The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-01 00:00:00

Comintrtfai alts. THIS DAY THIS DAY, the Ist March 6 Bales of Sea Damaged COTTON, ex William Gibson, from Bombay ; lying in No. 7, Ware house, Albert Dock.—Apply to ARMOUR & CO., Brokers. NEXT WEEK MONDAY On account of whom it may concern. On MONDAY next, the 3rd March, at One o'clock, at 1, Exchange-buildings, About 165 Bales COTTON, all faults, just landed ex Ocean Rover, from Charleston ; 109 lying west side Waterloo Dock, and 66 in Swainson's Warehouse, Back Gores.—Apply to GEORGE COOKE & CO., Brokers, Exchange-buildings, or to ASTEONY SWAINSON, Broker, Virginia-buildings. On MONDAY next, the 3rd instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 7, Exchange-chambers, 60 Casks Fine Butchers' Association TALLOW, now landing ex Princeton, from New York.—For further particulars apply to FRANCIS J. EATON, Broker. Mbitavr next, the 3rd instant, at a Quarter to Eleven o'clock, at the nrokerte offices, 11, Temple-court, 20 Botes Messina Bitter ORANGES, ex Euphrates, 300 Cases Do. LEMONS, ex Milan. 120 Boxes Lisbon ONIONS, ex Minho, 60 Casks Leghorn CRESNUTS, ex Maria Spesmea, 200 Bags Bags Barcelona NUTS, ex Estrella, 50 Do. Brazil NUTS, 7 Barrels FORBIDDEN FRUIT, 8 Bundles Faro BASKETS. HOUGHTON & LEVY, Bro' t of whom it E Oa MONDAY nexl a 3rd instant, at Twe ye o'clock, at t, Brokers' office, 13, Exchange-buildings, B R 1366 Bags Bengal RICE, lately landed ex Radnagore, from Calcutta, in the Albert Dock Warehouses.—Apply to T. & H. LITTLEDALE & CO., Brokers. FRIDAY. On account of whom it may concern On FAIDAT nett, the 7th instant, at Twe blie saleroom, Exe lye o'clock, at the lhange-buildings, 400 Packages of MANUPACTURID GOODS, part Damaged, Consisting of Twist, Grey, and White COTTONS, &c., landed from th e Shi p Fort George, hence to Calcutta, put back from sea ; lying at No. 4, Transit Sh e d, wes t s id e Princes Dock.—Apply to PERCIVAL, CAMPBELL & CO., Brokers to the Underwriters' Association. TUESDAY On account of whom it may concern. On TtrasnAv next, the 4th March, at Half-pact One o'clock, at Messrs. Golding and Nash's saleroom, Cern Exchange, Brunswick-street, _ About 1400 Loads Westport OATMEAL, ex Eliza.—For further particulars apply to I & M. HARNETT, Brokers, Oa account of whom it may concern , On TIIEBDLY next, the 4th instant, at Half-past One o'clock, at the Brokers' office, Corn Exchange-buildings, Bruns wick-street, Apply to 72 Barrels Stained Baltimore FLOUR. GOLDING & NASH, Brokers, WEDNESDAY. On WEDNESIJAT nett, the sth instant, 2.50 Bags MUSTARD SEED, all faults, 18 Chests GTINI ARABIC, 1 Do. DO. MYRRH BROWNE, HUNTER & CO., Brokers, APPIy EVENING EDITION Or do Evening Edition of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES it now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, containing the Markets, together with all the IVews of the Day, up to the hour of going to Press. _ WILL POSITIVELY CLOSE ON THE 15TH. FIRST EXHIBITION of th e FRENCH SCHOOL of the FINE ARTS in Liverpool, including MAD'LLE ROSH i BONHEUE'S GREAT PICTURE OF "THE HORSE FAIR," Is NOW OPEN at the Liverpool Academy Rooms, Old Post-ofEce place, Church•street. Admission Is. Catalogues, 6d. Gentle tneu's Season Tickets, ss. Ladies' Ditto, 3s 6d.—Open from Tea till Five o'clock. On and of et MONDAY next, open in the Evening, from Seven to Rine o'clock. Admission, 61. B. FRODSHAM, Seeretary. E4e SAort4ern fine)) SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1856 THE first announcement of a Peace Conference was received with doubt and apprehension throughout Europe ; and the secresy with which its deliberation s are conducted has given a marked intensity to both. The Paris Stock Market is rapidly receding to a panic point, and the London Stock Exchange is looking downwards with a settled melancholy. The French army is said to be unwilling to return from the scenes of its chivalrous exploits until it has carried its successes forward —and Russia cannot crow over its withdrawal from a contest in which. France together with ourse l ves, has suffered so bitterl The importanc e w hi c h the Emperor NAPOLEO4 3 " . attaches to the feelings and opinions of the French army is clearly shown by his having addressed a letter to Marshal PELISSIER to aster tain what his Crimean troops thought of the peace negotiations. And there can be no doubt that the answer received from that Commander will be seriously weighed by NAPOLEON, in direct ing the policy of France in the Conference. If the French army does not desire peace, and will feel dishonoured by being recalled while Russia has yet an unconquered force before it, it ishardly reasonable to suppose that the pending negocia tions will be successful. The Russian representatives are already seeking time to communicate with the CZAR, and to receive which is not to be further instructions wondered st, since the terms of the armistice are anything but what, the crafty Government of the autocrat expected. They wanted the Baltic and Black Sea thrown open to them. They had nothing to gain, as Count Orloff has stated, by suspending hostilities in Russia P ro p er , where there is no hostile force, in Asia Minor, where the Russians aro the victors, or on the north side of Sebastopol, where the have reason to dread an attack, probably for yan hthaevr.nsoix months. The thegbtlhekrefore, failed Russian plenipotentiaries, in extending the armistice to worsted Northern and Southern coasts, have° in limine. They find they can ' ai n wbile circ um p sta n n s O:s7 they may lose everything, by the partial suspensio n of hostilities. Under ordinary ncb(setahedn.e of thei r Russian diplomates would have retired abruptly' from the scene of such discomfortur e; but as it is, we must wait till the drama thickens, and the next phase of intrigue is.brought to light. In the mean time we tremble for Lord CLARENDON in the presence of that diplomatic colossus, Count Baer.. There is no comparison whatever between the political attainments and diplomatic versatility of the two Envoys. The wording of the Five Points, and the Austrian correspondence relating to them, are sufficient to'prove this, and to show Lord CLtRENDON, that if he departs from plain English, his character, as a negotiator, like that of Mr. CLAYTON in the Central American treaty, will be wholly destroyed by future interpretations, and that any bloodshed that may arise out of them will be laid at his door. But how is it, that, in the midst of pro found secrecy, the public are allowed to know NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVBRPOOL, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1856 Can it be that, while that would enable EuroT to form a c correct enough a are likely to have peace ved to leal out to influence the price of stocks and to keep the money market in that unsettled and critical state by which fortunes have been realised in one day ? Yielding to Russia f closed doors was a it and fatal m Eke in laying down the consti, ution of the Conference, and ought not to have been tolerated b those Governments whose every act must be made public. If tl meeting Of yesterday held out a positive prospect of peace being restored, why should such important and joyful intelligence be withheld from the world for one moment ? If there is any squabbling. quibbling, or manifest evasion going on, why should we not know which of the Powers is resort ing to it, that the blame may be thrown on the right shoulders? What faith will Europe place on a report of proceedings which has been manipu lated so as to suit the most delicate susceptibilities before it is suffered to see the light of day ? Should peace not be restored by negotiation, who will take upon themselves the responsibility of failure, in a case where the public are not allowed to judge for themselves, as to who was really right or wrong ? It is much to be regretted that any British states man should have embarked in a secret conclave in which such a mighty question was about to be dis cussed. Had Lord CLARENDON carried all the diplomatic experience and admitted ability of lure in the is sought ild not be one atom less onerous. The people of France and England abominate secresy in political matters ; and should the Conference continue for a whole month with closed doors, we fear the effect pro duced on the great interests of both nations will be deplorable in the extreme. Popular anxiety and uncertainty will assuredly be used for private or individual profit; and as such things cannot be kept from the public ear, the utmost exasperation will be directed against that secresy which a few tricksters make use of to reap their harvest from national despondency and despair. For ourselves, we are as dubious as ever with regard to the ulti mate issue of the Conference. Russia has not relaxed her preparations for the continuance of the war. Prussia has made provision for continuing, and even increasing, her war strength. Austria we all know to be ready, within six weeks, to bring every effective soldier she has into the field. The German States, we are also aware, are ready, as far as their rulers are concerned, to make common cause with the Prussian autocrat, should he decide on taking the part of Russia. The very fact of its being denied that Nicolaieff is a Black Sea port or arsenal, within the meaning of the Austrian tostanttal proof that Gorman ye it to be their int ndanel should maintain a est that the in the East. Nicolaieff is a second Sebastopol and that to Turke ild be, if anything, a greater menace e to suppose that, to the destruction of the forts on the north side of Sebastopol, they will to submi f Odes a to be rased, and the dockyards and defences of Nicolaieff to be demolished ? Such an idea appears to us to be preposterous; and if these conditions are not accepted, and really carried into execution, who can say that we have obtained the terms of an enduring pe AIUNTZ ;ht forward his motion for a ommittee to inquire into the operation of the present monetary system, and to consider how far it could be improved and amended, in the House of Commons on Thursday. The terms employed by the honourable member in his notice of motion were perfectly simple and intelligible. lie merely desired to have the matter investigated coolly and dispassionately by a competent tribunal. In this he was supported by Mr. GLYN, a banker, Mr. SPOONER, a banker, Mr. NEWDEGATE, Mr. PEACOCK, and Mr. MALINs, gentlemen who are, one and all, capable of forming sound opinions on the subject. And yet Mr. MusTz was assailed and misrepresented in all he advanced, while Mr. DRUMMOND, with the true animus of a CZAR, recommended that an inkstand should be put down the throat of the first man who talked about our monetary system ! The public will scarcely Select C to hear anything more from Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND, the member for West Surrey, on this subject affecting trade and the or a y other general well-being of society. The patrons of " unknown tongues" might well be met with a laugh out of doors ; but in the deliberative assemblies of Constitutional countries they ought to confine themselves to Parliamentary language. Mr. DRUMMOND probably knows as much of the currency and monetary system as ho does of trig ."'netrY s He must, however, be aware that tax ation has increased nearly two-fold within the l ast our monetary syst superadded usury to an few y ears, to which em ha s alarming extent, and ci although h inkstands at a prof i t that merchantsmeet' may deal in and trade rs e ta and cannot dispose of th e i r goods to usury, notwithst an di ng they are r taxation to foll ow Mr. DP.UMMOND'S exampl e , and thrust tYhe the throats of thei r cus t omers. But, We m down there is no help for that extraordinary pesrvucPl.P. jo ?se of everything that is English, by which DRUM MONt. s secure their return to Parliament. Our business, however, on the present occasion, lies more with the luminous Sir CORNEWALL LEWIS. This right h3uourab!e gentleman says that a Com mittee of the House of Commons would be unable to conduct a "a speculative and theoretical inquiry" into the working of our monetary system. There is something novel in this doctrine of which we should beware. If Parliamentary Committees are not able to enquire into matters on which the very - --, existence of the Empire depends, where are we to go in search ',of tribunals equal to the work? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was apprehensive that the enquiry would extend to the operation of the Bank Charter Act of 1844. M. MuxTz did not disguise the fact that his motion asked for an enquiry into our entire monetary system, in which that act is the most suspicious and damnatory feature. But o ur great financial oracle, though he had ernm previously ent r d e n e c e l l\ a . rtehde B ti a le nk N c ii h l a li r n t g e n r e A s est o O f f t' lB T i e did not he s it ate to say that this was not the time, to investigat e th e operation of that act. Here, it will be seen, we are to havoen:etmeasure which its country without only experi authors declared at the mental, thrust upon the zacitmhb:ment, he without an enquiry as to the practical operati:TY: o f " lative theories" it embodies. A.t o " specu opposed the inquiry, because there demands on the bullion of the Bank Ze r n great ment ; and, at another, because the a mou s n ri t ip. bullion was on the increase ! Mr. MALINR, h ow of ever, has put the whole question before the. country, in a few words. Alluding to this most arbitrary and objectionable statute, ho said it ~ limited the issue of bank notes to the quantity "of gold plus 14 millions," and stated that " the " quantity of gold had diminished in the last six "months from 18 millions to 10 millions, and " might, in the next three months, be reduced " 3,000,000/. more. There would then be left only " 21,000,000/. of notes, of which the public could " not do with less than 20,000,0001., leaving only " 1,000,000/. unemployed ; and he wished to ask, " under the circumstances, what security would be " provided that in three months there would not be a national bankruptcy." It is a matter of some importance for the public to know what Sir CORNEWALL LEWIS, and those who share with him the responsibilities of government, would do to meet a sudden collapse of the system on which they rely with such unbounded confidence. With 1,000,000/. only of unemployed notes, the Bank of England would be powerless according to the prevailing monetary theory of the day. Its bullion " capital," and reserve of notes " capital" being reduced to such a frightfully low limit, would leave nothing for it but an immediate sus pension of the act of 1844. The Bank would run no risk, and the Government would be compelled to take all hazards on their own shoulders, as they did in the famine year of 1847. The dangers pointed out by Mr. MALINS are inherent in the Bank Acts of 1819 and 1844; and an inquiry, which would have brought these prominently before the public at a moment of great taxation and monetary pressure, is what the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER most dreaded, and which Mr. DRUMMOND would effectually put a stop to by inkstand down the throat" of an iian who dared to mention the subject. however, that Sir C. LEWIS' dread of exposure, 0, Mr. DRUMMOND'S violence, will not deter the public from enquiring fully into the practical working of so important a portion of our fiscal and commer cial system, before:th.ey submit to its re-enactment. The division on Thursday night shows us that the opposition to our restricted money laws is becom ing year by year stronger, and that it is the question on which Ministrieswill yet be broken up to make room for honest Financial, and Monetary Reformers.) It is not possible that such palpable absurdities, oppression, and injustice as those to which the mercantile and trading classes are now exposed, will be suffered ,to go on much longer. The advocates of bank restriction must have some thing more than usury to show as the end of their theory, and the sole aim of their speculative crotchets. The people are beginning to under. stand this 'question, and to loathe its practical effects. They see it is one of the most abomi nable agents of mischief that coul 1 possibly have been conceived, and where a murmur is now heard we shall ere long have the masses speaking out boldly, and with consistency and truth on their side. Sixty-eight votes on such a ques tion will not amming his " We fea: is a matter which . be overlooked by the leaders of Opposition. The strongest Governments have been overthrown by their political rivals, with infinitely less numerical strength, on a given subject of far less importance. We do not, therefore, despair of seeing the currency question fairly dealt with, before the close of the present session. When we have the names of those who divided on Mr. MuNTz's motion, we shall be better able to offer suggestions ou this topic, and point out the actual parlia mentarylstrength monetary reformers can bring to bear upon any future Government. The London Times of yesterday treated its readers to one of those rambling and illogical articles for which it has acquired universal notoriety on this subject. It says that Mr. MuNTz and those who think with him, though repeatedly challenged for the form of the words they would engrave on their bank note, will certainly carry the secret with them to the grave. If they have a proper abhorrence of falsehood, they will certainly do so ; for they would never " promise to pay" the notes of any bank in gold if it did not contain a sovereign for every pound it put into circulation in paper. The prerogative of creating Legal Tender they would restore to the Crown, and the notes issued simply on the security of the State would contain these words :—" Know all men, that this - °'note is legal tender for the sum o f ..e , and is . _ " receivable in payment of all debts, taxes, and " duties throughout Her MAJESTY'S dominions, " pursuant to Act of Parliament, passed in the "year of the reign of Queen VICTORIA, Cap—Signed, " CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER." There would be no delusion whatever about this and the numbers to be Bank note, put into circulation would be regulated, from time - • to time, by the Imperial Legislature. Therefore, there would be no need of resorting to the discre tion of bank directors, who, by a mistaken policy, can at present ruin the merchant, destroy the trader, and famish our productive industry. The London Times does not surely pretend to set up the discretion of the Bank of England against that of the CROWN, the Executive, and Parliament in regulating the quantity of money, as well as the quality, that this vast empire should have, under any, and all, circumstances ? We cannot, however, follow our coternporary into all his meanderings at present, but he must be waxing weak when he resorts to subterfuge, and impotent when he employs scurrility and falsehood, to justify the agonies which the country is now enduring at the hands of usurers and bullionists, without what ho contends is " capital !" THE COURT The Queen, attended by Lady Churchill and Major- General Bouverie, visited the Duchess of Gloucester on Thursday afternoon at Gloucester House. The Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Capt. Du Plat and Mr. Gibbs, v sited tin British Museum on Thursday afternoon, Prince Albert rode on horseback in the forenoon, attended by his Equerry in Waiting. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Gibbs, visited Mr. Kil burn's exhibition of Crimean ph9tographs, in Regent street. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Princess Royal, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence the evening. COUNTY COURT.—Mr, Pollock presided in this court yes terday ; but although the usual number of cases was got through, there was none which possessed any publ:c interest, SUSPECTED ILLEGAL SOCIETIES Is BIRKENHEAD.-011 Tuesday last we inserted a paragraph in our journal, headed " A Warning from the Altar," briefly stating the facts ; we have since been requested to pnblih the following, as the true version of what took place :—After the principal mass on Sunday forenoon last, at St. Werburgh's Chapel, Grange-lane, Birkenhead, the Rev. Canon Brown, in addressing the congregation, said that there existed certain societies in the town that were suspected of being of an illegal character; he alluded more directly to one or two which held their meetings at the north end of the district. He felt it to be his duty, from which he would not shrink, to call for the rules and constitutions of the societies designated, to be produced and inspected, so that the clergy might be enabled to come to a decision on the point, not only for their own guidance in the confessional, hut for the information of their people, and more especially for the protection of the simple and unwary, who might be in nocently drawn into them. He also reminded the congre gation that, by the laws of their church, the penalties of ex communication were incurred by members of illegal and secret societies, namely, the refusal of the sacrame nts of the church, during life, and even the consolation of religion in death, where the parties, after due warning, contumaciously refusecto th l a e n av t e he su e e c h cies se j e a r m et ica s i oe l i a e w ti . es, forbidden no l ess b y the civill MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY EVENING I3usiness in American Securities in London has not been active during the past week, except in tho Construction Bonds of the Illinois Central Rail road, of which large amounts changed hands before the arrival of the mail from New York, at prices varying from 79 to 80. Since the receipt of the advises from New York they have advanced to 84, and close firm. The Freeland Bonds and Shares have not been much enquired for. We note moderate transactions in New York Central 7 per Cent Bonds at previous rates. Mr. F. J. Eaton, in his circular today, gives the following report of the Tallow trade : The London market has been very steady throughout the week, at an advance of is per cwt on the closing prices of Thursday last for early delivery. There is a marked improvement in the demand both for consumption and export, and in the event of this continuing, a further advance in ►alue is very probable ; the exact quotations are 59s per cwt spot and March, 54s March April, 52s 6d May June, and 51s 9d October December. The half-week delivery is 590 casks, against 708 last year, and the present stock 24,316 casks, against 35 511 casks in 1855. Only a limited business doing here ; fine PY C 58a 6d to 595. 10 tons S American sold at 55s per cwt, and some Neaplitan and Lisbon at same price. A meeting of the Royal Swedish Railway shareholders was held this day, at the London Tavern, and was very numerously attended. From a statement which was read by Mr. Smith, of Throgmorton-streets, acting on behalf of the gentlemen who had constituted the committee of inquiry into the affairs of the company, it ap peared that the duplicated shares in circulation were about 79,000, the obligations about 30,000, and the total liabilities, over and above the whole of the capital, authorised to be issued and sub. scribed, 89,9291. A committee of seven gentlemen was appointed to continue the investigation. The late Mr. Sadleir's name appears as creditor of the company to the extent of 17,8241., and the liabili ties incurred by Mr. Sadleir on account of the company amounted to 35,2411. The exportation of refined sugar from France continues at a considerable increase. During the month of January the quantity exported was 33,442 quintals against 22,934 in 1855, and 15,506 in 1854. The totalexports for last year amounted to 336,000 quintals against 249,000 in 1854. Almost the whole export of this article is to Great Britain, and there is every prospect of the tride increasing 50 per cent. this year. In France there have been many new sugar refineries built recently, and the culture of beetroot is greatly extended this season. The usual notice for paying off the Exchequer Bills falling due in March, has been issued this morning, and increased the feeling of confidence in the proximity of peace and prosperity for the future, in consequence of no provision being made for the increase of the rate of interest upon the bills. Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer is justified in speculating upon the certainty of peace and the improvement of monetary affairs generally is yet to be seen; but it must be confessed that he is very sanguine, if not rash, in presuming that every thing will go on favourably with regard to the nego ciations, and that peace must certainly result there from. This, too, at a period when the money market is exceedingly tight, and when it is not improbable that he will be required to pay off a considerable proportion of the Exchequer Bills now falling due, as money can be as safely, and more profitably employed, in other channels. It is, we think, by no means improbable that Sir G. C. Lewis has made a miscalculation in the present instance, and that he will find himself in a similar difficulty as his predecessor. Subjoined are the last quotations of the Foreign Exchanges : Amsterdam short,ll 181 to 11 19*. Do., 3 months, 12 11 to 12 11. Rotterdam, do. 12 11 to 12 it. Antwerp do., 25 60 to 25 70. Brus sels, do., 25 60 to 25 70. Hamburg do, 13 111 to 13 111 Paris, short, 25 40 to 25 50. Do , 3 months, 25 Btl to 25 85. Marseilles, do, 25 80 to 25 85. Frankfort, do., 121-7-, to 1211. Vienna, do., 10 32 to 10 38. Trieste ; do., 10 34 to 10 40. Peters burg, do., 35f, to 364. Madrid, do., 491 to 491 The funds experienced a considerable flatness to-day. Prices attained an improvement of 4 per cent in the morning, but suddenly fell no less than 1 per cent shortly afterwards, owing to some larger speculative sales, coupled with a variety of unfavourable and vague rumours relative to the progress of the peace negotiations. After all the closing quotations were 91k, 91-1. At Paris, the prices, reported by telegraph at city, showing steadiness, a recovery took place in the afternoon and the closing quotations were only k per cent lower than those of yesterday. During the conferences the market may be expected to evince sensitiveness, owing to the outstanding speculations for higher prices both here and in Paris. The Railway Share Market slightly declined this morning, owing to the unsteadi ness of Consols, but subsequently rallied The following were the quotations at the close:— Caledonian, 57 57/. Eastern Counties, 91 9-k. East Lancashire, 703 711. Great Northern, 931 ex d. Ditto A., 75 77 ex d. Great Western, 591, 59i ex d. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 821 824. London and North Western, 991 100. Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire, 241 25 Midland Stock, 09; 691 ex d. North British, 20-3 30. South Eastern and Dover, bbl 65'6 ex d. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 752 76i ex d. York and North Midland, 514 62 ex d. BANK OP ENGLAND RETURNS. An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria, cap 32, for the Week ending Feb. 23, 1856. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Debit. Credit. Notes issued .. £24,390,330 Government Debt Other securities Gold Coin and £11,015,100 3,459,900 9,915,330 24,390,330 Total .... £24,390,330 BANKING D: Debit. Proprietors' ca pital Rest Public deposits Other „ Seven day, and other bills.. IrAnTmENT. Credit. Government se curities ... . £11,946,006 Other securities 19,185, /77 Notes 6,848,810 Gold and silver coin £14,553,000 3,476,046 4,141,551 14,762,364 713,094 Total .... £37,6 40 , 055 I Total ... 37,640,055 The foregoing Bank Returns show the following results when compared with those of the preceding week :—Notes issued, increase 22 ,495/; bullion i n both departments, increase 42,8981; rest, decrease 35,4071; public deposits, decrease 232721; other deposits, increase 1,798,2391; seven days and other bills, decrease 57,1871. On the credit side, govern ment securities have increased 1 5,000/. other securities increase 1,441,5451 Notes unemployed, increase, 205,2451. Actual circulation, 18,541,820/ i decrease, 182,7501. The sales of cotton to-day amount to 8,000 bales, and include 2,000 for speculation and export. The total sales for the week are 65,580 bales, of which 13,320 have been taken for speculation, and 3,250 for export. Prices of American during the week have hardened, and the middling and better qualities must be quoted one sixteenth of a penny per pound higher. The Liverpool Share Market opened at an ad_ vance upon yesterday's closing prices, in conse quence of the improved quotation of consols ; but as the latter suddenly gave way about Z per cent.. shares became also easier. The subsequent reaction of s per cent. in consols had not much effect on shares. They closed, however, with a steady appearance, at the following quotations:—Aber deen, 121 13k. Chester and Birkenhead, 14k 1 , 4. Caledonian, 28a 28 . and Holyhead, 120 13. Eastern Counties, 9 13-16 9 15-16. East Lancashire, 17! 174. Great N,n-thern, 23 231 Ditto A. Shares, 94 10. Great Western, 59 59-t. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 824 82:1. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 15k. London and North Western Stock, 994 100. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 24: 24g. Ditto Preference, 11 114. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., aN p. Midland Stock, 6.4 62k. North British, 74 74. North Staffordshire, 64 641. South Eastern, 204 20 3-16. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 19k 194. York and North Midland, 254 26. Leeds Capital Stock, 154 16. Dutch Rhenish, 9-16 p Ditto New Shares, 2 3.16 2 5-16 p. Great Western of Canada, 251 254. Do New Shares, 34 3g p. Great Luxembourg, 91- 9 d. At the Liverpool Corn ,Market to-day there was but a small business done, and wheat declined 2d per bushel, and flour is per sack o r barrl LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE CONFERENCES A despatch from Paris, dated last night, informs us that there had been no sitting of the plenipo tentiaries, but that they will hold their third meeting this day (Saturday) THE CRIMEA, Advices received at Constantinople from Kertch, mention that the Russian troops had withdrawn from the immediate vicinity of the Allied position. A private letter from the French camp in the Crimea, gives a very bad account of the state of the French army there, both as respects health and comfort. The writer says :—" The sanitary state of this army is deplorable. The hospitals were never so crowded. Our food is bad and insufficient. The skins and overshoes for winter are only now arriving; the English were not taken by surprise in this way." THE RUSSIIN FORTS A correspondence from the Crimea telegraphed from Marseilles declares that immediately after the destruction of Fort Alexander, the ruins of which tend to encumber the Port of Sebastopol, the Allies have actively pursued the mining works necessary to blow up Fort St. Paul, and the QuarantinE Both these fcrts were to be destroyed on the 13th of February. The Russians contrived to fire balls and shells on the marines of the Allied forces while they were embarking, TURKEY Despatches, dated Marseilles, Feb. 29th, state that the monetary crisis at Constantinople has assumed a somewhat diminished severity. The resignation of Omar Paella of his command had been refused to be accepted by the Ot.oman government BIRKENHEAD. LANCASHIRE. & CHESTriII JUNCTION RAILIVAI r th ° The half y ear ly or di nary general meeting o f Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction 8311-000 Company took pl ace at the Monk's-ferry Hotel,cl4 !itrroaa o'clock, yesterd a y. Willi am Atkinson, Esq -liate' of the company, presided. The attendance of holders was not so large as on previous oc casions. ,„ e . The Secretiry, W. Johnson, Esq , read the a dver" went calling the mee ti n?, an d the 'seal of the c031P3 was affixed to the register of shareholders. 'lle followin g i s th e report, which w as ta k e n read : 'YEARLY MELTING, YESTERDAY ,r , 0 5.0 1 1, ,, ' REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS TO THE MEETING OP PR'- By the accounts of the past half-vear, it will be 11 5 . 55 there has bee n expen d e d on capital account in the co the half-ye ar . th e sum of £13,328 16s 3d, of whic h f the 6s 7d has b een l a id out i n reclaiming the f orc slio;'e ° lot e t Monks'-f err y property, add i tional sidingci, ac., at gre ek ;fl ' e of Bebington, and F ro d s h am stations ; - for the er ect "; the hydraulic machinery for supplying water and workiluA Cranes ; and th e sum of £8,193 9s 8d on the new w are . et offioes, basin, Cranes, &c., now in course of construet'°;jel the Bridge-e n d sta ti on ; the want of which has great ly reta the increase of traffic. On rolling stock, the sum of £650 12s 10d has bees expended in providing new wagons, &c. able On the traffi c accoun t , the statement exhibits a -1'63111 compared with th e t wo prev i ous half-years ; eq, the considering the difficulty in deali ng w i t h t h e traffic dur'u'Re' • r' construction of The Re the new works at the goods stat ceipts for the half -313t Dcc.. Passengers year cud n g 1855, being And for half-year end -11 1 ing 31st De e .,1854. 35 ,251 17 4 29;207 £36,060 1 11 31,1 43 i II £BOB 4 7 --- _ 1,8" i 3 , >' .....-•-•••;t An contra The Rec ted THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. The transactions on the Bourse iu the Three per cents closed to-day at 72f. 80c. FRANCE. . FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING The Congress (as that is the name which the French persist in giving to it, it may be as well to adopt it) held its second sitting to-day, but it did not, like the first one, excite sufficient curiosity to attract a crowd to see the plenipotentiaries arrive and leave. In addition to what has been said in previous letters respecting the first sitting, it may be stated that it is generally reported in political circles that the speech with which Count Walewski opened tl►e proceedings was of a very reserved character indeed—so much so as to dis please the Russians. Count Orloff is said to have made a speech setting forth the line of conduct which Russia meant to follow, and on dit that it pretended that Russia is really desirous of peace. - It is understood that what has occupied the Congress to-day is the fifth point: The Bente has again declined on the Bourse to-day. If we can believe the Independance of Brussels the Czar Alexander has written a letter to the Emperor Napoleon expressing his earnest desire for peace on conditions favourable to Russia, and the Emperor Napoleoon has replied to it by an assurance that be also desires peace, and will do all he can to facilitate it. The story looks very like a canard, and what makes it look still more so is that the 'lndependance publishes what it pretends is a textual quotation from a letter, as if such communications were ever permitted to reach newspapers. If I am correctly informed the silly dispute between the plenipotentiaries in the Congress, Lords Clarendon and Cowley, as to which of them shall take precedence of the other is not terminated, as I was led to believe yesterday—Lord Cowley still insisting that as Ambssador he, to a certain extent, personates the sovereign, and is therefore above Lord Clarendon—the latter, on his part, maintains that constitutionally Lord Cowley is his subordinate and must remain subordinate. Lord Cowley, it is said, takes the matter so much to heart that he threatens to go to London to obtain a decision from the highest authority. I hear that it is almost certain that the Emperor, on opening the Legislative body, next week, will announce the necessity for a new loan. The troops forming the garrison of Paris have, for the last few days, been made to take very long marches, with their campaign kits, as if it were desired to prepare them for active service. One of the newspapers have got hold of a story to the effect that when Count Orloff was first invited to a soiree at the Turneries, he asked what the invitation meant by saying that he was to be en franc: " That you must be in a plain black dress coat—not in uniform !" "In a black coat— why, I have not got such a thing, and never wore such a thing in my life ! In Russia a soldier is always in uniform— always ! In France, it is different—so send for a tailor." The tailor was summoned, and a coat and other garments were made with all speed. This being Jeudi-gras, one of the great Parisian holidays, the washerwomen, and water carriers, and people of other callings, have been amusing them selves by riding about the Boulevards, and streets, dressed in all manner of fantastic costumes, carrying flags (some of them by the way, the English one by the side of the French one) blowing horns, yelling, and otherwise making fools of themselves ; and a vast number of respectable p .ople have been making great fools of themselves by blocking up the thoroughfares to gape at them. The accounts from St. Petersburg confirm fully what has been said as to the Russians being engaged in barring the gulf of Finland so as to prevent the approach of vessels to Cronstadt. They have, it is said, from 30,000 to 40,000 men employed in the enterprise. THE RECENT BURGLARY AT WALWORTH.--A report was circulated yesterday morning that the woman whose throat was cut by the men who committed the recent burglary at Walworth, had died from the effects of the wound. The report, we learn, is untrue—great hopes are entertained of her recovery. The poor woman has been able to give a full description of the burglars to the detective officers who are in pursuit of them. PRolusEs FULFILLED.—OR Wednesday,•at the Worship street Pulicc-court, a fellow named Fordham, was charged before Mr. D'Eynconrt with stealing a pair of boots, the property of David Smith, one of the Society of Friends. The prosecutor, who is a shoemaker, deposed, that the prisoner went to his shop, and desired to look at some boots ; ultimately he refused to purchase, and left in haste, but the heel of a boot being seen beneath his coat, he was followed, and given in charge of a constable. The prisoner was committed for two months for the felony. Prosecutor I promised the prisoner that I would bring him to a police court, with the process of which I am unacquainted, and I kept my word ; and as I promised also to complain of one of your off 3ers who refused permission to my entering the court by the public door, I also keep my promise to him. (Laughter.) Gee, the warrant officer in custody of the principal entrance to this much-crowded court, explained to the bench that no intentional disrespect had been com mitfed. So many parties tried to gain access by every method, that the greatest precaution was requisite to secure himself from blame in admitting too many. The com plainant had not sufficiently explained his business at the court. Mr. Smith said, probably it was so, but he had kept his promise to the constable. Increal e half-year ending 30ih June, 185° ' its are, for half- year entlinz 31st Dec £36,06G06G 111 31, 1 43 4 18 Ditto, 30th June, 1855 3 0 , 582 10 8 29,3" - b • £5,477 11 3 1 , 7 ‘ 1 _,./ Thus showing a total increase on. the corres ponding period of last year, of .. £2,6 93 And over the half-year ending 30th . lune I / 1 0 1855, of. .„ 20 " „. rl O , A considerable saving has been effected in the For charges under each head of expenditure. An tlO increase, indeed, is shown in the coaching charges, for cool' is accounted for by the sum of X 1,279 11s. 4d., paid deal pmsation, law ch arges , & c . , i ncurred by the acclu e- er rtt I '6o Mollington, in J anuar y, 1854 , referred to in the l as t and which amount finally settles all the claims 8 therefrom. The total charges as compare d w i th the hal f year e 31st December, 1854, show a saving of £4,817 1 0 % of and with the h a lf y ear en di ng 30th June, I °' so £1,041 Os. 7d. ; thus showing a decreased expenditur ° ° increased traffic. 31 51 A i n g The percentages of c h arges are for the half year cilu* December, 1855, Working charges on trafF Increased £2, 693 18 42 5 5 Per °° t. .58 7 4 '' * Gross charges on receip. Half year ending 31st Devmber, 1854, Working charges on traffic 4B 7 3 Gross charges on receipts . The new works a t th e B r id ge -end station are apPl v for completion, and it is expected that they will be re t he th° occupation in the course o f t h ree months; when, frv7 of concentration of the establishment and the apPl lc l 9 ool machinery, great f ac ili t i es will be obtained and ec effected in conducting the business of the company. ,the A satisfactory arrangement has been conclude d scit;3ol London and N ort h W estern railway company in se ttle 0, tbii of matters in dispute relating to the occupation 11 9 1 0 0, company of the Manchester and Warrington station, ; io for an i n t erc h ange o f traffic, by whi c h thi s cotul' a ;', o o secured the Manchester an d Yorkshire traffic to Che ster North Wales, passing over the Cheshire Jnnetion line. hesa Your directors feel the importance of making Bir kelj d are the shipping port for the iron trade of the MerscY. S c ieto prepared to afford satisfactory accornmodatin for e storeage and transhipment. art" Negotiations have been carried o n d ur i ng the greater I) ,V the half ye ar , w i t h a v i ew to an amicable arrangement '::;i,,Ort Great Wester n R a il way C ompany for an interchange Of 'bpi° but your directors regret that they have failed t° ° _;.e satisfactory terms. r,. The Great Western Company having determined to ec e- ' l 4 their ru nn i ng powers , commenced working between Chest-era of Birkenhead on the second of this month. And the que 3i ` do s. payment to this comp an y f or t h e use of the line and!r3,oot. has been referred to ar bi trat i on under the act of Par,3-,0 In the meantime, your directors have given instructions et of every reasonable facility be granted to them for the con di ' their traffic over the line. bill i rlt° The Liverpool corporation havin g i n t ro d uce d coo' parliament for the alteration of the original plans for th o is* struction of the docks at Birkenhead, on which th ere their, diversity of opi n i on , y our di rectors will feel it. t'' ve of inter' duty to watch its prog r e ss f or t h e pro t ection of the the company: The balance available f or di v id en d amounts to 115 of 13s 2d, out o f which your directors r ecommen d a divid end pco two per rent t o b e pa i d to the shareholders, leaving a 11. of £2,276 8 3 Bd. WILLIAM ITIKINSONI Ch 3iill' \ el' * Which includes r i ver service 4 London .t and ° Western toll, passenger dtvy, &c, renewa l 0' sq' and Sutton accider 18 Engineer' s Offi ce, Bi r k enhead, February 1, - 0 0 56 ' D, TO THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS OF THE HIRICEN LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY OA ° I have much pl easure i n s t at i ng that the whole o f the the and permanent way have been fully maintained duriae half year, and aro in an efficient state of repair. re boil° The new basin a t B r id ge - en d i s complete, and the ,raeeptie° and offices conn ec t e d t h erew i t h will be ready for the re e 9 sre of traffic in about three months. The hydraulic er an eo oli now in full op era ti on , an d t h e i r working, as regards ee°,„lts; and despatch, h ave b een atten d ed with satisfactory tie the but their full eff ec t w ill not b e entirely developed aat' sidings and other works in progress are complete. s!, Additional siding accommo d at i on has been Pre"-featlle' several of the road-side stations, with a view ef developing the local traffic, &c. Tue locomotive engines anjl tenders are in good vi t hela order, and h ave rece i ved the necessary repairs, to s ustain hea d in good condi t i on . T he amount expended under t ilt- , c OPY shows a reducti on o f £686 7 s 10d for the half-year , a b the pared with the corresponding period of 1854, althea mileage and terinal duties have increased. se a A il The carriage st en ock has received considerable repair e r t bi.- in good worki ng or d er, w i t h t h e exception of fourteen to be class carriages, w hi c h are b eyond repairs, an d requi re .,oes' , replaced, for w hi c h steps h ave b een taken to meet the traffic. t he The wagon stock is all in good condition, and Etta"; der ° older class of w agons h ave b een rebuilt, with all the t° improvements, and the Cost o f wh i ch has been eal.„-eler. GEORGE DOUGLAS, revenue, OW The Chairman said it now b ecame his duty to seit - A a few observations t o th e meeting. He had prole' i d be the last meeting that the report and accounts sb °ll o tiog; in the hands of shareholders a week before the ° L e t , 1 0 ; The directors had not been able to accomplish t 7old e , a , f ' the report had been in the hands of the sbar e " ( i s tir now several days, and he hoped it would be fou n t ., to°i factory. Any information required he should b e happy to give to any gentleman who wished for P , explanation. The few remarks he had to 111- 00 0 0 ' . should commence by a remark on the ca pital sc A . o g It had been complained of that they were sPerw l , much money at Bridge-end ; and one gentlen 33l. oo l4 ' woote to him hoped they should find some nugge ts ,ol l 9l His reply was, th a t if t h ey found something cOrl',ool,, as good as nuggets, he hoped the proprietor 514 Bridge be satisfied. He thought what they were doing at `:.„rojani; end was quite necessary for the welfare of the e° Vrs ;i and indeed with the present aspect of railway a"C e l was absolutely necessary that they should te a ' — panr preparations for carrying on the business of the eo ttl ar iol The feeling which he had seen exhibited at s L x iste meetings, shewed him that a general impression , t iag' that railway competition, and railway lines e° ,, m , P nt e l; were very undesirable things, both as regardel l ° s tr°V ante and as regarded rates. (Hear, hear.) , - ` l l o e- - ",,, him, therefore, that in order to prevent a rival ug ht . f which, however, he had no fear himself —they %,55° make every preparation for carrying on the be' l co ‘ 'ol(li their company in the most perfect manner th e Y. us tili e , and he, therefore, thought they were perfectlY 3 ,0 Di l i in spending money at Bridge-end, and when by a " won', the thing had been tried, he trusted they , a v tq l o all agree with him that it was absolutely nec' ess- t . for t ' l should spend the money, that it was well spent an ( r item benefit of the company. (Hear, hear.) la the land at Monk's-ferry. They had ex of expense in capital account had been for rec )o to ut pended abv ic i improvement about £1,500, and they had g ai ,",, e( ble, f, 2,200 acres of land which were highly vole; won e i c i some day would produce a large amount 0t bad A portion of the money spent under capital a cco to $ 12 .0 been in coal stations at Rock-lane, oat:, Frodsham. At each of those places the co al tio l oo had not been very profitable up to the p rese of t .. 0. Other matters had taken up the time A c e 1 1 '. 0 directors. They now thought it necessary to t c asbl parations for the coal trill; especially the I , ' $ an stile s A 6 coal traffic, as they expected to do a larger VI . 0 to realize a considerable amount from that sp ur t - s e were regarded revenue, he considered that the ace° Lin t he P 3 50 satisfactory. His own view of the revenue for f half year simply was, that it was an earnest o_tisoet thing better for the future. They should not be 7 0f olti with the present state of things, but should en" st o ° to the utmost of their power, to improve the re"