an k s o f B om b ay have raisc" rates of interest to 12 per cent. a es, At Calcutta the money market has improve n t .• change on London is 23. 2id. Th ere h as b een a g e ' e tla e, at Macao. Exchange at Canton, 4s. 1 ld, ; at 6113 6s. 91d. MAIL FROM THE BRAZILS. LISBON, F.Eptt l7 ' ~,t. gar 0 , The steamer Don P e d ro II arr i ved here on the •‘'`.r.abec dates are—Rio Janeiro, Jan. 20th ; Bahia and Pell: l3 o oo ti c i 30th ; St Vincent, Feb. 10th ; Madrid, 19th. S. o he ib e. a, tared very bad weather on the voyage. At Rio, r d i be e ,7o Pernambuco, the cholera was raging. There O tt o, " to flatness in the coffee market since the last deP ar- pri ° , sales only reaching 6,000 bags. According t° , e 're c ar e letters from some of the lower parts, the crops V e y 11 ' 4 ! limited, and arrivals from the interior, where t `:tei f fi ,,, - abnndant, were anxiously waited for. The price ;-o°, and the stock called 80,000 bags: The shipment Ist, being 130,421. The sales of sugar had been al r t for consumpti on . Th e exchange transactions st aa ";,77l , , f ilt total on L on d on, about £BO,OOO, principally 3, 1 % 1 tr' l ,, r i td which rate m os t t ransactions were done in stocks. there was little doing. Freights to Liverpool, ` 1. 4 )5 bi At of a day's later date reached from Monte vi de 5. : ,11 0 American brig; she brings neither letters nor P. t s, Ic i v g e Bahia exchanges were dull, at 281 to 281- F reig eBe b3 ti 3 or nothinT had transpired. At Pernambuco th e e gar b a e gt was quiet ; London, 281 to ` , Bl. The entries of s g r e d averaged 4,000 bags per day, for the last few ( 13 Y 5 ;„ be °, - e 6 fall of rain had taken place, which caused sugars th e P r i c ed damp, and storekeepers were pressing sale, b a , fi edl ) " re the c r e kept up. The supply of cotton was very Halite"' - „ e der ; ,' were unaltered. Freights of cotton to th about 70. The Brazilian shareholderz, in the - "iti 4 o, zilian Steamship Company, had held a'meeting at eer °l among other things, the following resolutions viz. :—To carry on the line ; to remove the seat ° to Brazil ; and, to construct a third steamer. .r. sai A ls to -morrow A n itq.—T sc he Arabia, RoyargT 6ilS .n t e ele f t e te e r to Boston, with the Mails, e• Wit ti ll it b o o , : 1102 nk w e il : l be open in the u sua l wa 'till 11 o'cl ock, to e to c l w o t k h , l a a n t e d fern the s f b n o r x l e o t n t e t r h s e: a stage will b e °Pe° EXTRAORDINARY QUIC K DESPATCli.—Anl^'t the r° ., t ha : , fine ships sailing from this p ort, is one belong,'Prv, favourite line of Messrs. Bowman and ot' c ' packets, the Auro ra , w hi c h has hetetoforeclainled°°:ol'l We have now to recor d a feat in t h e di s charg i " ship which, for quickness of dispatch, is, we equalled, even i n Li verpool. She arrive d h e re s" l ,b, rg e o equivalent to 2,400 tons dead weight, which s he re 0 : 0 0 and then t o ok i n 2 , 2 00 tons of weight and goods, b es id es provisions water, the &c, for an d ` v passenge rs , a ll being accomplished w ithin eleven d c ool; mdaaynsd, annfdhethriashdleaynasphteastnai,lsmforr Bunting, w . York ,un i ( s le w r e t l i ; ke°gl who in the trade.