The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-17 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS. der" will find in another part of our paper the posi. ch the lines of ri.ilway, to v. hich he refers, are at present. We had five reporters present at the meeting of the Church Pastoral Aid Societ, but in consequence of the accommoda. tion for them being very unsuitable—the speakers addressing the meeting right over the reporters heads—we fear the report will not be fr,und so accurate as we could have wished. We have received a copy of a paragraph congratulating pew owners upon the fact, that the trustees of St. Mark's Church have resolved " upon submitting the incumbency to competi tion for the purpose of securing an efficient minister as suc -cessor to the ltev. Mr. Blacow " We regret much to see such .a course adopted. It is not at all consonant with the princi ples of the establishment, or ca'cuiated to advance the in. terests of religion. although the selection of a popular ; preacher may possibly improve, for a time, the property of the pew-ow ers. We do not think that the mode about to be adopted is at all likely to secure t ) the church and district the 'best qualified minister, as many really valuable men would shrink from any such competition, accompanied, as it possibly •may be, with a personal canvas of the trust• es. It would be a point of wisdom to re-consider he matter. N't e have received several communications on this subject, one of which we insert elsewhere. A correspondent, who we regret has not furnished us with his name, which compels us to omit material portions of his com munication, conveys to us the following as the opinions of eminent counsel with respect to the legality of directors of railways dealing in the shares of the c, mpanies over which they preside. "It is stated that all purchases made by a di rector of a railway, bank or other company, of shares in such •company is illegal, and an application to the Court of Chan cery would compel a restitution of profits. Ti is opinion is founded upon the fact that these directors are only trustees. and consequently under those rules and laws of equity which govern such parties. No assignee to a bankrupt's estate can ,purchase any of the eff.2cts without going through certain forms of publicity, nor can any executor or guardian buy any of the property entrusted to his care. Now a director elected by a body of shareholders is a trustee for eacii and every ore of his constituents, and of every share; and it is unjust that he, knowing from his peculiar situation what arrangements may be making for the sale, lease, or amalgamation of the company's property, should avail himself of that information, —withheld, of course, from his principal—and purchase from him that property." ttberpool &talibarb. TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. 17, 1846 We are far from entertaining the absurd notion that a statesman is not to be allowed to change his opinions without being taunted with unworthy mo tives. The legislator, as well as the man, has his childhood, his youth, and his mature age; and he who can pass through these stages without having his perceptions enlarged and corrected, is little bet ter than an idiot. Experience is, indeed, lost upon the man who, with the realities of life before his eyes, which prove his early opinions to have been based upon a foundation of sand, adheres doggedly to their advocacy, and even prides himself upon his mingled obstinacy and stupidity. In the man, there fore, we can pardon a change from the opinions of the ?Jour It is a change which not only added xperience but altered temperament warrants. We cannot, however, carry our tolerance upon his point so far as to excuse the glaring apostacy which we witness amongst statesmen in the present day; and of whit uch startling instances have n exhibited in the proceedings of the House of Commons during the past week. It is seldom that real convictions come so suddenly upon men as to allow of their boxing the compass in so short a period as has elapsed since the Conservative Minis try of Sir Robert Peel—now advocating and intro ducing ultra free trade measures—were advocates of protection to native industry. The change is too sudden, too violent, to avoid leaving behind its avowal the suspicion that the abandoned opinion has never been very firmly entertained. There is too much of strategy about it—something too much resembling the military manoeuvre of turning the guns of a captured stronghold upon the flying and defeated foe, whose hands erected it as their defence against aggression, and who looked to reap from it ion, not slaughter we expect to see in the avowal of changed semblance, at least, of modesty, and It is not enough for a mi- pinions t 1 for appear_ances ,ynom his fellow countrymen have placed a certain degree of confidence, to state, in brusque terms, th ,, • -Q changed his opinions. Men war.' luster, in to know the process of that change—when the early faith began to waver, at what time it ceased ind how it came at last to cling to the point from which, through life, it had turned away with loathing and horror. Something like this sort nation we looked for, especially from such a Sir James Graham. Starting, as he did, in early life, from ultra-radicalism, and progressing gradually through moderate whiggism to conserva tism, there was apparently afforded a guarantee that conviction, on his part, was gradual. The wild to operate theories of youth were forsaken for more moderate opinions in manhood, and conservative opinions in mature years. Certainly from such a man we were warranted in expecting something better than the meagre and reasonless avowal of change, which is contained in the following paragraph of his speech on Tuesday night last " I cannot at all blame my noble friend who has just sat down for the reference he has made to my former declarations on this subject. I admit that the past de claratious of opinion made by a member of this House, who either leads, or aspires to lead a party, and declara tions made by a first Minister of the Crown, if at variance with the:course he now adopts, are subjects not unworthy of reference, and which call for explanation. The hon. member for Northamptonshire made a direct appeal to the Government, and challenges us if we had changed our opinions, manfully to own it. I answer that challenge. I do frankly avow my change of opinion, and by that avowal I dispose of all the speeches." (Loud cheers from the Opposition, with counter-cheers from the Protec tion benches, rendered inaudible the rest of the sentence. When a man thus cavalierly " disposes of all) speeches" and principles of past years, we are na turally disposed to ask, " when will he begin to be sincere and consistent," and how do we know that he is now sincere and not disposed to veer round again at the first change of the political wind, or whatever influence it is which directs his conduct ?" His own language, in the cour , e of the same night's debate, affords us a criterion from which to form our own deductions. In June last, Sir James Gra ham reminds the house the following were his opi nions upon the subject of protection : " On the occasion when the hon. member for Wolver hampton (Mr. Villiers) moved for going into committee on the corn laws in June last, I said, ' It is decidedly my opinion, that the prosperity of agriculture must always depend on the prosperity of the other branches of the native industry of this country, and that the public pros perity is on the whole best promoted by giving a fair and uninterrupted current to the natural flow of national in dustry. I will go further, and say, that it is my opinion that, by safe, gradual, and cautious measures, it is ex pedient to bring our laws, with reference to tie trade in corn, into a nearer relation with the sound principles which regulate our commercial policy with respect to every other branch of industry."' s _ Clearly, Sir Jam - es Graham, whilst uttering this speech, was paving the way for the vindication of his present change of opinions. If such references he all the use of the recori of opinions of public men which the pages of Hansard furnish us with, such records might be burnt with great ad vantage to the national morality. Statesmen could then more conveniently " dispose of all their speeches ;" and we should less ominously be re minded of the necessity of rendering the text, " put not your trust in princes," into an equally appropriate one, put no trust in statesmen. The following paragraphs, which we find in •the colums of a local contemporary, suggest matter for the serious consideration of that pertion of the com munity which is not in name and profession alone, but in reality, Conservative. "Up to last Saturday, sufficient transfers of property in Preston alone had been made to place one thousand addi tional free-trade votes on the register. As similar exer tions had been made in other places, there is little doubt but there will be, after the next recision, a majority of free-trade votes for this division of the county.—Preston Chronicle. South Cheshire is safe on the next registry, 726 new free trade votes having been secured." What steps, we ask, are being taken to neutralise the effect of these most unconstitutional proceedings —this wholesale manufacture of qualifications ? Not any. We see around us in this great commercial locality—why should we conceal the fact ?—men whom the dream of some vast benefit to arise from the free-trade policy of government has blinded altogether to the operations by which that„policy has been precipitated. The League they regard merely as a free-trade "great fact." The organisation which has broken up the old commercial policy of the country—which rules supreme in a majority of our boroughs, and is already stretching out its arms to grasp our counties —can, they imagine, be carried to no further end ; but, its ostensible and original object being achieved, it is to die a natural death. The Cobdens and Brights are to sink from dema gogues into mere calico-printers and cotton-spin ners. We are to have a political elysium—no agi tation—no difficulty save that of estimating the hugeness of the tide of prosperity which is advancing to our shores. _ _ Most strongly we would warn every lover of the Constitution and the monarchy of the danger of thus allowing themselves to be misled. They do not, apparently, care to battle very strongly in be half of protection to native agriculture. They have the excuse for their lethargy, that the class most nearly interested in securing such protection have shewn little inclination to do their own duty to, wards the community, and even towards their own dependents. They point to the lamentable instances of defection from the straightforward path of con sistency and principle on the part of the lords of the soil—to votes on Factory hills and Nlaynooth bills —to their Poor Law legislation and practice—and then ask the question, " Why should we hurry now to the rescue of those who failed to answer our call, when objects dear to us were assailed." Alas, there is but too much reason and justice in such a mode of arguing. But it must not be in dulged in. It is dangerous. The question at issue now with the League is not one of Free Trade only. They have never built up their vast fabric of un constitutional influence for that object alone. The fullest realization of the principle of Free Trade will not cause the withdrawal from the registries of the thousands of votes which they have foisted upon them, and with which they would control the repre sentation. Having found out their power, and per fected their organization and their machinery, they are not likely to be cajoled into the folly of laying them down or of stopping half-way upon the road to the achievement of their ulterior objects. We have therefore seriously to inquire what are those objects. The answer will at once present itself to us when we consider who and what are the bulk of the men of whom the League is composed. We know that in religion they are sectarian ; in politics they are scarcely a remove from republicanism. In this crusade against the Corn Laws they have exhibited the bitterest hatred of aristocratical institutions, and no great love for the monarchy itself. What, then, must be the position of this empire, if we permit such a body of men to go on increasing their orga nization and strength, and absorbing more and more of the representation ? In a League parliament— and how rapidly we are approaching to the return of such a parliament the community does not at present suspect—we would not give many years' purchase fora Church establishment, in its integrity, or for the security of any of the institutions of the country, which have offended ultra-liberalism by standing in the way of its progress towards supre macy. With such a parliament, running riot with the excitement of the novelty of power, we would not give much for the prerogative of Royalty itself. We would entreat of the friends of the Constitu tion to give this subject their earnest consideration, —to be wise in time, and take some vigorous steps in self defence. It cannot surely be that the Con servative gentry of England will tamely sit by, and submit to the domination of any combined and irresponsible body, composed of materials so dan gerous to the security of liberty and property as is this Anti-Corn Law League. If such a body is to be permitted thus to manufacture qualifications in every borough and county, the Conservatives must see if they cannot better their instructions, and foil them at their own weapons. Mr. Sydney Herbert, who was placed in the ministerial van in the debate upon Mr. Miles's amendment, on Monday night, is evidently destined to be a trump card in Sir Robert h'eel's hand. We do not argue this from the selection itself, or from the intuitive perception which the Premier has ever shewn in detecting the existence of talent, and we may add pliability, in those around him. We form our conclusion from the speech itself, which is certainly an able one, and calculated to raise the speaker at once to a very prominent position in the ranks of his party, al:d in the estimation of the house. The most consummate talent, however, may err at times. Many an excellent advocate and shrewd witness ha've lost the cause entrusted to them by " proving too much " ; and in somewhat of this position Mr. Sydney Herbert may some day find that he has placed himself, when, after addu cing, as one of the strongest of his reasons for advocating the repeal of the corn-laws, the wretched condition to which the agricultural labourers, for whose protection those laws had been devised, were at present reduced, he clenched the statement, as to their condition, by the following reference to a recent meeting in 'Wiltshire : " In his own county, a meeting was lately held at night, at a place called Goatacre, which had since been the sub• ject of much comment. It was very possible, and he thought that it was obvious from the force of the reason ing, that they were not drawn up by working men. This meeting, he believed, was pre-arranged and concerted by orders ; but he was, in truth, bound to say that the state ments of the working men as to the difficulty with which they lived were true. (Hear, hear.)" We shall not ask 'who were the parties to whom Mr. Sydney Herbert refers as having ordered and preconcerted the meeting in question, and drawn up the resolutions adopted. Probably it was the same party which preconcerted two or three similar meetings in this town. But we may ask the Ho nourable Gentleman, who appears willing enough to bring forward the statements of the agricultural labourers of Goatacre, " as to the difficulty with which they lived," as an argument in favour of free trade, if he is willing to carry out that argument to its full extent, and especially to its bearing upon another great question connected with the supply of food. Is he willing to tell us how much of the destitution of these miserable agricultural labourers is attributable to that inhuman law, which delivers them tip as bound and fettered slaves into the hands of the farmer and the landowner, by holding up before their eyes, as the alternative of refusal to submit to hard toil and insufficient remuneration, the "coarser kind of food" and the equally hard toil of the Union workhouse ? " They could not be worse off under any system of corn-laws," was the burthen of the song of dole, uttered to the moon and the wintry midnight air, by these half-fed and half-clothed mockeries of men—these wretched caricatures of " a hold peasantry, their country's pride." Will Mr. Sydney Herbert, or any one for him, inform us how much better off they will be made by the measures, which he hints at as afford ing all that is requisite to place them in that posi tion of social comfort, which every accountable being, willing to work, ought to occupy in a civi lised and a Christian country ? We suspect much that the operation of the New Poor Laws has infinitely more to do with the present degraded and suffering condition of the agricul tural labourer than any question of protection or non-protection. The whole of the despotic ma chinery of Somerset House, with its Bastiles and its dietaries, its cruel and unholy severing of the most sacred ties of life, as the punishment of po verty, disease, or old age—its workhouse tests and its heart tests —were set up, ostensibly, to raise the standard of character in the labourer, but, in reality, to reduce the cost of labour. And admirably it has served such real object, as the meeting at Goatacre proved ; and ruthlessly it is worked, as the disgusting revelations of the Andover inquiry have placed beyond the possibility of dispute. Re duce the price of the food of the labourer and his family you may—give him a bushel of wheat, or a bushel and a half of oats or rye, in exchange for his six shillings weekly dole, you may ; but you reduce, at the same time, the cost of keeping him and them immured in your pauper prisons. It is the cost of the " coarser kind of food," to which you submit him as the punishment of compulsory or wilful idleness, which is the real test of the price of his labour out of doors. The new Poor Law is the screw, whose energetic and heartless application has brought the poor labourers at Goatacre and else where to that desperate condition, in which they are willing to try any experiment of legislation, or even of violence,—" for they cannot be worse off than they are!" We shall be told, no doubt, that employment will be rendered more abundant by the measure in pro gress. The farmer is to drein more, to pursue an improved system of husbandry, in order to enable him to compete with the foreign grower ; to do this, he must employ more labour on his land, and hence will arise demand for such labour, and advanced wages. We believe, firmly, that no such result can arise, in the agricultural districts at least, whatever may be the case in the manufacturing dis tricts. In the first place, we cannot see how the farmer is to afford the required outlay of capital ; or how his landlord, with a reduced rental, is to help him. And, in the next place, we are reminded by the speeches and writings of the agricultural advo cates of the measure—the model-farm people—that the secret of improved cultivation is improved ma chinery and implements, which are to save human labour. There will be no increased demand suffi cient to advance the rate of wages, or to counteract the operation of the new Poor Law,—that pet in strument of the landowner, which enables him to regulate the weekly dole of the labourer by the cost of that coarser kind of food upon which he can be supported within the walls of the Union Work house. Another anticipation is doubtless indulged in, that the surplus labour of the agricultural districts THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD —the poor unfortunates whom no change can ren der worse off—will be drafted away to supply the increased demand for hands to arise in the manufac turing districts. We shall have the talents of a score or two of Muggeridges employed in selecting, for removal to spinning and weaving paradises, "widows with large families, or orphan children." the commodity which, according to the amiable suggestion of an eminent Whig-radical mill owner in the West Riding, is the most profitable to grind down into yarns and calicoes. But, then, what will become of the pleasing picture, painted by Sir James Graham, with respect to the improved condition of the manufacturing operatives, with whose labour this pauper supply is to come into competition ? " I can very welt understand," remarked Sir James, on Tuesday night, " how those working men should overtax their industry, and even call upon their wives and daughters to work, that they may obtain subsistence. Necessity might drive them to such resources. But if they can understand that by a change of your law they may be able, without re quiring their wives and daughters to work as they do now, to live in greater comfort than they have ever knows 69, I have not the smallest doubt that ar rangements will be made between masters and men as to the period of labour, and so every ground or pretext for legislative interference will be taken away." We have the greatest doubt of the realiza tion of this delightful consummation. The Com missioners of Somerset House will soon daub over the bright sky, which Sir James Graham spreads over the manufacturing elysium, with a few of the gloomy tints, and introduce a few of the ragged and half famished figures of the Goatacre meeting, or of the mothers and children who sat huddled to gether by the cheerless firesides of their miserable cottages, whilst their husbands and fathers did the work of the League by exhibiting their wretched ness to the midnight moon. Clever as he undoubtedly is, Mr. Sydney Herbert touched upon dangerous ground when he paraded this solitary demonstration of agricultural labourers, with its " pre-arranged resolutions," in favor of free trade, and the declaration of the speakers that " they could not be worse off," in the face of the hundreds of meetings of the same wretched class, at which their sufferings have been attributed to Boards of Guardians and Assistant Commissioners. Goatacre is dangerously near to Andover, of bone crushing notoriety ; and it was rather impolitic even to risk suggesting the enquiry, which will be made, how far the destitution of the labouring masses employed in agriculture is attributable to the cruel bondage in which they are held by the new Poor Law ; and, moreover, how far the blow levelled by Sir Robert Peel against the agricultural interests of the kingdom is compatible with the maintenance of that law and its grinding machinery. The British farmer may, pos , ibly, by increased science and im provements in cultivation, along with reduced rents, be enabled to compete with the foreign grower of corn ; but the British labourer must be fed, —not in Union workhouses, or upon wages regulated by the cost of workhouse dietaries, but in comfort and upon sufficient food ;—and when they are promised such improvement of their condition, as the result of free trade, they will not allow that promise to be broken. A disappointed man, we may remind him, is a dangerous man. The resolution of the Highway Board on Thurs day, to negotiate the purchase of the Harrington Waterworks, in addition to the purchase already made of the Bootle Works, will, we suspect be re garded by the rate-payers with no slight alarm. It is, no doubt, highly desirable that some strenuous effort should be made to secure for the inhabitants an effect and ample supply of water; and most desirable it would have been if such effort had been made long ago, before the existing monopolies had grown to their present large extent and value, and the task of affording such supply had been placed in the hands of some of our public bodies. To re pair the error now., however,—to resolve upon pur chases which will require such a serious amount of money to be raised and charged upon the rate payers—is a matter which calls for very mature consideration, both with respect to the price to be given, and the mode in which it is to be effected. In our haste to secure a benefit we may rashly inflict upon the town a permanent burden. We cannot see, either, that the Highway Board is the best public body to undertake the manage ment of these purchases, if determined upon, or the carrying on of the works when purchased. Readily we admit the ability and great experience in local affairs of many of the members of that body. With Mr. Gladstone, however, we should prefer seeing the Corporation undertake the supply of the town with water. In their hands there could be no financial mistakes,—no risk of oppressive rates to outweigh the value of the boon to the rate-payers. The Highway Board has, already, ample work be fore it, more immediately within its own province, in the paving, sewering, and efficient cleansing of our growing extent of streets and public thorough fares ; and what that body ought to stipulate for is the privilege of taking, from whatever body may undertake the supply of water, sufficient for the proper and effectual discharge of their own duties. Before, however, taking any step, we should strongly urge the adoption of the suggestion of Mr. Tinne, viz.: that we should first have some com prehensive report from a competent engineer, as to the best means of supplying the town with water. Do not let us now enter into any patchwork scheme, when we may hereafter find we might have had a perfect and comprehensive scheme for half the the money. Perhaps, after all, we may not have to purchase the Water Companies. We cannot see that it is at all imperative upon us to pay these companies the exorbitant prices to which their stock has been run up, for the right to enjoy, in a town of the importance of Liverpool, an abundant sup ply of one of the cheapest necessaries of life. We should, of course, prefer an equitable and reasona ble agreement with the companies, to any step which could inflict injustice on individuals; but, certainly, we should be sorry to find that the town is to be taxed in perpetuo by any extravagant bar gain, such, as it appears to us, would be the purchase of these companies at the present price of their stock. Time for deliberation, however, is what we now contend for. Let us not go too fast. LOCAL BILLS. Petitions complaining of non-compliance with the standing orders have been presented and referred to the Select committee on Petitions in the following cases Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Rail way. Birkenhead and Holyhead Junction Railway. Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Rail way (two petitions). Birkenhead and Llangollen Railway. Chester and Manchester Direct Railway (three pe titions). Liverpool and Bury Railway. Liverpool and Leeds Direct Railway. Liverpool Paving. Sewering, and Watering. Liverpool Sanatory regulations. Liverpool Improvement. Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Extensions. Toxteth Park Improvement. Tient Valley Midland and Grand Junction Railway. West Lanenshire Railway. Northumberland and Lancashire Junction Railway. The following petitions for Bills have been severally re ported, and Bills ordered to be brought in : Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland Junction Railway. Mold Junction Railway. Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction Railway. St. Helen's Canal and Railway. Liverpool Docks. Ellesmere and Chester Canal. The Black burn, *Chorley, and Liverpool Railway. Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston Railway. Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction Railway. Bills read a first time, and ordered to be read a second : Grand Junction Railway—Huyton and Aston ; Huy ton, Prescot, and St. Helen's ; Warrington and Park side ; Showhill and Portobello, and Edgehill and Huy ton branches. North Union Railway Bill—For vesting in the Grand Junction Railway Company, and the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company, the North Union Railway, and all the works, property, and effects appertaining thereto. Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, (Extension to Caledo nian Railway), and Lancaster and Preston Junction Rail way Amalgamation Bill. The Committee have dispensed with compliance with certain standing orders in the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction Railway. Since which the bill has been read a first time, and ordcred to be read a second time. The subject of this evening's lecture at St. Andrew's Church is " The Communion of Saints." Private letters from Calcutta to the 23d of December have been received. They contain the important fact that the government had sent round a circular, stating that their advances on hypothecated goods have for the present ceased. The exchange is expected to advance considerably upon this circumstance. SPEECH OF 3. BRAMLEY-MOORE, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE, ON THE SUBJECT OF DOCK EXTENSION. In compliance with a requisition addressed to the Dock Committee, signed by 76 influential firms, urging that the able speech of their Chairman, on Monday, the 19th ul timo, and " the valuable statistics contained therein (evi dently collected with great care and research) are deserv-, ing of preservation in a more lasting form than they can possibly be in the pages of a newspaper," and requesting that it should be printed in a more permanent shape, we observe that a neat pamphlet, containing the speech in question, corrected by the Chairman from the report in the Standard, with some additional matter, has just been published, with a map of the new docks. So valuable a document, or one so interesting to the town, and so cre ditable to its author, has not for some time past issued from our local press. Amongst the additional matter of a statistical character introduced is a table of the number of vessels employed in the timber trade in Liverpool, which exhibits some surprising results. The following is the table on which Mr. Moore makes one or two remarks, and we have ap pended a few additional observations : BRITISH AMERICA. BALTIC. Year. Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage 1838........ 305.. 1839 339. 170,591.... 1840 239 133.400 . . 48.... 14,000 1811.. 1842.... 1843 311...... 154,518 ..... ... 61....17,253 1844.. 1845 453...... 239,854 113.... 33,792 Thus you see (says Mr. Moore) that in 1844, when the timber trade was said to have commenced its decline, there were then 418 vessels,.of 202,471 tons ; and in 1845, the enormous number of 566 vessels, of 273,646 tons. Now, this alone will shew the importance of the timber trade, and how inadequately that trade has been accom modated in Liverpool. There has been an extraordinary increase in several descriptions of timber. I will just notice the Mahogany trade, to which attention was di rected, and particular accommodation afforded, some four or five years ago, by the Dock Committee. The number of logs imported since 1838 is as follows : In 1838.... ... .10,918 logs, I In 1842........ 7,789 logs, 1839 ....... . 11,441 „ 1843.. 1840.. ... ~. 7,214 „ 1844.... 6,600 :, 28,840 „ I will now give you, for the last four or five years, the increase for all descriptions of timber in pieces and feet. I will take you back to 1838: In 1838 - 15,000,000 l ln 1840 11,000,000 1839...... 16,000,000 1841 16,000,000 Mr. Rathbone asked whether these were pieces ? Mr. Moore.—They are pieces and feet, by string or sale measure. In callipers they would be about fifteen per cent. more In 1842 1843 9,000,000 In 1844...... 24,000,000 I 17,000,000 1845...... 28,000,000 The most extraordinary increase exhibited in the first table is that in Baltic timber, from 51 vessels, 14,144 ton nage, in 1844, to 113 vessels, 33,792 tonnage, or an in crease in one year, in the article of Baltic timber alone, of 19,648 tons, in 1845 ; and it is a fact worthy of remark, as showing the great increase of the consuming power of the country, that the price of Baltic timber, notwith standing the increased importations, was higher in 1845 than in the previous year. In the same period, the in crease of tonnage employed in the British American timber trade amounted to 50,440 tons. In the entire timber trade, therefore, we have an increase in 1845, over that of the previous year, of about 70,000 tons, which is considerably above three times the increase of the tonnage of all kinds employed in the port of Bristol for the same years, such total increase being only 21,076 tons. We believe that this evidence of prosperity appeared so im portant to the Government that an application was made from the Treasury for information confirmatory of the correctness of the statement conveying it. Another important item introduced in this pamphlet, and which the chairman of the Dock Committee had not received at the time of delivering his speech, is the export of salt for the year 1815, which amounted to 472,146 tons, against 429,131 in 1844, showing an increase of 43,015 tons on the year. PETITION OF THE LIVERPOOL BRAZILIAN ASSOCIATION FOR A RELAXATION OF THE PROHIBITORY DUTIES LEVIED UPON BRA ZILIAN SUGAR. A petition has just been presented to the House of Commons by this body, signed by their chairman, Mr. J. Bramley Moore, praying to have their case considered in the arrangements making for the reduction of import duties. The petitioners represent, in strong terms, the injury which they sustain by the prohibitory duties upon Brazilian sugar, and the retaliatory spirit which that coun try has adopted towards them. They urge their right to a share in the ameliorations taking place in our commercial code, and the advantages which would be conferred upon the agricultural and other classes from whom protection is being withdrawn, by cheapening the article of sugar, the consumption of which has decreased since 1811 from 26 pounds per head to 16; pounds in 1841. The question of Brazilian being the produce of slave labour they consider ought no longer to be mooted, now that we import largely so many other articles similarly produced, and that the West India planters themse'ves import the same sugar for consumption, in order that they may have the whole of their own crop available for the markets of this country. They urge it also on account of vast accession of trade which it would bring to the manufacturer, to whom Brazil has been a large customer, and the advantage which an increase of trade with that country will afford to the shipping interest, and conclude by praying for the importation henceforth into this country of Brazilian sugar upon the same terms as any other foreign sugar. THE NORTH-SHORE COTTON MILL We have on several occasions, during the last few years, had occasion to notice the kindly feeling and liberality evinced by the proprietors of this cotton factory (the only one in this town) towards their work-people, as sbewn by their regard for their moral and religious welfare, and their health and domestic comfort, as well as by their an nual festive rural treats given to the whole, young and old, the last of which we had the pleasure to witness, and a more delightful example of friendly and joyous inter course between employers and employed—who joined to geth(r in the dance on the hamlet green—can scarcely be conceived. It is deplorable to find that the gene rous purpose of these gentlemen should, from the rancour of party spirit, and an ignorance of the facts, be for a moment misrepresented, though but by an in sinuation ; yet such has been their fate, verifying the saying of the great dramatist, " Be thou ever so fair and virtuous, thou shalt not escape the tongue of calumny." They can well afford, however, to treat their puny assaults with a smile, and, from their cha racter, we know it will be one of forbearance and forgive ness. The Mercury of Friday week stated, in effect, " We understand that Mr. John O'Connell was last night to put a question relative to an alleged intolerance practiced towards dissenters in the North Shore Mill of this town." There exists not the slightest ground for such an insinuation, as will be shown in the sequel. We have long had a desire to furnish some details of the ex emplary management of this mill in the respect alluded to, of which we have been aware from the information of a respectable man in one of the departments, but we were deterred by learning that the partners entertained an aversion to publicity. As, however, they have been hitherto " doing good by stealth." they must now " blush to find it fame ;" for Mr. Leonard Horner, the government inspector of factories, has, in his last re port, (having argued them out of this repugnance,) fur nished some highly interesting particulars, demonstrative of the benefits to the people employed of the system pursued, and which, indeed, go far to remove some of our main objections to the establishment of mills in our town, if they were similarly conducted. The inspector's statement appeared in the London Times of Friday. We have but room, however, for the follow ing synopsis, to which we have a few additional facts to add, equally creditable to the humane feeling and con sideration of the partners, and especially of the resident manager, Mr. North, "to whose personal influence, enlightened views, and unwearied zeal, (as is truly stated by our contemporary) much of the success of their plans is to be ascribed." The partners are Mr. J. Aspinall Turner, and Mr. J. Garstang. of Manchester, and Mr. R. Ford North—the hitter residing here and having the chief local direction. There are employed about 854 hands; of whom 68 are boys and girls under thirteen years of age ; 378 young persons between thirteen and eighteen (chiefly girls) ; and the remainder (263 males and 186 females), from twenty one to forty and upwards. Mr. Callon, the certifying surgeon appointed by the inspector, is also the medical attendant on all the hands, young and old, and has a surgery on the premises, where he may be consulted daily—those confined at home being there attended. He receives from the concern £2OO a year, to which all the hands earning upwards of 4s. a week contribute Id. weekly, those earning less being exempt. The deficiency in the amount thus collected, which may be from £4O to £5O, is paid by the proprietors. There is a long school-room on the premises, which is daily attended by the children employed, and also by those of the work people living in the adjoining cottages —altogether by about 200. A night school is also open. The school is open for two hours every Sunday morning. Two separate rooms are appropriated to male and female adults. Instruction is given by 70 teachers, all volunteers from among the overlookers and others employed in the mill, some attending on alternate Sundays, others every Sunday,—Mr. North and the book-keeper acting as superintendents. Spelling, reading, and the church cate chism are taught in the Sunday school, explanations of the lessons read, &c. After this the church service abbreviated, and afterwards a short practical sermon, are read by one of the proprietors, to an assemblage of 300 to 400 persons, chiefly composing the scholars, teachers, and the inhabitants of the cottages, and amongst them are some creditable singers, and instrumental performers (from amongst the hands), the instruments given to them by Mr. North, who has had them instructed. Atten dance at the Sunday-school is only compulsory on the children employed under 13. After this age persuasion alone is used to influence attendance. It is found that those most regular in attendance are the best conducted hands in the mill, and earn the most wages. It is worthy of notice that Mr. North is a member of the Church of England ; Mr. Turner an Unitarian, and Mr. Garstang a Wesleyan Methodist—all acting togctlitr in one com mon Christian spirit. There is a lending library of 300 volumes a'taell . ed to the mill. an d a sav i ngs ' b an k for 6d. to 55., for w h ich the proprietors allow 5 per cent. Mr. Horner notices, at some length, the festive meet ings to which we have alluded, and to which all the well conducted hands, upon their giving proof of being in th habit of attending some place of instruction or public worship on the Sunday, (nearly the whole number,) are in vited ; also the New Year's Day supper in the school-room to the teachers and singers, atter which, recitation of pieces, music and singing, with a friendly interchange of senti ments on both sides, " tend to make the evening pass both agreeably and instructively to employers and em ployed." To the facts furnished by Mr. Homer, and which are correct to the letter, we could add many others equally honourable to the " management," but must confine our selves to a few, as we know the modesty of these gentle men. All employed who may not be a member of the Church of England are at full liberty to attend their own places of worship, and are not the less partakers of the general kindness dispensed. Strangers who cannot afford sittings in churches are equally welcome to attend the simple divine service in the Sunday-school. One of these, an old man and constant attendant, was some time ago missed from his accustomed seat. The worthy resident proprietor sent to inquire about him, and finding he was ill, indigent, and enfeebled, had him medically attended, and has since liberally provided for his wants. A store of wine, &c., is kept on the premises, for the use of the sick when recom mended by the surgeon, and additional supplies given out when requisite as a matter of course, and not as a fa vour to be timidly solicited for. Other arrangements are also made by the employers to conduce to the domestic comforts of those of their people who may have pecuniary difficulties to contend with in their families, and to in duce them to habits of cleanliness and providence; and, in fine, we concur with Mr. Homer in his remarks : " It is difficult to say whether we should most admire the benevolence, the confiding practical good sense, or the enlarged view of their own happiness and interest evinced by the proprietors of this factory in these ar rangements. If their example were generally followed, even in a limited degree, one could hardly over-estimate the sum of moral good and individual happiness that would result." THE INCUMBENCY OF ST. MARK'S CHURCH TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sift—Fully persuaded of the great interest which you take in the clerical preferments of this town, may I en croach on a small portion of your valuable paper to con tradict a paragraph stated in the Albion of this day respecting St. Mark's Church, in the which it was noticed that " the pew-owners and others of that church would be glad to hear that the trustees have resolved upon throwing open the incumbency of that church to compe tition." As a pew-owner (and I have no doubt all the others will join with me in the same opinion) I am de cidedly against such competition, not only from being perfectly satisfied as to the abilities and strict adherence to Gospel truth preached by its present minister, the Rev. B. A. Marshall, but also from its being an act of the greatest injustice that could be shown towards the said reverend gentleman, should any other person be appointed to that incumbency, after hip having laboured with great ardour and perseverance for the last seven years, and 1 may say to the satisfaction of his congregation. A PEW-OWNER. Liverpool, 16th February, 1846. [Several other letters are in type, which we are compelled to omit.] FIRE LAST NIGHT.—Last night a fire was discovered in the back bed-room of a boarding-house in Ironmonger lane, but the engines being soon on the spot, the fire was speedily subdued. The damage done was about £5O. ST. MARY'S CHURCH, KIRKDALE.— On Sunday morning last, after a sermon by the Rev. D. James, in cumbent, the sum of £l7 was collected at this church, in aid of the Incorporated Society for the Enlargement and Building of Churches and Chapels in England and Wales. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—Last evening, a meeting of the Birkenhead Commissioners was held at their rooms, Hamilton-square, for the purpose of receiv ing a report from the Health Committee, on the building of warehouses, and also a report from the Lighting and Watching Committee, upon the proposed amendments in the Lighting and Watching act. Mr. Greene presided ; but no discussion took place. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Cole, who said that the committee in question, prayed for time to consider the important subject submitted to them, the meeting was adjourned until Monday evening next. On Sunday afternoon last, Mr. Frederick Edwards, late master of St. Augustine's school, and lately promoted to the mastership of the Welsh Charity School, was pre sented by the committee of the former institution with a handsome and beautifully bound Family Bible, together with several other books, as a mark of respect and appro bation for his services during a period of seven years. The presentation took place before the assembled chil dren, when the Rev. Dr. Tattershall delivered a kind and very affectionate address in his usual impressive manner, which was replied to by Mr. Edwards in a creditable way. ACCIDENTAL DEATH.—An inquisition was held yester day, before the borough coroner, touching the death of John Jones, aged 51. Twelve or thirteen weeks ago, deceased was engaged, with another man, in removing some hardware out of a shop in London-road into a cart. He assisted in removing a grate from the cellar into a cart, and afterwards said he had hurt his back, but did not say in what way. He afterwards complained from time to time of his back, and about a month ago was sent to the Infirmary, where he died from an injury of the spine. Verdict accordingly, but how he received the injury there was no evidence to show. A number of young women, chiefly servants in Liver pool and the neighbourhood, who had been educated in the Church of England North Schools, were invited to meet some of their former schoolfellows. and to take tea with them on Thursday evening last. The meeting with each other, and with their respected teacher, Mr. McMinn, seemed to afford great delight, and, having been addressed by the Rev. A. Tomlin, and the Rev. Henry H. Higgins, the party broke up, highly gratified, and, as it is hoped, encouraged to persevere in conduct ing themselves consistently with the sound Christian principles in which they have been brought up. MELANCHOLY CIRCUMSTANCE.—Yesterday morning, the body of a young, respectably connented man, named John Braithwaite, was discovered floating in a pit near the village of Wavertree. The skull was, we learn, partly fractured. The deceased retided in the neighbourhood of Edge-hill, but had remained a short time at the house of a friend in Wavertree. and, it is stated. was slightly af fected with drink when he went out. How he got into the water, or in what way the injuries were inflicted on his head, is yet unknown, and we refrain from giving publicity to the mere rumours and conjectures that are afloat. He was only eighteen years of age. The inquest will be held before Mr. Heves, this afternoon. ST. THOMAS' CHURCH SCHOOLS.—We are highly gra tified to hear that the nett proceeds of the bazaar in aid of these schools, which we have noticed elsewhere, realized £52. The number of children already on thebooks, although the schools were only opened on Sunday,is as follows: boys, 140; girls, 170; infants, 90—total, 400. This is a suffi cient proof of the benefits likely to result from the estab lishment of these schools, and we anticipate from them the happiest results. There are about 60 children in the ragged school in Albert-street, who are fast improving. The district is, notwithstanding all the efforts which have been made, still in a spiritually destitute condition—there being within it 17,149 souls, and there is church accom modation for only 834, with 83 free sittings. We beg to call the attention of our readers to an adver tisement of a sermon, to be preached to-morrow evening (Wednesday), at St. Michael's Church, in behalf of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, by the Rev. Mr. Close, of Cheltenham. Few societies are engaged in a more useful sphere of labour than that society, and few during the time which has elapsed since its establishment have been more highly favoured. It has conferred, as will be seen from a report elsewhere of the meeting last night of the Liverpool Auxiliary, many blessings on neglected portions of our land. It has brought to light much of the spiritual destitution that prevails around us, and has provided means for relieving it. We hope that so good a cause, and so valuable an advocate as Mr. Close, will induce a large congregation to be present. CASE OF REAL DISTRESS.—By the falling of a ware house in Moor -street, on the 31st ult., a corn-porter, named Peter Lacey, an industrious man, was killed whilst endeavouring, with his fellow-labourers, to make his ee cape from the falling building. By this event, a family of five children, of the respective ages of 18, 17, 14, 12, and 10 years, are become orphans, helpless and unpro vided for, their sole support arising from the wages of the eldest boy. This appeal is earnestly made to a benevolent public in their behalf, in the full confidence that a bereave ment so sudden, and distress so severe, will be kindly re sponded to by all who are influenced by the better feel ings of human nature. Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Messrs. Ihler and Co., Goree, (the employers of the eldest lad,) and at the newspaper-offices and news rooms. FATAL. ACCIDENTS. —On Friday week a man named Richard Hallows, who worked at warehouses, was em ployed in storing rum in a bonded warehouse at the New Quay. He was seen to be in a state of intoxication. Shortly afterwards, while he was assisting another man to put down the lid of the vault entrance, his foot slipped and he fell to the bottom, and hurt his spine. He was taken to the Northern Hospital, where he died on Thursday from the injuries.—On Tuesday last a man, named Edward M'Owen, went with another man to a house in St. James-road to take down an iron chimney. The lady of the house, seeing that both of them were affected by drink, endeavoured to persuade them from ascending to the roof; but deceased insisted upon going up, and when he got to the top his foot slipped and he fell down into the yard and fractured his skull. He was carried to the Southern Hospital, were he died in a few minutes. LECTURES ON THE ERRORS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.—The Liverpool Protestant and Reformation Society are worthy of the highest commendation for their exertions, on all fitting occasions, to expose religious error, and to avail themselves, from time to time, of the services of those devoted champions of Protestantism in whose ministrations all true churchmen delight, and who, responding to the exhortation of St. Jude, " Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." The present exertions of the society have re sulted in their being enabled to announce that a course of six lectures, on the errors of Rome, will be periodically delivered, in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson•street, by six of the most able and eloquent divines of the town and neighbourhood. A well-defined subject is assigned to each of these reverend gentlemen, and the lectures will be given weekly, on Tuesday evenings,—the whole form ing a complete exposition of the falsehood, slavishness, and utter apostacy of the Romish Church, as contrasted with the saving scriptural doctrines that led to the Refor mation. The lecturers will appear in the following order of their names :—The Rev. Joseph Baylee, D. James, W. Pollock (St. Helen's), H. Carpenter, T. Nolan, and Canon M'Neile. The first lecture will be delivered by the Rev. Jos. Baylee, this evening (Tuesday),—subject, "The marks of the True Church not to be found in the Church of Rome." Seats will be reserved for ladies in the gallery. From the interest excited on the subject the spacious hall is expected to be crowded. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (BY EXPRESS.) NORTH STAFVORDSHIRE (POTTERIES) LINE .4 :d terday the committee on this line sat, and the rootaco; densely crowded with persons interested, as the wit mittee announced on Friday that they would r e . dsS decision with respect to the validity of the subserlP_,a hat contract. The objection taken against it was, t , Ads of the trustees of the name of Garrett, who be d another signed the deed on the part of the comPallit. s also subscribed to the extent of £2,500 ; and bel:4 0 1 subsbribing party, in the double capacity of share b ed on the one part and trustee on the other, it was conte nd that the deed was not a valid one. The committee,* a great deal of deliberation, decided that as far rett's signature was concerned the deed was 07,, though valid as regarded the other signatures, and , tbn , fore, pro Canto, the standing orders bad been coraPP" with. DON CORN EXCHANGE.—YEsTxRDAY. The su i v.y of English wheat by land carriage saMlnr" 7 p ot very small this morning. Dry parcels were taken readily ° s o. quotations ; but those out of condition met a draggul no ip Old and free foreign moved off slowly without al.erg"-pe value. There appeared to be rather more inclination to_.4 chase bonded at late prices, and several sales were eire ° ;ll. • Barley is exceedingly di ffi cult of disposal. and even bes t ties are is per qr lower. Beans remain the same in ":" Maple and grey peas are unaltered from last week, but no duce our quotations for white is per quarter. Fine cats Innit t o the previous rates, but light and inferior sorts must be Vlri` -- ad per qr cheaper. SMITHFIELD CATTLE MA RKET.—YEsTERDAY . or From our own grazing districts the arrival of beasts 1?P ° morning's market was somewhat less than those exhibit e d this day se'nnight; but the quality was decidedly good', 00 attendance of buyers being somewhat extensive, the bee '_Al was steady, at, in some instances, an advance on last w prices of 2d. per Bibs. A few of the very primest Scot!,,fat disposed of at 4s. 6d. per Sibs., but the more general fig , t7,4 that breed was 4s. 4d. per Sibs., at which a good clear." was effected. The numbers of sheep are again small, or about 8,00 0 „d ies° than at the corresponding day of 1845. Prime old D°:;;. moved off steadily, at full prices. In other kinds of sheep paratively little was doing, yet the quotations were suPP%o• While commenting last week upon the falling off in the o_„d, bers of sheep shown here in 1845, an important error occsii i iii Instead of the falling off being three hundred, as w e 01 stated, the actual deficiency should have been set der three hundred thousand. . There were about 2000 shorn sheep on offer this morning' 0 The few prime lambs on offer commanded a ready sal e ' 7s per Slbs. 00 In calves very little was doing at last week's depre 9 currencies. The pork trade was steady at late rates pigs from Ireland We had on offer el SHARE MARKET.—YESTERDAY. ee A fair amount of business has been done in all the b e, descriptions of railway investment; and while prices b,;;; nerally are well supported the quotations in some few instft?;;, show a slight advance. The Trent Valley shares, which "11l „ 1, 1 been improving for several days past, have been done c..„ 0( as 26i. Generally speaking, however, there is very little 1 1 " activity in the Share Market. PRICES OF STOCKS, &C.—YRSTEIIDAY. „49 The market for the English funds manifests a little 11 6 4, this morning. Consols for the account opened at 96i t o ~„ t tbe 96i being the price at which the first bargain was done, "-tbef dealers evincing a disposition to sell among themselves soon dropped to 96/, 96k. For money they have been doll!A 961 and 96/. Bank stock is 207/ to 208/ ; 3 per cents. Reda4, 96k to 97k; 3/ per Cents. 98k, 98i, 98/ ; Long Ann u ities, No 16ths ; India Stock, 250 ; Exchequer Bills con ti nue firm at week's prices ; they have been done at 37, 40, 38. NEW YORK COTTON MARKET, JAN. 31 THREE, P.M.—The sales to-day are GOO to 800 ball for French account, at full rates. Exchange dull fi n declining. Freight to Liverpool very dull. CURRENT PRICES FOR LIVP.RPOOL CLASSIFICATIO rI. New York, 30th January. , Upi'd & Fonda.i Mobile & N. Oo• none. 51 to 6 6to of .. 6i to 62 6i to 6f .. 7to 74 7 to 7f .. 71 to 8 . 7i to if .. 84 to Si 8 to 8f .. g to 10 nom. to 11 Inferior . Ordinary Middling Middling fair Fair Good fair Fine.... Charleston, Savannah, 24th Jan. 24th Jan . 54 to .. 6 to 6} . 6a to 62- .. g to c 61 to 7 7 1 1 t ea° s ' Mobile, N.Orl fa s. 22d Jan. 214 to 61 5a to 6 toy' to to 4 7 , 1 • to lit to 71 ..▪ 7 r, 63 8 to 8i .. Si to 10 none. .. g `" Inferior . Ordinary Middling. none. to 5i 61 to 7 Middling fair Fair 7i to 7 Good fair Fine . .... . - BIRKENHEAD.—It was seriously t a lk e d o f yes.-- fp/ . ! I P on the other side of the water, in anticipation of alr Jackson being victo r i ous a t th e ra il way mee ti ng to' that that Birkenhead is to b e ill um i na t e d t o - n i g ht. It is 81 11, the report of the committee elected to enquire into the 0 legations entirely acquits Mr. Jackso n o f a ny cond o even approaching to impropriety. The Duke of Devonshire has subscribed £lOO towa rds the fund raised for the relief of the poor in D unga rvoll. • BODY FOUND.—On Sunday evenin g th e body f female unknown was found in George's Dock Basin. was removed to the dead-honse. Sir Thomas Fremantl e, Bart., late Chief SecretarY ( et e Ireland, has been appointed deputy chairman of t m j Board of Customs, in the r oom o f th e hon. Etlviar Stewart, who retires. the The late Rev. Dr. C. Wordsworth h as Is equ eathed munificent sum of £l5OO to be equally divided amon.lll the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Somme for the Promotion of Christia n K now l e d ge , and Church Building Society. On Saturday a meeting of noblemen and gentlemen W e ,/ place at the Mansion-house, London, for the pu rpose. o " o taking into consid era ti on measures f or t h e reforme, tl o l of juvenile offenders, an d f or c h ec ki ng th e grovitu of crime—the Lord Mayor in the chair, and the BishoP London was one of the speakers. A MAN, UNKNOWN, FOUND H ANGED .—On Sa nd e d f forenoon, the body of a man, unknown, suspended I;if quite dead, was found in one of Mr. Breckle's bat machines, on the North Shore. The body has not lot been owned, and lies at the dead-house. It appears t. 5 , he had been inquiring for work at some of the foliar ° but did not succeed. . 00 6 SUDDEN DEATH.—O n W e d res d ay , a f ema l e , 1 1 -1 Mary Birket, living in Birket-street, Soho, complainin of being very ill, went up stairs, lay down in bed, 0 shortly afterwards was f oun d qu i te d ead. From it . . 11 mortem examination, it appeare d t h at d eath was cs'ith by apoplexy. She had b een trou bl ed previously ill' asthma. COMMITMENTS, YESTERDAY, AT THE POLICE.O O/ 1:; —A fisherman named Riche' d Shaw, charged by his fe'v with having frequently come home full of drink, andlo ing on Saturday robb e d hi m o f a shawl, was sent it) trial.—Elizabeth Currie, an elderly female, charged °d i robbing a man of a sovereign. —A girl named Sarah .1° 13 ,1.1 charged with stealing 2 s . 6d. f rom a man named See/- Buckley.ad o e a u t s sensation NiURDE has RIN b THEen created i COUNTY O n F o V: .R—B bourhood net FOBRDA of Clashmore, in consequence of the disco. t" of a murde r , comm i tte d on a poor woman living Witt:lloa short distance of this place. Th e b o dy was folio 1 00 Monday last in a d ra i n , h av i ng th e b reas t b one bro se o and showi ng o th er ser i ous contus i ons i n var i ous PI het It is understood that she bad been separated from husband for some time, who has been, in consequeneellig certain suspicious circumstances, committed to gaol td, ing the result of the coroner's inquest. —Cork Exa001:: APPREHENDED SCARCITY.—The Cork Reporter Sok —`' We may state on what we deem competent oil o pt rity, that the precautionary measures of the Governol o al are on such a scale as to aff o rd an am pl e su pply of t itt when the exigency may arise to requ i re it. The qu a re of Indian corn and corn meal at present to be deity* la at the Ordinance stor e s i s 300,000 bushels; but, 5 10 %0 much greater supply be required, arra ng e me nts helic al lae made by which it can be r e a dily o bt a i ne d. This w, at once manufactured at the Lea Mill s , an d storeu' rs to will be sent from th s port i n G overnmen t steame or ter where it may be wanted." F rom th e Li mer ick ReP h ot we learn that two vessels, laden with Indian corn,,: r OE arrived in that port, and th a t severa l cargoes , by °T o e the Government, we re d a il y expec t e d. C omm i ss ary 'oo' ral C, ffin arrived in Limeri c k on T ues d ay , t o procur e t , rage for a quantity of corn. A public meeting * 4 ; 8 % 5 0 in Youghal on Wed nes d a y, f or‘t h e purpose o f a° TO means to provide against the impending scarcity' ni de meeting were unanimously o f op i n i on t h at th e best ia l fof of meeting the distress was by p rocur i ng emploYoe theEXTRAORDINA labouring popul RY ati v CASE OF BREACH OF ^ on. s , a r ( 11 OF MARRIAGE.—A case of great importance, ' l3 Ar J , volving some most extraordinary circumstance! , 10 51 tried on Saturday at the Middlesex sittings, 8 ; fo rf; Prins, before Mr. Justice Wi g ht man an d a specia' in which the plaintiff, Mary Elizabeth Smith, s ue Th e Earl of Ferrara for a breach of promise of m arriage• re itt young lady, who is step-d aug ht er o f a M r . Smith, ing in Warwickshire, was just past her 21st year , a s " st Earl, who is a nobleman of ancient family, wi th :. o/c le ,f; tales in that and some other counties, was two Yes'-i ic ed', s The acquaintance of the parties, however, cornm e _ 1839, and was continued up to the period of tbe roo o marriage in 1844, during which unequivocal P, ia were alleged, and the letters containing them P,.ea evidence. The defence was, that no promiser jar . made, and that if there was, it had been mad e isir!,, minority. The witnesses examined for the P o ttle proved the acquaintance and meetings, &c., of 0%, wi r and the handwriting of the letters produced ; D oe 6 1 not of the most unimpeachable character. For,. t s'll, fence it is understood that it will be urged _t_L a s t!lo, Ferrars never was acquainted with the young la"' W v A ti o and that the letters p r od uce d are forgeries. The after having lasted to five o'clock, was adjourn* eci , yesterday morning. AUTOGRAPHS.—We have bad the pleasure of e of 0 ing Mr. Levi's testimo n i a l s , w hi c h f orm a volol vi riP,7 l . teresting and valuable au t ogra ph s , b e i ng the han u tr ies, of persons of distinction in this and other enu n p orl 6 0 0 , eluding many of the Royal Families of Beg: WO France. These crede n ti a l s mus t b e i nva luable tv s oll , ' Levi, as they bear testi mon y t o th e consu mmate artiste possesses. .sa LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, FE,2 1 0 . s i d, -6 01$?, The arrival of the steamer on Saturday evenin:, pcn IT opening of the market a matter of curiosity. 1. " - a; : Is 4 *ere received by various parties in different v 10 0 4.41,1 general opinion seemed to be, that the crop would . rice ci , average. Holders shewed their stocks freely, and .% about the same as last week. The sales reached 4tv" to the trade. LIVERPOOL : TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1946. 4if PRINTED AND PUBLISHED .4 1 • TUESDAY MOlt.' By 0 4 IJOSHUA FLETCHER LACE, of 53. Grove-street, LEONARD ADDISON, of It, Great Orford.str e', At No. 4, ST. GlOllBl l 4 CAMINT. LIVIRTO°I" EVERY Feb. 17, 1846.