The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-26 00:00:00

iris im the alarmir THE ANNUAL Sußsclurnox TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. PIING EDITION lir An Evening Edition of t TIMES is now Published every Afternoon, at T containing the lfa Day, up to t r of go 26, 1856 THERN DAILY News of th kottrn ne which has taken in silence aylaying and ets at night, are now we presume, to mid-day outra and rob the bullion• Thursd morn ir acts ever record( most daring to attribute the growing im nora- ity of the age me appears all law. It laughs at the example g toils of penal servi_ oathsome hole of the hu .oken silence of penitentiaries SATURDAY, JANUARY longer to pass c ase in cr st few mont ice linti murd to give SS del gallows and refounatori( aye witnessed the mtbu lths a to our forth as me evi in the t r to ar s—and dashes onward on its gardless of all punishment. Happily, such ast few ix months of 1855 than it was for nearly ha ither a politi particular locality moving We can We wi widest to be tried at almost every cv were imaged ; many silty and were otherwise punished and though only f cause to account for ( It must have its ead outrage we 3 the existen n which th suppose there is e it to atmospheric or other in in some s that man has to travel from the is something wrong )urselves to be persuaded the itness is the incipient e of a social eatens a general eruption- It I, be denied that gre cannot, on the other han industrial dist ss pervades the humbler classes of society, and that nen, driven by desperation s which the worst ruffian would scarcely under while there was yet a chance of escaping th chain gang or th gibbet There are rimes connected with property and wanton extravagan se recently disclosed at Ligeley hich are common-place, if not heredi. tary, in the higher walks of li se latter the law may for the wide-spread burglary, high ,nd murder, which now disgrace supply remedy ; but r way rob country, we know of no more certain panacea, than endeavouring at once to increase the industrial employment of the people. There is no use in attempting to disguise the fact that 30 pulation of our large towns are I that an immense mass of misery amount of idleness. The 11 a vas. asses are 50 per cent 1 185 -4, and crime This ma) reeable way of accounting' murders are true the majorit ted by persons who are not in a but, on the contrary, have some, and in many cases ample, means of sustain firmed thieves outrages are committed by con- But take the gre mass of crime and trace it backwards to its source, and it will be found to date from deep-rooted destitution and misery This poverty and suffering may be the result of drunkenness, ignorance; and a regard of hose reverses to which labour is exposed as well as c 7 other means of existence there lies t t of crime in the mult loyment slackens and hecom munerative, the hotbeds of outrage must neces lrily be enlarged, and the danger to life and property proportionably augmented. If a sudden and general outburst of crime cannot be accounted for in this way, what are we to ascribe it , to ? If, in tracing the cause, we can only partly approximate to the truth, the Legislature should •- . - Y , Tnediate attention to whatever may be The police must redouble _, and the magistrates must exert ~,Eves to see that they do so. The public must be protected, and the law enforced against deemed its origin, thems offenders. But Parliament must turn to the origin of crime, whatever it may be, and endeavour to remove such a scourge from the heart of society. Every church must be up and doing. The foun tains of charity and ligh must pour forth all the help they can impart, and the few monsters of creation must be made men, at any sacrifice on the part of the moral an - 1 religious portions of the com munity. Some of our leading cotemporaries invoke the aid of a hanging judge, and an indefatigable Jack Ketch, in this Christian work. But had the great y and ci isation been left in such hands, necessary though they may be at the last hour of a career of crime, the world would scarcely present the bright and encouraging hopes it does, even though our gaols may be full, and our highways tainted with abomination and danger to life. Crime is, after all, the portion of the few ; virtue, honesty, and uprightness, the inheritance of the• millions. They receive these cardinal virtues as an heir-loom, and, while they remain the pass-words and counter-signs of Christendom, crime can never prevail, and each man has only to do his duty to society to erase the plague -spot from its fair fac THE establishment of a Railway Reform Asso• elation is a bitter reproach to the morality—tit( honesty—of the times in which we live world that corruptipn, jobbery commer It pro( exist, more or less, in the bosom of every railway director in the kingdom Whether tigation will justify such a and spoliat time and future nyt wholesale imputa while, there mains to be seen Mean, stands the charge recorded at a public meeting in th shareholders of ever supposed to be represente Metropolis, at which the railway in England were A.nd. the standing committee they have appointed, can only be looked t won as a Peculation and Fraud. Det Lion Society object is to expose mal-practiso and bring reproa santly mulcted of their principal, and bamboozled out of their dividends. Parliament, though they were composed of nothing but railway directors, must investigate the whole question of railway management, and make themselves acquainted with the expenditure and receipts of those important undertakings. Shareholders are not extortionate. They do not to place the country at any disadvantage by iemanding for their exclusive benefit—as capitalists who have provided the immense sums invested in All they railways—an em ssive rate of interest ask is 4 per cent. ; and the,'railway that cannot pay this dividend ought to be broken up, and the land it occupies returned to the plough. The sum ex- pended on railways is estimated at 28 which would require 11,440,000/. to pay a dividend In 1834 the total railway receipts ),.215,0001., which would leave a A 4 per cent .mounted to action over 'vested, t per cent. on the entire capital working and all of the Legi And the question fo le is a to dec whether railways, taltii one line with another, can be worked for, say 30 per cent. We believe they can ; yet, should it be found on investigation they cannot, railway share holders must be contented with three and a half or three per cent. But, whatever they may be entitled to, Parliament is bound to see that they receive it fairly and honestly, and that they are not fleeced out of their rights by the dronishness of directors—who leave everything to the integrity of harpers by whom they ar surrounded— and a syste. nts which appears to be designed to keep the heads of departments lowing what the other is doing, and to prevent Directors and Shareholders from getting an insight into their affairs. To raise the scale of charges, with a view of obtaining a dividend, would be a gross injustice to the whole community; and we question if it - would secure the desired end. It ought not, however, to be attempted until the public are satisfied that really fair and honest administration of railway affairs had failed to secure a dividend of four per cent. There are many in favour of funding the entire railway capital of the country, and guaran teeing to shareholders a dividend of :31 per cent, But this would require the transfer of the manage ment of all railways to the Government—a subject which we consider too vast to think of entertaining until every other expedient has failed. It is quite certain that the railway pro perty of the country cannot be left as it is. Such a prodigious amount of the nation's substance cannot be given up as so much prey to jackalls and wolves. We have not much confidence now ever, in committees composed of men who, some day, hope to fill the vacant places of chairmen, vice chairmen, and directors, to whom they are opposed. The subject is one for the most search ing Parliamentary enquiry, in which the share holders of every badly managed line in the , dom should be represented by counsel and ineers, not mixed up with the present system A legislative tribunal only can bring to light all that remains to be told. If railways bel.mged to some half dozen private individuals, who were managing them for their of management, own benefit, is it reasonable to suppose that they would be satisfied with a dividend of even 4 per cent? The Bank of England, the East India Board, our underwriters and large insurance offices, —which have as large a capital afloat, and whose risks are as great as the majority of our railways—pocket something more than 4 per cent on their business ! But, if they do, they ar( indebted to the frugal and honest management of I by rule ; and that railway shareholder anxious to follow their example is certain. Only a few days since, an application was made to a leading man in trade in this town—who has so arranged his business that he carries on one of the largest establishments in Liverpool, and another still more extensive in London, in such a way that they give him little or no trouble—to accept the vacant chairmanship of the Eastern Counties Railway. And this gentleman does not hesitate to state emphatically that within a very few years he would resuscitate that gigantic Company, and place it in a thoroughly sound and prosperous condition But, as he very justly observes, who would undertake that very responsi ble situation, and lay himself open to be assailed by dissatisfied and captious shareholders at every half yearly meeting, for 2,000/. a year ? Railway constituencies should get honest and practical They men of business to conduct their affairs should pay them properly, and having pla ce d th em in a position to guard their interests, they should treat them with all due respect. The chairman of a railway board should devote his life to the interests of his company; and if he were a clear headed man of business, he would be able at any moment to satisfy the shareholders as to the condition of every portion of their property. It only requires system and honest super vision to accomplish this : and with receipts steadily increasing, year after year, the railway property of the country would inevitably become a source of increasing remuneration to those whose capital it has absorbed and whose money is now squandered by boards of directors— the majority of whom never handled a ledger, and could scarcely tell you the debtor from the credit side of any one book used in the offices of the companies whose daily transactions they direct. Lents to justice. This, we repeat, is a bitter h to the morality of the age, and betrays the preseDu „ be too speedily corrected stand by and hear th of a laxity of rectitude, which cannot The Legislature cannot s e who have invested hundreds of millions in promoting our internal eommunica - - • - - - and increasing, incalculably, tions, rapid tra IntargeS we enjoy in the con- those inestimable a entration of numbers, complaining of being inces NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1856. THE COURT WINDSOR, JAN. 24.—The Queen and Prince drove out in an open carriage yesterday, accompanied by Lady Blanche Egerton and Lady Grey, and attended by Lady Churchill and the Hon. Mary Seymour. Lord Charles Fitzroy and Col. F. H. Seymour were in attend ance on horseback. The following visitors arrived in the af:ernoon : —The Princess Victoria Gauromma of C 001..., and Mrs. Drummond, General Count Alphonso la 'M armora, commanding Sardinian Contingent in the Crimea, attended by his Aide-de-Camp Count Avet, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury and Lady Victoria Ashley, Viscount Torrington, Lord Churchill, and Admiral Sir Edmund LVOII3. In addition to the above, the dinner party included the Duchess of Kent, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere and Lady Blanche Egerton, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, Sir George and Lady Grey, and Col. Francis Seymour. Prince Albert, accompanied by General la Marmora, went out shooting this morning. The Duke of Cambridge (attended by Colonel Tyrwhit), arrived to-day on a visit to the Queen. Captain the Hon. James Drummond, R.N., and Captain Sherard Osborn, R.N., also arr i ve d t hi s day at the castle. A dramatic' performance took place at the Castle in the evenin g • Shakspeare's play, i n fi ve acts , o f The Merchant of Venice was selected, and the parts were filled according to the following programme :—Luke of Venice, Mr. Graham • Antonio, Mr. Cooper; Bassani°, Mr. A. Wigan; Gratian; Mr. D. Fisher; Salanio, Mr. J. F. C at h cart; Salarino , Mr. G. Everett ; Lorenzo, Mr. Leigh Murray ; Shylock, Mr. Charles Kean ; Tubal, Mr. F. Cooke ; Launcelot Gobbo, Mr. Keeley ; Old Gobbo, Mr. Meadows ; Leonardo, Mr. Brazier; Baltshazar, Mr. Clark; Stephano, Mr. Bush ; Portia, Mrs. Charles Kean ; Nerissa, Mrs. Keeley; Jessica, Miss M, Ternan, About eight o'clock the Queen and Prince Albert entered St. George's Hall, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and other members of the Royal family ; the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Cam bridge, the Princess Victoria Gauromma of Coorg, General Count Alphonso la Marmora, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, the Right Hon. Sir George and Lady Grey, Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, and the ladies and gentlemen in attendance. On the entrance of the Queen and Prince, the performance Commenced. Refreshments were served to her Majesty's visitors in the music chamber. TIIE REPRESENTATION OF EDINBURGH.—The requisition of the electors of Edinburgh to Mr. Adam Black has already been so numerously signed as to ensure the return of that gentleman in the room of the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.—Her Majesty has signi fied her gracious intention of opening the session of Par liament in person. We have reason to believe that the address in the Lords, in reply to Her Majesty's speech from the throne, will be moved by the Earl of Gosford, and seconded by the Earl of Abingdon. CORN TRADE IVITH RUSSIA. - The Dublin Mercantile Advertiser states, that a first-rate corn firm in that city is now receiving orders for the house of Brandt & Co., of St. Petersburg, for wheat to be delivered, f.0.b., on the Neva, at from 18s to 21s per quarter, which, allowing for freight and insurance, would make the cost in an Irish port equal to about 19s per barrel. HE RUGELEY POISONING CASES.—The Standard, of last night, publishes the following observations : " Another verdict of a coroner's jury, finding William Palmer guilty of the murder of Walter Palmer, was delivered on Wednesday. It is generally understood that the legal adviser's of the accused intend to remove the several inquests upon which he is accused, as well as any indictment that may be found at the assizes, into the Court of Queen's Bench by certiorari. That supreme tribunal in criminal cases may try him at their own bar, in full court ; or may, by changing the venue, send him for trial to any English cowry, to be tried by a jury of that county. This is a wise and humane provision of our law, for it is scarcely possible to suppose that the unhappy man, either as innocent or guilty, could have such a trial as every accused man ought to have in the locality still agitated by the atrocious crimes with which he is charged.' The Times suggests that the trial ought to take before the Lord Chief Justice Campbell or Chief Justice Jervis. Why are the Lord Chief Baron and the whole bench of puisne judges thus put aside by the " authorities " of Printing-house Square ? We are of those who long since have been of opinion that the head of the court is not perhaps the best lawyer, and who also think that a puisne judge, who owes his position and elevation to merit and acquirement, is a better administrator of justice than the individual, however distinguished, who owes his pro motion to:political influence, or partisan zeal. Time has proved that our most perfect Judges are those who never wore a silk gown or held a seat in Parliament. FAILURE AT MANCHESTFR.—The Manchester firm to to which we [yesterday alluded to as having suspended their payments is that of Messrs. Kelly and Gilmour, spinners and manufacturers. Their liabilities are reported to be about L 120,000. A beautiful little iron screw-steamer, rigged as a three masted schooner, and a very fine model, is completing her fittings in the Birkenhead float. She has been built by Mr. Laird for the Admiralty, as a despatch boat for the Bermuda station. ACCIDENT IN THE SLoYNE.--The screw steamer Delta, in getting under way yesterday morning 'in the Sloyne, g)t athwart the hawse of the Persia. The Delta lost her funnel, &c., and the figurehead of the Persia was damaged by the loss of one of the arms. SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A CAPTAlN.—Yesterday morning about half-past 6, Capt. Henry Charles Webb, of the barque St, Lawrence, lying in the Huskisson-dock, was found dead in his berth, under strong suspicious circumstances. there wilt be an inquiry into the case this day. AMERICAN MAILS.—The new and splendid royal mail steamer Persia sails this day for New York with the mails, &c. Letters will be received at the General Post-office up to nine, and with fees up to ten o'clock ; at the landing sta,cfe box until eleven o'clock, with additional fees. DE;TH OF BISHOP BROWN.—Yesterday morning, Dr. Brown, Roman Catholic bishop of Liverpool, died suddenly, at his residence, Sandfield Park. Ile had not been in perfect health for some years past. He will be succeeded by Dr. Goss, who has been his coadjutor for about two years and a half. SECOND WRANGLER AT CAMBRIDGE.—A telegraphic message was received about eleven o'clock yesterday morning, announcing that the second place in the highest in the mathematical honours at Cambridge had been awarded to Mr. Rigby, who was educated in the upper school of the Collegiate Institution, after being promoted from the middle school, and was elected as Canning scholar to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1852. THE LATE MURDEROUS ATTACK - IN SOUTH CASTLE STREET.—As stated in our paper of yesterday, the young man Hughes, who was so brutally attacked by the brothers Eyre, is, we are glad to say, progressing favourably, and it is expected he will soon be able to resume his duties. It is hoped he will be able to appear at the police court on Thursday next, to which day the prisoners stand remanded. The assailants of Mr. Hughes were formerly in positions of respectability—the eldest having been engaged at Messrs. Saul and Martindale's, and the youngest in the National and Provincial Insurance Company. Our informant adds that they are well-educated, and possess much intelligence. The police never had (they say) any charge against them before the present. THE ALLEGED POISONING AT MANCHESTER —On Thursday morning, Mr. Bradlaugh, of London, who ap peared for the prosecution in the poisoning case, heard at the city police court on Wednesday, applied at the , office of the city coroner for a warrant to have the body of the deceased John Monahan—supposed to have been poisoned by acetate of lead—exhumed. A formal information hav ing been sworn to, the application was granted. At the city police court, Mr. Fernley appeared to make an ap plication that James Monahan, suspected to be implicated in .the murder of his father, John Monahan, by poison. should be admitted to bail. The bench retired to their room to consult, and after having been absent for a few minutes, Mr.!Rickards said they had given the case their best consideration, and they had come to the unanimous opinion that this was a case of such great importance, and surrounded with so much suspicion, that they could not admit the parties to bail. FURIOUS Daly's/G.—Yesterday at the Police-court several parties, cabmen and others, were fined by Mr. Mansfield in penalties from ss. to 20s. for furious driving in the streets. Almost every member of the community can speak, from his own experience of " hair-breadth 'scapes " from being driven over, of the height which this nuisance has attained in Liverpool ; but it will not be suppressed until some of the gentlemen drivers, mho are fond of shewing the pace of their nags, are also summoned before magistrate and severely fined. It was only yesterday morning that a gentleman crossing Lord-street from South John -street had the narrowest escape of being impaled on the shafts of a gig, or driven over. He only tdi ace erinv ati driving gr ewj jumped t l i ee the pony thescirdi side. p .e o u n Tt y hh , ae a t and such te ; ee saved himself by p l ac i ng his hands against the chest of g a h w u cwsohbet wasshter u p c o ig bu n t w its was scarcely re-seated when off he started at the same furious speed to the imminent danger of a number of persons who were at the moment crossing at Whitechapel. NEW RAILWAY OFFICES AT BIRKENHEAD. --The Birken head, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Com pany are erecting a magnificent pile of new offices on the mar g in of the Birkenhead fl o at, n ear the Emigrants' -home. The buildings are of bright red brick, faced with white and red free-stone, something in the style of Walmer and Aspley-buildings, in this town, :;but with more architec tu*al ornamentation about them. Attached to the offices is a spacious new goods station, fitted with all the modern mechanical appliances for lifting heavy weights. Under this shed a small dock has been constructed, which will communicate with the Great-float ; and thus vessels can discharge in all weathers, without risk of damaging the finest goods. The buildings altogether will cover about three or four acres of ground, and this additional accom modation has been provided by the railway company, in anticipation of a great increase of business, consequent upon the purchase of the Birkenhead docks by the Liver pool corporation. The goods station is already covered in, the offices:have reached the second story, and the whole range is expected to be completed in about two months. SOIREE AT'lirCK FERRY.—A pleasant Conversazione in aid of St. Paul's Church, took place in the Assembly , rooms of the Royal Rock Ferry Hotel on Thursday even ing, at which about 180 ladies and'gentlemen were present. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Fielden, rector of Bebington, who opened the proceedings with some appropriate remarks. During the course of the evening addresses on interesting chemical subjects, and some of the more striking features of the vegetable kingdom were delivered by Dr. Edwards and Mr. T. C. Archer, illustrated with specimens and experiments. Mr. Edwin Smith presided at the pianoforte, and his efforts, combined with those of Mr. Haswell, vocalist, gave great satisfaction. Mr. John Herd, one of the com mittee, also played some pieces in excellent style. The Younger portion of the assembly were much disappointed that the evening was not wound up with a dance (as had b ren expected), the permission of the reverend chairman having been obtained, but owing to the strong objectionentertainedained by the Rev. A. Willink, their wishes were not gratified .raliTtyh:in providing s n o g f re t f h re e s s h o m ir e e n e ts. will be devoted to p a ying off the debt incurred in building St. Paul's Church, Tranmere. Mr. R un t r i ss di sp l a y e d hi s u s u al g oo d taste MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. --.0,..---- LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY EVENING There has been rather less business done in the Liverpool Cotton Market to-day, the sales amount ing to 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 have been taken for speculation and export. The sales of the week reach 70,220 bales. The Liverpool Share Market opened with a dull appearance, and sympathising with the decline in Consols, prices still further gave way, closing flat and with a drooping tendency. Prices closed as under :—Aberdeen, 11* 12. Chester and Birken head, 13 1 134. Caledonian, 28* 281. Chester and Holyhead, 122 13. Eastern Counties, 81 9. East ' Lancashire, 181. 182 Great Northern, 231 24. Ditto A, 10k 10i. Great Western, 55 55*. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock 791 80. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 151. London and North Western Stock, 98 981. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 251. Ditto Preference, 131 13i. Ditto New 6 per cent Pref., 4 ap. Midland Stock, 681 64 North British, 1 11-16 7 13-16. North Staffordshire, 7 Tad. South Eastern and Dover, 18 3-16 181. York, New castle, and Berwick, 18 181. York and North Mid land, 24f 24f. Leeds,,,Capital Stock, 13* 14. Dutch Rhenish, x all op. Ditto New Shares, 2 21p. Great Western of Canada, 25 1 26. Ditto New Shares, 3* 3,1 p. Great Luxemb ourg, 88 89d. There was no important change in the Liverpool Corn Market to-day. At Wakefield prices were a shade better than last week. The Champion of the Seas has arrived here from Melbourne with the Australian mail of the 27th of October, and has brought 124,000 ounces of gold, valued at about 496,00.0/. sterling. The commer cial advices continue fawourable. Gold was quoted at 31. 15s. 3d. per ounce, and Exchange on London at thirty days sight one per cent. premium. Money continued rather scarce. The price of flour had fluctuated 25 per cent. during the month. The prices of oats were depressed in consequence of large stocks. We have elsewhere given ample details to which we refer our readers, and will here only add the following statement of the EXPORT AND IMPORT OF WOOL From October 10, 1854, to October 10, 1855. Name. Weight. Dalgettv & Co. James Henty & Co. George F. Train & Co 1,240,619 Willis, Merry & Co Flower, M'Laren & Co. H. A. Smith & Co. Balfour, Down & Co. Denistoun. Brothers & Co 607,800 Dickson, Gilchrist & Co. W. •P. White & Co. R. & P. Turnbull Broun & Noyes 362,695 William Hammil & Co. Griffiths, Fanning & Co. Cobb & Co. 239,250 William Nicholson William Barker 190,400 Raleigh, Locke, Thorpe & Co. D. S. Campbell & Co. Porter, B uchanan & Co 161,660 Bright. Brothers & Co. Kirchner, Sharp & Co. Miles, Kinston & Co. Timms, Wilson & Co. Mackay, Baines & Co 119,840 Beg,e, Mitchell &Webb 96,485 Lyall, Mackenzie & Co. Montefiore, Graham & Co. James Dodgshu 77,482 Gun, Dundass & Cc 56.6W Brown, M'Dougall & Co. W. Philpott f 50,700 Graham, Lamb & Co. , 49 250 Lane & Wilks. Thomas Splatt Swain, Webbs & Co. Kaufman & Co. Mathew Harvey E. F. Sichel & Co 23,867 Henry Slaney 23,014 Grice, Sumner & Co. Captain Pearson H. M. Williams De Pass, Brothers & Co. J. B. Were, Kent & Co. Thorne, Kimber & Co 13,200 Rabone, Brothers A. Russel & Co. , 11,730 Fall.nstein & Co. M`Kellar Wood David Moore 10,0(X) E. Westbr & Co. Mason & Smith Thomas Davies 8,348 G. F. Searle & Co 8,300 Westgarth, Ross & Co. George Gray Neuhaus, Woolley &Co ' 4,000 Lange & Co. Cole, Bruce, & Norton 350 Colonel Anderson 3OO Total... 13,625,3351bs 13,623,3351b5., value 770,9461. IMPORTS OF WOOL. Willis, Merry & Co. J. Ilenton J. S. Sibbald Grice, Sumner & Co, 28,000 2,800 841 400 Total... 32,0411bs 32,0411b5., value 2,4101. Mr. F. J. Eaton, in his circular issued to-day, makes the following remarks on the Tallow Trade :-- The improvement noted at the close of the London market last Thursday has not continued, a gradual decline taking place on the two succeeding days, and as low as 57s per cwt was accepted for March delivery on Saturday ; on Monday a good demand caused a strong reaction from 59s to 60s per cwt for spring delivery, but the market closed yesterday at rather lower rates, the quoted prices being 58s 3d to 64 for January to March, 58s 64 March, and 58s 6d to 59s per cwt on the spot, with but little tallow offering. The present stock is 21,973 casks, against 34,806 casks last year, and prices are is 6d per cwt higher. Here the reduc tion in value has caused a slight improvement in the demand, and about 150 casks P.Y.C. have been taken at 64s to 62s per cwt, and 50 casks very inferior Australian at 45s per cwt The East India and China Association have just published a comparative statement of the number of ships, British and foreign, with their aggregate tonnage, entered inwards and cleared outwards, with cargo from and places within the limits of the East India Company's charter, from the Ist of Jan. to the 31st Dec. in the years 1854 and 1855. From this it appears that the total of vessels arrived at London, Liverpool, and other ports during the former year amounted to 1170, with a tonnage of 637,939, and in 1855 the numbers were—vessels 1194, amount of tonnage 707,282 ; which is an increase in the former of 24, and in the latter of 69,730. The number of ships cleared outwards in 1854 was 1491, tonnage 832,596 ; and in the past year 1266, tonnage 883,061, which was a decrease in the number of vessels, but an increase of 50,465 in the amount of tonnage during 1855. The particulars of the Belgian revenue for the past year has come to hand. Compared with the receipts in the previous year there is a favourable increase. The total revenue derived from customs' dues, excise, railwa2, s, &c., during 1855 was 96,767,6041 against 90,483,686 f in 1854, showing an increase of 6,273,918 f. Of this the customs' dues amounted to 11,809,662 f in 1855, and 11,602,896 f in 1854, and the railway receipts to 23,203,767 f in 1855, against 21,775,0001 in 1834. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS. An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria, cap 32, for the Week ending Jan. 20, 1856. ISSUE DEPARTMENT, Debit. Notes issued .. £24,283,870 Credit. Government Debt Other securities 3,459,900 Gold Coin and Bullion £24,283,870 Total .. £24,283,870 BANKING D Debit. Proprietors' ca pital ...... £14,553,000 Rest ........ 3,365,212 Public deposits 3,858,237 Other „ 13,512,24 5 Seven day, and other bills 826,250 :PARTMENT. Credit. Government se curities £13,728,246 Other securities 16,857,056 Notes 4,913,200 Gold and silver coin £36,114,944 I Total .... £36,114,944 The foregoing Bank Re turns show th e f o ll ow i ng results when compared with those of the preceding week :---Notes issued, increase 9,565/; bullion in both departments, increase 28,3611; rest, increa se 34,5391; public deposits, increase 219,6281; other deposits, decrease 455,2631; seven days and other bills, decrease 17,624/. On the credit side, govern ment securities have increased 314,7871. other securities decreased 558,4981. Notes unemployed, increase 26,1951. Actual circulation, 19,370,6701; I decrease 16,6301. _ _ The quotations of the Foreign Exchanges stood as follows at the close :—Amsterdam short, 11 17 to 11 174. Do. Three Months, 11 191 to 12. Rotterdam, Do., 11 19! to 12. Antwerp, Do., 25 524 to 25 60. Brussels, Do., 25 524 to 25 60. Hamburg, Do., 13 10 to 13 104. Paris, Short, 25 274 to 25 35. Do., Three Months, 25 70 to 25 75. Mar seilles, Do., 25 70 to 25 75. Frankfort. Do., 120 to 1204. Vienna, Do., 10 48 to 11 4. Trieste Do., 11 to 11 6. Petersburg, Do., 354 to 364. Madrid, Do., 494 to 491 The Railway Share Market closed the transactions of the day, at the subjoined quotations :—Caledonian, 564 564. Eastern Counties, 81 9. East Lan cashire, 734 74. Great Northern, 95 96. Ditto A, 80 82. Great Western, 554 . 554. Lanca shire and Yorkshire, 791-79 80: London and North Western, 974 984. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 244 254. Midland Stock, 684. North British, 304 314. South Eastern and Dover, 604 01. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 72 73. York and North Midland, 48 49. LATE S INTELLIGENCE. SECOND EDITION. _.+_. RUSSIA, A Hamburg despatch dated yesterday an nounces that a new loan to the amount of 000,000 silver roubles will be immediately collected by the Russian Government in Finland in aid of the expenses of the wax This mode of increasing the Russian treasury participates of the character of a compulsory con tribution or forced •loan. ' --..0*--- THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. The monetary transactions on the Bourse to-day were closed at the following quotations :—Four and a Half per Cents, 95f. ; Three per Cents., 68f. 65c. The following appeared in our Extra Editions of yesterday : NEWS FROM THE EAST. MARSEILLES. THURSDAY The Thabor brings news from Constantinople of the 14th. There has been a serious collision at Giurgevo between the Turkish and Austrian troops. Conferences have been held in order to adjust the first and fourth points relating to the Prin cipalities. The persons who took part in these conferences were Ali Pacha, Grand Vizier, Faah Pacha, Minister for Foreign Affai r s, Prince Calimaki, M. Thouvenel, Lord Stratford de Radcliffe, and Baron De Prokesch. THE DISPUTE WITH PERSIA The following is the text to the Court of Persia, by Mr. Murray :—First : The government shall restore to liberty the Princess, wife of Mirza. Second : That it shall acknowledge Mirza as consul for the Queen of England. Third : That the Prime Minister of the Schah shall proceed to the residence of the English embassy to offer an apology and withdraw his offensive note. Mr. Murray, in spite of some resistance, has left an agent at Teheran. and has threatened to support him by an English fleet in the Persian Gulf. THE CRIMEA. By the Thabor, the Crimean news is to the date of January o.—The firing continues on both sides of Sebastopol. The Allies have hlown up two of the docks. The Russians are taking up their winter quarters at Simpheropol and Baktschi-Serai. The news from Kin burn is to the effect that the Russians had 30,000 men en echelon, between Pellroski and Oktchakoff, and that, in consequence, fears were entertained of an attack on the fortress of Kinburn. The garrison had been rein forced by troops under the command of General Labeuf. The flotilla was frozen, but would aid in the defence if the Russians should attempt the place. General Vivian, fearing to be attacked at Kertch, has called for officers of infantry and artillery to be des patched to him from Constantinople. THE PEACE NEGOCIATIONS The Paris journals of Thursday, in the expectation of shortly receiving decided intelligence respecting the progress of the negotiations, preserve a complete silence on the question of the day. The Frankfort Gazet/e, in reference to the armistice, says, that the suspension of hostilities will first be established by a military convention concluded between the Allied and Russian commanders, and that afterwards the armistice will be confirmed by the respective govern ments of the belligerents. A letter from St. Petersburg in the Constitutionnel states, that the news of the Czar having accepted the peace proposals, was received with great incredulity by the lower classes, and by the higher ranks with profound astonishment and some discontent. A despatch, via Trieste, announces that, on the 14th, the ambassadors commenced with the Porte the discus sion of the questions relative to the reconstitution of the Principalities, and the reforms connected with the con dition of the Rayahs. The Vienna correspondent of the Times states that in that capital the most strenuous efforts are making to induce England not to insist on the disarming of the Russian fortresses on the Eastern shores of the Black Sea. Great complaints are made of the inconceivable obstinacy of Sir Hamilton Seymour in this matter. It is feared that the British government will not consent to sign the preliminaries of peace until a perfectly clear interpretation has been given to the fifth proposition. A private letter from St. Petersburg, quoted by the Paris correspondent of the Times, states that the public mind was greatly agitated, and that there would be nothing surprising in the fact of an outbreak. THE RUMOURED ARMISTICE BRUSSELS, THURSDAY NIGHT.—The rumour from Paris is, that an armistice is concluded for ninety days. It has, however, been distinctly stated. that the signing of the preliminaries would precede the declaration of an armistice. __.........._ SPAIN MADRID, JAN. 23.—The Cortes had voted the law for establishing limited liability companies, and for mili tary substitutes. The Pope's answer to the Spanish memorandum has been received. ♦ THE PENINSULAR MAIL. The Pera left Lisbon with the India and China mails on the 19th, having been detained there in quarantine,, and to make repairs, ten days. This month has been of a very stormy description along the Peninsular coast, involving much loss of life and property There were fourteen vessels on shore when the packet left Gibraltar, and some twenty more wrecks were repotted at the telegraphic station at Cadiz, having:chiefly occurred on the 9th instant along the south-west coast. On entering the latter port, the wrecks of two vessels appear above water nearly in mid channel. An unprecedented quantity of rain had fallen. This rainy weather was prevailing, and variable winds, chiefly from the south-west. The Tagus left Vigo with a strong westernly gale and threatening weather, which continued to the channel. The musical world, or at least such portion of it as is resident amongst us, have the promise of a rich musical entertainment at St. George's-hall, on Tuesday evening next. The programme before us guarantees the fulfilment of that promise. The concert to which we would draw attention (and we shall be thanked by the public for doing so, inasmuch as, if they adopt ou r suggestion to be present, they will ensure to them selves a rich musical treat), presents a programme which will ensure the fulfilment of the promise. Madame Costantini, a lady already known as an accomplished vocalist in Liverpool, and who has gained a well deserved renown in Milan, Venice, and other continental theatres, appears as " Prima Donna," and we have reason to believe that this i'istinction will prove to be no usurpation of the title. With the assistance of Mr. Hamilton Braham, Signor Veroni, and Mr. George Perron, as vocal adjuncts, the concert cannot tail to be attractive. We must add that Mr. W. T. Best, the maestro of his instrument, will preside at the organ, and the concert will be conducted by Ilr. C. J. Toms. The arrangements are perfect, and cannot fail to be satis factory. THE WAR, FRANCE Some mischance, as yet unaccountable, has deprived us of the usual letter from, our Parisian correspondent. In its absence we abstain from adopting the news promulgated in that peculiar political hemisphere. This, however, we may say from the intelligence which has reached us from other sources from.that quarter, that nothing is to be added to the news already published in our columns with reference to the pending negoeiationg on the Austrian proposals. RUSSIA The state of affairs in the capital of the Czarina be well judged of by the subjoined extract from letter dated St. Petersburg, the 17th inst writer mentions that among the diplomatic body and at the Court the conclusion of peace was regarded as inevitable such is the term used. Nevertheless, the unconditional acceptance of the Austrian propositions had produced considerable . sensation in the capital. He adds, that with the exception of the functionaries, who are, of course, ready there, as in other capitals, to approve every thing, and to eulogise every act of the Government, this sudden and most unexpected return to pacific , ideas was generally badly received, not only by the old Muscovite party, but also by the mass of the people. The popular fanaticism had been roused to such a pitCh after the fall of Sebastopol, that at the present moment it is a work of difficulty to make them accept a political arrangement as necessary and desirable for the Empire. The public mind was greatly agitated, and there would be nothing surprising in the fact of an outbreak. The Grand Duke Constantine is greatly irritated against his brother. The Vice-Royalty of Poland, reserved for the Grand Duke Nicholas, and which, according to usage, should f a ll t o hi s l ot, Is no small cause of his irritation. Placed at the head 9f the eccentric fraction of the Russian party of those who are named the Intractable, the Grand Admiral thought he should make himself popular, but has not succeeded, while his brother Nicholas enjoys an indisputablel popularity. This young Prince, loved hitherto for himself, has seen the affection of the people increase in consequence of his marriage with the Princess Alexandra-Petrowna, daughter of Prince Peter of Oldenburg. We have received the Russian journals of the 16th and 17th inst. The Journal de St. Petersburg contains a list of military and other promotions. General Osten Sacken is appointed a member of the Council of the Empire, retaining his rank of. Aide de-Camp General. AUSTRIA From Vienna (Jan. 21), we learn that on that day there was no news worthy of mention, except ting that the most strenuous efforts are now being made to induce England not to insist on Russia's disarming the eastern coast of the Black Sea. In diplomatic circles complaints are made of " the inconceivable obstinacy" of Sir Hamilton Seymour in this matter, and it may therefore be concluded shat he does not consider it advisable that Great Britain should obey the behests of a Power which will largely partake of the profits, al though it has not shared in any of the dangers of the war. It is clearly understood that the consuls of the Allied powers are to be allowed to reside at the different Russian ports in the Black Sea, and it ig probable that Austria also agrees with the Western Powers in thinking that Russia must pledge her self never again to fortify the Aland Islands. The Austrians are extremely desirous to have the pre liminaries of peace signed off-hand, but it is fore-' seen that the British government will not consent to do so until a perfectly clear and satisfactory interpretation has been given to the fifth propo" sition. PRUSSIA, From Berlin, under date of the 24th instant, we learn that it has been determined, at a council at which the King presided, that Prussia will make no very open demonstration of her wish to be ad mitted to the Conferences. It is expected here that the Conferences will soon resolve into 11 ,,• general Congress, to which, o f course Prig.‘,l6 would be summoned. Diplomatic relationS between the representative of Russia and those of the Western Powers have beer' partially resumed, On their last meeting in public, the Baron de Budberg and Lord Bloom-. field were in conversation for a considerable time- The news of the Russian acceptance has been received very coldly in Sweden. The national feeling there is greatly disappointed at the pros' pects of peace. A letter dated the 23rd instant, states, that a number of statements are afloat, in what are canc.(' the well-informed circles, viz., that the Western Powers take the Russian acceptance as a valid acceptance ; that they have, accordingly, sent off instructions to their Generals in the Crimea to abstain from hostilities while a truce is being pro' pared by the diplomates in Vienna, and every other desirable thing that the imagination can build up 'he above-mentioned basis. The official announcement of the telegraphic information from St. Petersburg, that Russia had accepted the Austrian proposals, left Vienna last Friday. the 18th instant. On this the Western Powers cannot take any formal step, whatever, butt must wait for the official communication of the Russian official despatch containing the accept ance of the Austrian four or five points. This document cannot have reached Vienna before last night, or this morning. Not until this written despatch has been received and communicated. can anything like a judgment be formed in whet way Russia has accepted the proposals, and on that will depend, in some degree, whether the Western Powers will adopt the proposals as their own, with or without the annexation of the con ditions which the Western Powers feel bound to stipulate in the interest of Europe, but which Austria felt impelled, in the interest of Austria, to withhold. As soon as Austria is in possession of Russia's official acceptance, in black and white, and has communicated it to the Western Powers, we mai confidently expect that she will lay the matter before the Bund, and bring in a motion op , the subject, either with or without Prussia's adhesion. The object of this motion will be to get Germany to adopt the Four Points in her owo, present version as a m i n i mum. The application 4:0. it when gained (if gained) will be to keep Russa' from receding from the advances she has made ; to restrain the Western Powers from making any fur' ther demands not yet expressed; or if they do, t°, prepare for herself an infl uen ti a l b o d y to I falle back upon when re s i s ti ng th e remonstrances c' the Western Powers calling upon her to go further. The fate of this motion may be easily foreseen; fit far as the present Austrian version of the two firs' points already adopted by the German Confoderw tion improves them by more clearly defining there , it will be adopted ; the other two points, 11 ° 5 being recognised as German interests, will pro,' bably not be accepted at all; and most certainly will no obligations connected with the achieve" ment of any of th em b e entered into by Prussia and the rest of Germany. PIEDMONT. Advices dated Turin, January 20, inform us tli 9 the unexpected intelligence promulgated by mean of telegraph within the last two or three days nntS fairly be said to have elect r ifi e d the world, ati caused speculations, both moral and material, 011 , the vital questions of p eace or war, which ver-", naturally supercedes every other topic here, as ti " doubt it has in most other parts of EuroPe; On the Bourse the us ua l e ff ects of such news immediately perceptible. To many in Italy, (/ . 6 course, the id ea o f peace at the present moment 10 apparently so ; the shipwreck of l ong cherished hopes, at let' s .. though, perhap s , as i n most ° the; cases, the result may prove the shortsightednes of their own views. The Official Gazette of Verona and Milan, in dig ; cussing the substance of the despatches fr° Vienna and Paris of the last two days, are hy means inclined to place much faith in pe' l° 4l , l resulting immediately f rom t h e present Russi'd acceptation of the A us t ro -W estern proposals, as °lly remind their re a d ers o f the unsatisfactory conoto sion of similar negociations last year, and attril?g e o the conciliatory t one o f the St. Petersburg to the menacing attitude of that of Vienna now. 6. The views of th e V erona and Milan Gazettes u'. generally shared by people of all political opili l° t io as regards the uncerta i nty of peace, but as , 1 ,0 credit due to th e Vi enna Cabinet for its part in transactions, a very wide difference exists.