The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-07 00:00:00

factures—markets which we can even monopolise to the exclusion of every other nation—markets which will not . periodically drain this country of its circu lating medium—markets which afford the highest rate of profits which can any where be obtained—let us look to our colonies. If our colonies were only peopled to the extent they ought to be, and which they would , have been, had they been in the possession of any other nation than England, (which from her insular position, and her - vast manufacturing resources, requires colo nies for the outlet of her manufactures more than any other) we might have now been exporting to the West. IndrieS.alone twelve millions of goods annually, instead of from three to four millions, If we had able states men at the head of affairs this would ere long be the case. Gross misrule on the part of the Government, and culpable mismanagement in the administration of our colonial affairs, have caused the trade with the West Indies to decline at a fearful ratio : and unless prompt and effective measures be taken, it will be speedily lost to this country. It is notorious that our ships, that formerly were never at a loss for cargoes of sugar, molasses, rum, coffee, cotton, &c., are now too frequently compelled to return with sand as ballast, or to go to foreign colonies to seek for employment. The carrying trade for the supply of most of our wants is now in the hands of foreigners, who take off as little as they can of our manufactures, and will rest satisfied with nothing but our gold, Foreigners, owing to the encouragement of every thing foreign, have acquired such influence over the monetary affairs of this coun try as has, within the last few months, paralysed the entire trade of Great Britain, and caused a stagnation of business from one end of the land to the other. The people of England ought not to be in such a humiliating position. - They have the remedy in their own hands. Let them encourage, by every means in their power, the increase of our colonial trade. From this source we shall never have much reason to fear any thing like a commercial panic, It is the safest and most profitable trade in which Great Britain can be engaged ;- and, what is more, it is exclusively her own. The important case of " Stockda!e versus Hansard" is likely to occupy the attention of Parliament at a very early period of the approaching session. Its settlement will, no doubt, prove a matter of some dif ficulty. .The question at issue is one which very seriously involves the liberties of the subject; and it will require great prudence and discretion to adjudicate upon it in a manner satisfactory to all parties. While we cheerfully accord to the House of Commons the exercise of such privileges as are consistent with con stitutional principles, we cannot concede to its mem bers the right to set aside the laws of the realm. The House is not competent, in our opinion, to contravene the legislative acts which it has passed, concurrently with the _ House of Lords, and to which the regal sanction has been given. The resolutions of the House are not to be considered as superior to the law, how ever necessary those resolutions may be to support the dignity of Parliament and to uphold its privileges. Strictly speaking, indeed, the question to which we have alluded is not one of Parliamentary privileges : for Parliament consists of Lords and Commons, and, it has been remarked with much truth, " the Lords do not seek or claim the right to set aside the laws, and to libel their fellow-subjects with impunity." When we take this circumstance into consideration, the question will appear to assume a two-fold aspect. It is a ques tion between the people and their representatives, in the first instance, and in the next, it is a question be tween the House of Commons and the co-ordinate branch of the Legislature, together with the Crown. Our contemporary of the Newcastle Journal remarks, in reference to the two latter, "it is a question whether a single branch of the legislature shall exercise a power which the constitution vests in the three states con jointly." As respects the people the question lies in a nutshell : it involves the following point—whether the representatives of the people have a right, by simply passing a string of resolutions, to injure any one or any number of their constituents " by abrogating both common and statute law in the publication of de famatory matter." This is the matter at issue. Is the House of Commons invested with authority to abrogate laws which they cannot make without the concurrence of the House of Lords and the Crown ? Can they confer any privileges upon them selves without the acquiescence, implied or ex pressed, of their constituents ? Can they consis tently exercise a privilege which, by their own acts, they have declared to he unlawful in the case of any individual not a member of the House ? Has the House of Commons the privilege of libelling people at its pleasure, and of nullifying the laws of the realm? If it has this privilege, it is incumbent upon the mem bers of that House to chew how and when they were invested with it by the people, and how and when it was ratified by the other branches of the legislature. One of the most important features in the case of " Stockdale versus Hansard" is, the collision which ';11 has taken place between the House of Commons and the judges of the land. If the House should persist in the exercise of its tyrannical privilege, it will dis tinctly convey a warning to the judges that they are not to presume to enforce the acts of the three estates of the realm, whenever such a course of proceeding interferes with the self-arrogated privileges of the Commons. It is impossible to reflect upon this question without recurring to many similar acts of tyrannical interfe rence with the privileges of the subject exercised by the reformed House of Commons. The haughty de meanour of the majority of its members has, on many occasions, extorted, even from the Radical press, the confession that Liberals are not always the most con spicuous for liberality. The truth is, that your prating Liberal, whose harangues on the hustings are all in favour of liberty, when he is invested with authority, becomes the most arbitrary despot in existence. The many inquisitorial proceedings, for which the reformed House of Commons has obtained such an unenviable degree of notoriety, afford a striking illustration of the truth of our remark. If Joseph Hume and the " phi losophical Radicals" had their own way, we should ECM be without any law but the irresponsibly exer cised will of the House of Commons. Thanks to the good sense of the electors, the arrogant pretensions of this class of legislators have already suffered an effec tual check. Another election will deprive them of all remaining power to do mischief. The events of each succeeding day serve to strengthen the conviction that the Melbourne ministry are totter ing to their downfal. The rabid declamations of O'Con- nell in Ireland contribute to fortify us in this belief. He is evidently in a state of absolute desperation. His creatures m the Cabinet are fast sinking under the ac cumulated load of infamy which they have brought upon themselves. Their unpopularity is the true secret of O'Connell's increased virulence and malignity. The language of the Whig-Radical press in England is another proof of the approaching dissolution of the present Cabinet. Finding that the prospects of their employers are utterly and irretrievably hopeless, the venal organs of the ministry have latterly had recourse to the most unblushing slanders—the most gross and palpable misrepresentations—and the most " enormous lying" that ever disgraced the most corrupt and liber tine press in any age or country. We venture to say that if all the lying devices and slanderous charges of . the Whig press, within the last twelve months, were collected together, they would form a volume to which no parallel could be furnished, which would be per fectly unique in its atrocity, and which would leave the ingenious figments of Baron Munchausen at an im measurable distance in its contemptuous disregard of facts. We do not, however, wonder that the ministe rial organs resort to such expedients. They are the only defence left the present degraded ministry, whose very existence seems to depend upon the facility with which the characters of their political opponents can b 2 blackened, their motives misconstrued, and their language tortured from its true and legitimate mean ing. _ It is a fact no less singular than instructive, that the Whig-Radical papers have nothing of a positive cha racter to say in defence of the present ministry. They cannot he praised on account of either their foreign, their colonial, or their domestic policy. None of their acts, if narrowly scrutinised, can be alleged as consti tuting a title to public confidence. Far from it. The treasury hacks are too cunning to dwell upon the me rits of the ministry. It is a much easier task to abuse the Tories —to describe them as disloyal subjects—to impugn their motives—to garble their statements— to denounce them as bloody-minded traitors—to work upon the fears of the Queen and the court by pointing the Tories out as unnatural monsters, who are longing to embrue their hands in the blood of a royal victim. All this it is very easy for these lying journals to do; but it is evident that their object in giving currency to such outrageous falsehoods is simply to make an appeal ad niisericordiam on behalf of the ministry, They wish to impress the gullible portion of the public with an idea that the Whigs are the only personal friends of the Queen—that their presence at the Palace is abso luiely necessary, in order to ensure her personal safety —that the Tories are plotting for her destruction—and that the plot will be consummated as soon as the Mel bourne ministry are turned out of office. From the desperate expedients to which the Whig- Radical journalists are thus driven, it is quite evident that the downfal of the ministry is an event almost daily anticipated. The very first division in the House of Commons may possibly seal their fate. But they will not resign until they again try the chance of a ge neral election. It therefore behoves the Conservatives in every direction to he on the watch, and prepared for the approaching emergency. Committees should be formed, candidates should be chosen, and an active and general canvass should be carried on in every part of the country. No county, city, or borough should be left uncontested. With timely preparation the Con servatives are sure of the victory. Our contemporary of the Bolton Chronicle has fur nished us with another instance of the palpable inca pacity of the Marquis of Normanby for the office with which he has been invested. We scarcely know which most to admire—his ignorance or his impudent as sumption of authority. It appears that some busy body, who was probably anxious to ingratiate himself with the Narcissus of the Home Office, informed that "pink of fashion" that Mr. Addison, the venerable chairman of the Quarter Sessions, at Preston, was in the habit of inquiring from the Chaplain of the Gaol, respecting any confessions made to him by the prison ers committed for trial. Lord Normanby immediately put Mr. Addison on his trial, and challenged him to acquit himself of the charge brought against him, without even taking the trouble, as the Bolton Chro nicle very properly remarks, to ascertain the real cha racter of the calumniator. Mr. Addison naturally re pelled the accusation, and told Lord Normanby that he had committed an egregious blunder in supposing that he (Mr. Addison) was his Lordship's subordinate. This unpleasant exposure of his Lordship's ignorance seems to have disturbed the equanimity of his mind, and to have roused him to thoughts of "dire revenge;" for we find him in the next place holding out a threat that Mr. Addison's insulting letter should be laid be fore the Lord-Lieutenant, that the magistrates acting with Mr. Addison might have an opportunity of visit ing that gentleman with a vote of censure for daring to take such a liberty as to inform the ex-Viceroy of Ireland that he had no jurisdiction over the county Palatine of Lancaster ! The conduct of the magis trates, in vindicating Mr. Addison, is highly honoura ble both to him and to them. For the particulars of this case we must refer to the article from the Bolton Chronicle, which appears in another column. We have given insertion, in another column, to a memorial, signed by 212 mercantile firms in this town, on the subject of the trade with the River Plate, to which is appended the report of the deputation which was appointed to wait on Lord Palmerston. The me morial very lucidly and forcibly states the case in all its bearings. We regret that we have not space to en ter fully into the merits of the question urged upon the attention of government ; but we shall feel justified in recurring, in future publications, to a subject of such vast importance to the commercial interests of Great Britain. We earnestly hope that it will be taken up by some spirited member of the House of Commons. The hardships imposed upon the merchants trading to Buenos Ayres demand an instant inquiry and a prompt remedy. But, alas ! what can be expected from the present reckless administration ? FROM THE REV. HUGH M`NEILE TO MR. ALDERMAN EARLE. perceive that my gentlemanlike treatment of you has been unhappily thrown away, and as I cannot condescend to the species of treatment which your last letter deserves, I must leave you in undisputed possession of the field, and in the exulting enjoyment of a fourfold victory. You wear the laurels (such as they are) won by Mr. Blackburn, by Mr. Ewart, and by Mr. Rathbone, in their respective con troversies with me : and also (though last, not least)_ the tastefully-adopted calumnies of an anonymous Press in the matter of a poor, ill-treated man, who was, and I doubt not still is, ready to confirm on oath the accuracy of my state ment, on receiving a sufficient guarantee of his personal safety. You are not pleased that I should " read you a lecture" upon the gravity and dignity of your future speeches ; yet my suggestion is disinterested, since it is most likely that as you have already raked together all you could find worthy of comment in my history, and made harmless use of it, you will in future honour me with silent neglect, which is beyond question yOur better course. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Jan. 6th, 1840. HUGH APNEILE. THE NOBILITY AND COMMONERS OF THE CORPORATION ESTABLISIINIENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. " Mr. G. H. LAWRENCX understood that Mr. Okill cared little or nothing about the money. The money was of little consequence to him, but he would like an increase of RANK in the scale of cor poration officers."—Vide Council Proceedings, Jan. Ist, ift4o. Sin,—Musing over this remark, it occurred to me that your readers might be gratified with the following table of the nobility and'commoners of the corporation establishment, as they may now be fairly ranked : PRINCE OY THE BLOOD ROYAL The Town Clerk Per ann . £2OOO DUKE. The Stipendiary Magistrate l3OO MARQUISSES. The Receiver of Town Dues . The Clerk of Committees (not yet confirmed) EARLS. Magistrates' Clerk.. Magistrates' Clerk.. The Head Constable VISCOUNTS. 'The Deputy Town Clerk The Commissioner of the Court of Requests The Clerk of the Court of Requests The Surveyor BARONS. The Recorder The Assessor The Architect The Treasurer The Commissioner of Police. THE LESSER BARONS. The Sergeant-at-Mace The Deputy Registrar The Governor of the Borough Gaol. .. Superintendent of St. John's Market Inspector of Weights and Measures Inspector of Weights and Measures Inspector of Weights and Measures Treasurer's Clerk, with care of the Wine Cellar, Town-hall . 700 700 700 700 525 500 500 500 500 TILE COMMONALTY, et id genus onsne. Treasurer of the Court of Requests. Keeper of the Town-hall Superintendent of Graving Docks Superintendent of St. James's Market 2OO Surveyor of Buildings, N. D. Surveyor of Buildings, S. D. Superintendent of St. Martin's Market. Principal Draftsman Assistant Draftsman l5O Assistant Draftsman Assistant Clerk of Committees. Clerk to Magistrates' Clerk l5O Clerk to Magistrates' Clerk l5O Clerk of Prosecutions at Sessions l5O Five Superintendents of Police each 150 Chaplain of the Borough Gaol l5O Bridewell Keeper. Inspector of Town Dues llO Keeper of Sessions-house and Judges' Chambers 139 Assistant Collector, Treasurer's office Outdoor Assistant Draftsman l2O Sword Bearer Surgeon of the Police Force llO Inspector of Coaches llO Superintendent of the Chain Cable Trial Machine 105 Superintendent of Baths Engineer of Baths lO4 Leavclooker of Markets. . General Collector, Treasurer's office lOO Billet Master... Surgeon of the Borough Gaol .. Clerk at the Weighing Machine lOO Collector of St. Martin's Market lOO Outdoor Inspector of Weights and Measures PROMOTIONS PROPOSED, AND THE RESULTS, DURING THE. LAST TWELVE MONTHS. Surveyor, £5OO to £ioo. Cause—all his time required. Deputy Registrar, £250 to £350. Cause—recommended by Town Clerk. Chaplain of the Borough Gaol, £l5O. Refused. Cause — being a clergyman. Clerk of Committees, £7OO to £9OO. Cause—stinginess of late corporation. Head Constable, £575 to £750. Cause—recommended by Watch Committee. Yours, &c., CRITO RAND SAILING.—The ship Constantine, Captain Winsor, which left the bar of New Orleans on the Ist December, ar rived at this port on Friday morning, after a passage of 33 days. She had strong westerly winds until near the Channel, when she encountered the prevailing easterly gales. The Constantine ran 3255 miles in 15 successive days, averaging 217 miles per day ; a very extraordinary run for so many days successive. THE TRADE TO THE RIVER PLATE. We have great pleasure in laying the following do cuments before our readers : TO THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, IILR MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, &C. &C. &C. _ _ The Memorial of the undersigned British Merchants and Shipowners, and others interested in the trade to the River Plate, respectfully sets forth, That their trade with Buenos Ayres has been completely suspended, during a period of nearly two years, by the block ade of that port by a French squadron, which has already caused them very great loss, and threatens by its continuance to be most ruinous to British interests. That a very large amount of British capital is invested in this trade, which is one of great importance to British com mercial and manufacturing industry ; and that the amount of British capital now locked up in Buenos Ayres is not less than from a million to a million and a halt' sterling. That the amount is chiefly invested in the produce of the country, which, from its perishable nature, has undergone, and is undergoing, great deterioration, and that the expense of preserving the same from entire destruction is estimated at not less than £20,000 monthly. That a further large amount of British capital, invested in British manufactures, estimated at not less than one million sterling, has been interrupted in its transit from Great Britain to Buenos Ayres, and the greater part deposited for many months in NI onte Video, thereby incurring a very heavy loss consequent on lapse of time, deterioration of quality from in sufficient means of storage, and heavy expenses, besides loss of interest ; and that the said goods are quite unsuitable in their character and assortments for any other market. That your memorialists had hitherto been buoyed up with the hope, that the mediation and interference of her Ma jesty's government would have been effectual in terminating the blockade in question, by negociation or otherwise, but they now fear, from the latest intelligence, that they must • abandon such hopes, all negociation having hitherto proved fruitless ; and the proceedings of the French, in the River Plate, having assumed a more decided character of a deter mination not only to enforce the blockade in the most rigor ous and vexatious manner, but to aim at a permanent occu pation of territory, which compromises the independence of the States adjoining the River Plate, and threatens the com plete extinction of British trade in that important river. That your Memorialists feel convinced, that any procrasti nation in the settlement of this question increases the difficulty of a satisfactory arrangement, and that to allow the French to pursue, unchecked, a system of warfare against the independence of these States, by underhand in trigues, and open interference in the internal disputes of these new States, and by openly assisting with an armed force on land any partisan whom they can engage in their cause, is fraught with imminent danger to the independence of those States, and to British interests. That as a proof of this it is only necessary to advert to the recent attack upon and capture of the Island of Martin Garcia by a French force, under the French flag, though avowedly as the allies of some native partisan. And it is the painful duty of your Memorialists now to state, that a French armed force did, on the 19th day of September, land at Monte Video, and proceeded to entrench themselves and to occupy that town, under colour of being the allies of the then President of the State, but in reality to take part in the civil war by which his authority was threatened. That your Memorialists respectfully submit, that should the validity of such a pretext for the occupation of the terri tory of Monte Video be admitted, it is evident that it may be used to retain possession of Monte Video, so long as the French may support any partisan of theirs in the nominal government of that place. And that to allow European nations to interfere in the civil broils of that country, and, under the name of allies, to occupy the strongholds, is a most palpable outrage on their independence, and a violation of all international law. That your memorialists are deeply apprehensive for the safety of the very large amount of British property, now lying at Monte Video, in consequence of this occupation by a French ~a rrison, seeing that in case the town is besieged by the national party inimical to the French, and taken by assault, it may be treated us belonging to an enemy, and sub jected to plunder; and your memorialists may, in such case, have no claim or redress from the government of the coun try for the property in the stores of the nominal government, which, as already said, cannot be less than £1,000,000, and therefore, they must entreat your lordship will take such steps as may be necessary to afford suitnble protection to that property, by directing an adequate force to be sent to the Plato, to guard and watch over the interests of the sub jects of Great Britain. That your memorialists are led to believe, when the treaty of peace was made between the Emperor of Brazil and the United Provinces of the River Plate, in 1828, that the in terference and presence of her Britannic Majesty's then government as mediator in that treaty, did guarantee the due observance of that clause in the said treaty, by which the contracting parties stipulated for the complete independence of the state of Monte Video, and the free and unobstructed navigation of the waters of the said state, and they would beg respectfully to call the attention of your lordships to that part of the said treaty. And they humbly submit, that such independence of Monte Video, and the navigation of its waters, are now virtually at an end, through the French oc cupation of the said town and port. Your lordship's memorialists have further to state, that two American vessels entered one of the ports of the blockaded state, with cargoes which they discharged, re-loaded and again sailed, when they were taken possession of and carried to Monte Video, where the American Commodore interfered, insisted upon the vessels and cargoes being given up, and both vessels awl their cargoes were given up accordingly. With these facts before them, your lordship's memorialists are most anxious to he informed, what prospect there may be of a termination to this most prejudicial and destructive interruption to their trade, and would most respectfully ask, " If any ne;;ociations are now pending with the French and Buenos Avrean Governments, and what are likely to be the results of such negociations, if any are so pending : ' but if all negociations are broken off, and that the only hope of a re newal of commercial intercourse with Buenos Ayres, rests upon the dilatory proceedings by blockade, or upon the un certainty of such military operations as the French have adopted. Your lordship's memorialists would then strongly, but re spectfully urge, that every influence be used with the French governments, to inducepermission to be given to British'sub jects to bring away from Buenos Ayres such property as shall be satisfactorily proved belongs to them ; but, should this reasonable request be refused, it will be evident that the ob ject of the French is covertly, and under the shield of inter national law, to harass and annoy British merchants and ship owners, injure and distress British manufacturers, curtail British commerce, depress British energy, and generally to ruin British interests ; and convinced as your lordship's toe, morialists will then be of the ground that exists for making these, allegations, strengthened as they are by many occur rences of recent date of unprovoked insult on the part of the French, in various parts of the world, your lordship's memo . rialists would then earnestly entreat, that the subject of the present memorial may be laid before your lordship's honour able colleagues in office, whose wisdom, they confidently hope, will devise such measures as will be supported, in case of need, by the British parliament and the British people, which shall put an effectual stop to a course of proceeding by the French, in the River Plate, which is vitally injurious to British subjects engaged in that trade, and which, if not timely arrested, threaten the permanent occupation of both Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, whereby British commerce in these ports would be annihilated, British subjects ruined, L and British interests and British confidence become the sa -1 crifice to French intrigue, French injustice, and French ambition. And your lordship's memorialists will ever pray. REPORT OF THE DEPUTATION. Liverpool, 10th December, 1839. On Saturday, the 7th instant, Lord Palmerston received your deputation to a conference. Your deputation, accompanied by Mr. Cresswell, M.P., urged strongly on his lordship the various points touched on in your memorial ; more especially your deputation pressed on his lordship's attention and consideration the following points :—First, that her Majesty's government should use their influence with that of France, in order, if possible, to obtain for the subjects of Great Britain permission to send vessels in ballast into Buenos Ayres, and bring away the property now there belonging to British subjects. To this his lordship replied by reading an opinion by the law-officer of the crown, that it would be inexpedient for her Majesty's government to ask such a boon. Your deputation then urged on his lordship their opinion that the law-officer had taken a false view of the subject, and which, on explanation by your deputation, his lordship appeared to think he had ; and then stated to your deputation, that if they would state in writing on what grounds they conceived such an application could justly be made, he would again submit the subject to the consideration of the law-officer of the crown, and, if he thought the government could with propriety make the application, it should be done ; but that in all such matters as that of blockade, the government are obliged to be guided by the opinion of the law-officers of the crown. The depu tation did in consequence draw up ,the following statement, and sent it to Mr. Cresswell, who has promised to present it to Lord Palmerston, with a note, as to the legal bearing of the question, from himself:— " London, 9111 December, 1839. " My Lord,—The deputation who on Saturday last bad the honour of presenting to your lordship a memorial from merchants, shipowners, and others, of Liverpool, interested in the trade to the River Plate, praying, among other mat ters, that the influence of her Majesty's government might be used to induce the government of France to grant per mission to British subjects to bring away such property as belongs to them, would now, in support of that prayer, fur ther observe,— " That the produce now existing at Buenos Ayres either did so exist at the time the blockade of that port was so de clared, or has since been received in exchange for manufac tured goods which, at the period of the blockade, were held by British houses. " That the French admiral commanding the blockading squadron did allow a certain time for neutral subjects to carry away their property, and, at their request, granted an extension of such time ; hut, owing to the few vessels then in the port, and none - being allowed to enter, a very sma proportion of such property was, or could be, carried away. " That, in now asking permission for vessels to enter Buenos Ayres in ballast to bring away produce, they are not deviating from the principle upon which a certain time was originally granted, but merely asking the renewal or exten sion of the same principle over a larger space of time, whereby the injury to neutrals may be diminished : and it may here be observed, that during the blockade of Mexico, British subjects were permitted to carry away bullion, the almost only return from that country for manufactures ; whilst the application of the same principle to the trade of Buenos Ayres would justify a permission being given to bring away hides, hair, &c., such articles being the only returns from Buenos Ayres. " That, if permission were now to be granted to British subjects to bring away their property from Buenos Ayres, it is maintained that, so far from causing any delay in the at tainment of the objects sought by France through the means of blockade, it would, on the contrary, accelerate it ; for, so long as a large amount of neutral properey remains at Buenos Ayres, the Governor Rosas is buoyed up with a firm convic tion that neutral nations, and especially Great Britain, will, for the interest of their own subjects, use their influence with France to effect a reconciliation upon terms favourable for Buenos Ayres ; but once permit their property to be brought away, and the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres would thereby be deprived of the receipt of almost £20,000 monthly for storage, labour, &C., in preserving such produce ; which, in the present state of Buenos Ayres, would be so much felt as to strengthen the disposition whieh there exists for the re establishment of peace with France. In again bringing this subject under your lordship's notice, the gentlemen forming the deputation have the ho nour to subscribe themselves, with the greatest respect, your lordship's most obliged and most humble servants, (Signed) " GEORGE BELEY. " A. C. DUNLOP. t o the question of your d eputat i on as to whether " JAMES TYREA." any negotiations reply y iations were going on or not between this govern ment and that of France on the subject of the blockade, his lordship stated that there are such negotiations going on, but at the same time said, that as the result of these negoci ations depended on other parties than hi s own governmen t, he could not form any decided opinion as to the likelihood ight lea d unfavourable, and thereby of the result of these negotiations ; that while be would not like hold to you to enter into operations cause you to blame him, at the same time he would not s ay w o ut ich might gh h t o t p u e r s n a outsm what might discourage your entering into such operations as such might turn out profitable ; and that, having so premised it, he might however say, he did think that now there was more chance of a speedy arrangement than he had hitherto seen. In reply to your deputation's request that more naval force might be sent to the Plata for the protection of British in terests there, his lordship said that the admiralty had given orders in November for the British commodore at Rio to proceed from that with a frigate to Monte Video; and his lordship assured your deputation also that the French go vernnaent had sent out a new agent authorised to treat re gardinw the subjects in dispute (Admiral Duportail), and that her M a j es ty's government had sent M r . Mandeville instructions to do all in his power to assist in the arrange ment of the differences. Your deputation~ have to express their sense of the kind and'careful attention which was given to the objects of your memotial by Mr. Cresswell, who devoted considerable time and trouble to make himself master of- the subject, so as to enable him to lay it forcibly before Lord Palmerston, which ,he certainly did. Your deputation have also to acknowledge the assistance they received from Mr. W. P. Robertson, who accompanied them to Lord Palmerston. Liverpool, 26th December, 1839. Your deputation have now to inform you, that a final answer has been received from Lord Palmerston, dated the 21st instant, wherein his lordship states. " that he has re ferred to the proper law-officers of the crown our letter of the 9th instant ; but as, by the general law of nations, ves sels are not allowed to come out of a blockaded port with cargo unless such cargo was on board before the commence ment of the blockade, his lordship is of opinion that her Majesty's government is not entitled to make the proposed application, and that such application, if made, might furnish an inconvenient .precedent against Great Britain at a future time of war." Your deputation have thus done everything in their power, and have only to regret that the result is not more satisfac tory. THE LIVER THEATRE. — The engagement of Mrs. Way lett terminates on Friday next, when we perceive she will take her benefit. There is no vocalist on the stage who sur passes Mrs. Waylett in ballad singing, and as an actress she possesses superior claims. We beg the attention of our read ers to the advertisement. SERMON TO TILE Jaws.—We understand that a sermon will be preached at St. Simon's Church, Sir Thomas's Buildings, on• Friday evening next, by the Rev. H. S. Joseph, after which there will be /I public baptism of one of the Jewish brethren. The sermon will, we believe, be especially addressed to " the Children of the House of Israel." BAZAAR FOR Sr. SAVIOUR'S CIIURCH.—We perceive that a bazaar, iu aid of the funds for erecting St. Saviour's Church, Falkner-Street, Windsor, will be held in the Savings' Bank, Bold-street, this day and the two following days. This ba zaar is held under the distinguishedpatronage of her Majesty the Queen Dowager, Lady Frances Sandon, Lady Skelmers dale, Lady Anne Wilbraham, the Hon. Mrs. Bootle Wil braham, Viscountess Canning, Mrs. Wilson Patten, Mrs. Hugh Hornby and Mrs. Sherbourne. We understand that a great number of very curious and costly articles have been contributed for the occasion; and we earnestly hope that the sales will prove as productive as the bazaar will be attractive. DEATH OF GEORGE IRLAM, ESQ.—It is our painful task to announce the death of Mr. Irlam, of the long-established. firm (in the West India trade) of Barton, Irlam and Higgin son, of this town and Barbadoes. The event took place, as we learn, at an early hour on Sunday morning, after a very short illness, an attack of gout having reached the stomach. Mr. Irlam was highly respected, both as a merchant and a private gentleman ; and being a member of the Dock Com mittee, ,the vessels in the port, in respect to his memory, yesterday hoisted their colours half-mast high. The deceas ed, who was in the prime of life, had the misfortune to lose his lady only a few weeks ago. ALARMING FIRE AT BIRKENHEAD.—Yesterday, about noon, a fire of a very alarming description broke out in some stables at the rear of the houses in Front Chester-street, the property of Mr. Davis, livery-stable keeper. It appears that a stove had recently been erected in the workshop of a tailor adjoining, which heated the bricks of the party-wall to such a degree as to set fire to the hay deposited in the lofts, when, but for the very prompt rssistance rendered by Mr. Palmer, the special high constable for the Hundred of Wirral, and his assistants, the whole range of buildings forming Front Ches ter-street, must have been destroyed. The engine belonging to the Norwich Union Fire Office was speedily on the spot, and under the able superintendence of Mr. Palmer, was so effectually used, that, in a short time the devouring element was subdued, and the damage confined entirely to the premi ses of Mr. Davis, which are, together with the stock, greatly damaged. Much praise is due to the whole of the neigh. hours in procuring water. We are informed the stock and premises are insured to the amount of the loss sustained. THE " LIVERPOOL" STEAM-SHIP.—NO tidings of this long-expected vessel have yet reached us, and as the last advices from New York are dated the sth ult., the anxiety for her arrival and that of the packet-ship Independence con tinues hourly to increase. The President's Message, and the general mercantile news from the States are looked for with as great avidity as was the news from British America during the insurrectionary movements in our colonies there. A rumour has found its way into the London papers, that the Liverpool would not sail from New York until the 20th. For this there is, we believe, no foundation; but had she even been detained until that day, she might he expected here daily. The weather has been more severe in the channel than on shore for some days. The Hercules, steamer, from Cork, and William Penn, steamer, from 'Waterford, both of which arrived on Sunday night, experienced severe gales from the S.E. The Stephen Whitney, from New York, is also due, as well as the Liverpool and the Independence. LIVERPOOL BEEF -STEAK CLU B.—The encouragement held out to the musical profession, by the prizes given an nually for the best glees by this excellent club, has this year brought forth twenty-two compositions, most of them written with considerable talent. The successful competi tors were,---Mr. G. Holden, our talented townsman, organist of St. George's Church, who obtained the first prize, a gold medal, for a glee for three equal voices; and Mr. Chinne, 'organist of St. Thomas's Church, the second prize of C2O, for a•quartett, with pianoforte accompaniment. The prizes were apportioned on Saturday evening last, at the Adelphi llotel, the glees being sung by members of the Apollo Catch and Glee Club; whose performance fully maintained the celebrity of this long-standing glee club. During the even ing the Father of, the Apollo Club was presented with a beautifully-embossed silver snuff-box, w ith the following inscription, which - speaks for itself, and requires no further eulogy :—" Presented to Thomas Holden, Father of the Apollo Club, by the members of the Liverpool Beef-steak Club, as a small token of their respect and esteem.—Jan. 4, 1840." INnuicsT.--Yeaterday, an inquest was held before P. F. Curry, Esq., Coroner, on view of the body of Peter MlLellan. 'Richard Lloyd said—" I em a watchman at the dock-yard in Trentham-street. The deceased, whose name was "Peter M'Lellan, w as _, a watchman there also. My station i s at th e gate in Trentham-strect, and the deceased was stationed at file bottom of the yard,' near the river. We both went on duty at six o'clock last night. The deceased was then well and merry. Ile remained with use about a quarter of an hour, and then went away. There is a wooden cot at each end of the yard for us to go in. About twelve o'clock last night I went to the bottom of the yard, and saw the deceased sitting in his cot, apparently asleep. I shook him, and said, " Peter, are you asleep ?" The deceased gave me no answer, and I then put my hand on one side, and lifted him up, and found him quite helpless. I thought the deceased was in a fit, and I laid him down in the time-office, and went and called a police-officer, and we laid the deceased before the fire, and the officer went for a surgeon, and I remained with the deceased. The last time 1 saw him alive was when he left me at six o'clock last night." John Teggison being sworn, said—he was called by the last witness at the hour stated, and foung the deceased as described by him. They placed him before the fire, and witness went for a surgeon, who came with him and bled the deceased, who was warm when he (witness) first saw him. The inquest was then ad journed to this day, in order that apost mortem examination may take place. TUE IMPROVED PATENT OLMSTED AIR STOVE.—We have had great pleasure in inspecting a number of elegant specimens of this stove, the invention Professor Olmsted, of Yale College, in North America, where they have been been most successfully brought into use. So highly has the invention been appreciated in America, that Joint Stock Companies have been established to extend amongst the general community the comfort and convenience they dif fuse wherever applied. They are adapted for the effectual warming with pure air, every kind of building or apartment, from the spacious church to the family parlour. These stoves are also, from the neatness of their construction, highly ornamental. They are of two forms, the double pillar or treble pillar stove, each pillar being circular, a few inches apart from each other, and connected by a small flue or short length of stove pipe. In one of the pillars, (which are of polished malleable iron) is the furnace, which is so con structed that all danger of accident from fire is abated, and no ashes can escape, The other pillar, in a double pillar stove, or the other two in a treble one, are " radiators" through a casing or lining, in which the hot air passes from the furnace, and is radiated in all directions; while through a wide aperture or open pipe, forming the interior of the eas• ing, or concentric cylinder, and open to the ground below, as well as above, the cold air in the chamber or building where the stove may be situated, is drawn up, heated in its passage, and finally diffused throughout the apartment. In the treble pillar stove, the centre pillar forms the furnace, and the two others " radiators." An even temperature may be kept up, and the consumption of fuel is very small. A constant, equal, and healthy temperature may, without the slightest danger, be kept up by these stoves, even in a sleeping apart ment in the night. They may be obtained of any size, so as to heat small or large rooms or buildings, all that is requi site to determine it, being to supply the number of cubic feet to be warmed. They may be fitted either with ascending or descending flues. The sole agents for Liverpool are Messrs. Betteley and Higgs, of 41, South Castle-street, where an extensive stock of them may be seen, and one of them in full operation. THE ROYAL CORONATION Picamaz.—We understand that the splendid engraving from the magnificent Picture of the Coronation, painted by George Hayter, Esq., her Ma jesty's historical and portrait painter, will be on view after to-morrow, at the establishment of Mr. W. Burland, in Church-street. The London Journals speak in the highest possible terms of this authentic memorial of the most in teresting event in her Majesty's reign. —See advertisement. " BRIM? MANUAL OP PRACTICAL PIETY,"—We have just perused a little volume, entitled, " A Brief Manual of Practical Piety," pu'lislied by L. and G. Seeley, London, which has been submitted to our inspection—and so satisfied are we that this little book really is what the title sets forth, that we cordially. recommend it to the heads of families, as a valuable addition to the various helps already offered to Christians, young or old, in their warfare agai ns t th e wor ld , the flesh, and the devil. To use the words of a clergyman of this town, " the advices given are brief but comprehen sive, the portions of scripture wisely chosen, and the selec tions of sacred poetry peculiarly appropriate ; in a word, the little book shows the author to be a man of much taste, kind ness of heart, and Christian experience." MISS WHITNALL'S CONCERT.—Miss Whitnall's annual concert, which took place in the Templars' Hall, on Friday evening, was attended by a numerous and highly respectable auditory. The Mayor's and several leading families were present. Miss Whitnall, Mr. Templeton, and the other vocalists sang admirably, and Mr. Brown, if we may so speak, surpassed himself upon that delightful instrument, the flute, Mr. Ga' ayes, the pianist, did not, from some cause, appear, and by way of compensating for his absence, Mr. Templeton sang " Black Eyed Susan„" which was loudly applauded. The entire performance went off exceed ingly well, and the manner in which the. auditory manifested their opinion of it, must have been highly gratifying to the feelings of Miss Whitnal j , Tup GREAT Sroltat. - --This day is the anniversai 5 , of the great storm, of 1839, by which so much devastation was caused, not only on the coast adjoining Liverpool, but in Manchester and many other inland towns. The loss of life was terrific. In the shape of shipwrecks and accidents, no greater desolation has occurred in these islands during the present generation. From our report of the Sessions it will be seen that the Recorder alluded to the storm, and also to the valuable charity which it was the means of establishing in this town. Whilst upon this subject, we may take the opportunity of recommending that institution to the ma., pathy and support of our fellow-townsmen and the public. MINISTERIAL SCREMING.—The opinion gains ground that parliament will be dissol ve d shortly afterthe marriage of her majesty, and that the m i n i s t ry w i ll take advantage of the enthusiasm caused by that event to make an appeal to the country. It is also stated that the repeal of the corn laws and the ballot will be thrown out as " tubs to the whale," and that under the combined influences of these 'moral and elevated motives, the Whigs will risk their last chance upon a general election.—Olargoll. Courier. DREADFUL FIRE IN PETER-STREET, AND LOSS OF LIFE. Yesterday morning, about half-past one o'clock, an alarm of fire proceeded from the house No. 20, in Peter-street, a street leading northward from Whitechapel. Many of the neighbours speedily rose from their beds, and found the mid dle portion of the house, particularly at the back, to be on tire, and the flames rapidly gaining a fearful ascendancy. Every possible exertion was made to assist the inmates, all of whom slept up stairs; and the fire-police and engines, under the able superintendence of Mr. Whitt, were soon brought to the ground, and were effectively employed in sub duing the fire; but we regret to say that out of nine indivi duals, one (an old man) lost his life, at an early part of the conflagration, and several other persons were seriously in jured, in escaping from the flames, by dropping from the middle and also the upper window into the street. As the particulars that transpired at the inquest related exclusively to the death of the'deceased, we have visited the spot, and`obtained some additional information relative to the fire, and the destitute condition to which it has reduced the survivors, whose case has already excited much commi seration amongst the humble neighbours, and is, it appears to us, worthy of the humane consideration of a benevolent public. The house is of the small cottage description, of three sto ries in height, and two rooms in each flat. It is tenanted by a poor aged widow, named Elizabeth Lee, whose principal support was in letting several of the rooms to lodgers. There lived in the house at the time a young man and woman, James and Jane Lee, the son and daughter of the tenant ; George Moss, a tailor, his wife and two children, who inha bited the front room on the first floor; Robert Gooch, a young man, who, with James Lee, slept in one of the attics; and George Hodgson, the deceased, also a tailor, who occu pied the back room on the first floor; making, with Mrs. Lee, nine in all. Mrs. Lee and her daughter slept in the attic over the deceased's room. The former and the deceas ed were the last who were up in the house, and went up stairs together, to go to their beds, about half-past cloven o'clock on the previous night (Sund a y), the landlady, Mrs. Lee, giving the deceased a light. In what manner the fire originated cannot be ascertained ; but the probability is that the deceased, who was somewhat infirm, (he being 78 years of age,) had, by leaving the candle burning, or some other means, ignited the bed curtains, or some combustible matter in the room, and that he was suffocated and burnt before he could, in his confusion and terror, make his escape. George Moss, who slept in the next room with his family, was first awakened by a strong smell of fire and a smothering smoke, and when he opened the door, he saw the deceased's room on fire. and the door nearly burnt away. He gave the alarm, and Mrs. Lee and her daughter escaped down stairs in almost a state of nudity. He did not see the deceased, who, it is probable, was at the time either suffocated or in a state of insensibility. His first care was, if possible, to secure the safety of his family, and as the stairs were now burning fiercely, his only resource was to open the window of his own room, facing the street, and successively to drop from it his wife, his two children, and finally himself. The wife and children were but slightly injured ; but the poor mat himself, who appears to be in a very feeble state of health, was so much bruised, that he could with difficulty walk to the coro ner's office. The two lodgers in the front attic, James Lee and Robert Gooch, were still more unfortunate. Finding no means of escape by the narrow stairs, which was now partly burnt away, they had no alternative but to drop from the window of their room in the third story, upon the flagged footwalk below ; and both were so severely injured, that they were shortly afterwards conveyed to the Infir mary. Lee had his ancles and feet much hurt from the fall ; and Gooch sustained a dreadful wound in the head, from which he may not easily recover. The most kind and humane attention was paid to them by Mr. \Vhitty, whose active and considerate conduct throughout is spoken of by all present as being beyond all praise. He was on the spot amongst the first when the alarm was given, and remained until all was done that could be accomplished at the time for the sufferers. Mr. Inspector Morley was also very active. The other officers and firemen, too, exerted themselves to the utmost. The neighbours lent all the aid they could ; their cry before the escape of poor Moss's family being still " Save the poor woman ! Save the children!' One man, named Byrne, ascended by a ladder to the top window, in hopes of saving the deceased, and did not relinquish his en deavours until his hair was singed by the flames. Two engines were brought up, and one of them was almost immediately put in play. The other was also soon in ready ness, and though the four upper rooms and the staircase were on fire, and the back of the premises, where the flames were thimost intense, difficult of access, the conflagration was en tirely subdued in about three-quarters of an hour. The in terior of the house, after dawn, presented a scene of wreck and demolition that could only have been slightly increased by the falling in of the roof. The lower apartments are flagged, and the floors were covered with fallen rubbish, pieces of charred timber, remnants of burnt clothing, &c., all in a state of humidity from the water necessarily injected by the engines. There were numerous holes burnt in the floor above the back apartment, through which the greater portion of this accumulation had fallen. The smell of burn ing was exceedingly strong. The damage to the house is, that the two upper back rooms are burnt out with the excep tion of small portions of the floors, the beams of which in the attic are completely charred. The upper staircase and the two front rooms are also partially burnt, and the bedding, clothing, &c., of the inmates completely destroyed. The most lamentable portion of the narrative remains. In the back bedroom of the first floor (which was so much burnt that the jury could only ascend a few at a time), lay, amongst the rubbish, charcoal, and tinder caused by the combustion, the remains of the unfortunate deceased, through whose culpable carelessness or infirmity the acci dent had taken place. The spectacle was one which we have no desire to dwell upon, and a few words will suffice in no ticing it. The deceased was literally burnt to a cinder. What remained of a rather stout and corpulent man was little more than a mere skeleton, in an imperfect state, and in a reclining position, with the face portion upwards. The right side of the skull was burnt off, and a portion of the brain was seen. The ribs were visible ; the bones of the thighs and legs ex posed, and apparently calcined by the fire; and what adhered to the skeleton generally was reduced to dark and unshapely lumps. The bedstead, within about two yards of the de ceased, was so consumed that only a small portion of the stocks and posts remained, reduced to slender rods of char coal. The jury having viewed the body, the sight of which ex cited the most painful feelings, they returned to the Inquest room, in Orrell's-court, when the following evidence was given before Mr. Curry : Elizabeth Lee; being sworn, said—l am a widow, and keep a lodging-house, No. 20, Peter's-street. The deceased, whose name was George Hodgson, lodged with me. He was 78 years old. The deceased was a tailor, and used frequently to work in his bed-room. He had lodged with me for eleven years back. Yesterday evening the deceased went to bed about half-past eleven o'clock. He was quite sober at the time. We both went up stairs to bed at . the same time. About half-past one o'clock this morning I was awakened by the cries of tire. I got up immediately, and went into the street. I used to sleep in the room over the deceased's bed room. On coming down stairs, after the cry of fire, I ob served the room where the deceased slept all on fire. I did not see the deceased, nor did 1 observe the bed, as it was placed in the corner of the room. Several people endea voured to go into the house, for the purpose of saving the deceased, but they were not able to get in for fire and smoke. The deceased was a little infirm, but was able to go about very well. A fire had been burning all day in the room where the deceased slept, but it had gone out before we went to bed, and I gave the deceased a light as I went up stairs. George Moss said—l am a tailor, and lodge in the house of the last witness. I occupy the front room on the first floor, and the geeeased occupied the back room on the same floor, and which is close to mine. Last night, about half past eight o'clock, my wife and I went to bed. The deceased was not then in the house. About half-past one o'clock this morning I was awoke by a strong smell of fire. The room was full of smoke. I immediately got up, and, on opening the door, I found the room where the deceased slept was on tire, and the door nearly burnt away. I opened the window of my room, and threw the children out into the street. I alarmed the first witness, and she got up, and I shouted out " fire" as loud as I could. I did not observe the deceased or any one else in the room. The fire-engines came, and the tire was put out in about three-quarters of an hour. The last time I saw the deceased alive was yesterday morn ing. I have seen the remains of the body in the room since, but they are so much burnt that it is impossible to recognize them. I have no doubt that the body is that of the deceased. This being all the evidence adduced, the Coroner stated, as the body could not be recognized, though the last witness had stated his belief that it was that of George Hodson—no other person inhabiting the room —th e only verdict they could return would be to the effect, that, the house had taken fire, and was burnt, and the deceased along with it, but how or in what manner the fire had originated there was no eyi, deuce to show. The jury returned a verdict accordingly. ENCOURAGEMENT TO MINERS.—A most splendid disco very has, within the last few days, been made in the mining district near Mold, by a company chiefly composed of Liver pool gentlemen, from which they have every prospect of not only regaining the heavy outlay which they have been at, but of realising enormous profits; the oldest m i ners i n th e neighbourhood - feeling confident that it will fully equal Pot Hole or Maes Safn, the ore, already obtained, being of the finest quality. VULCAN LODGE ON ASSOCIATED SMITIIS.—The National Associated Smiths of the Vulcan Lodge, Liverpool, held their annual festival on New-Year's day, at the long room of Mrs. Cunningham, Grapes Inn, Great Charlotte-street, when, after the cloth was removed, an appropriate address was delivered by the chairman, with suitable remarks on the rise and progress of the society, principally alluding to the good moral conduct displayed by the members, and conclu ding with a wish to have the principles of the society more universally extended. After the address, several toasts were given, with songs, Dancing com mence d, an d was kept up with great spirit until a late hour, when the whole com pany separated highly delighted with the evening's entertain inent. PROGRESS OF THE Cnuncit.--Among the many cheering signs of the times, which are almost daily presenting them selves to our notice, there are none more remarkable than the increasing love in the people of this country for our ex cellent church establishment ; and we have much satisfaction in recording an instance of this description in our own imme diate neighbourhood. The delightful village of Wavertree is too well known to the inhabitants of the " good old town" to need our aid in description. We, therefore, without fur ther ceremony, mention the propitious manner in which the new year commenced in that village, by the opening of a chapel for the service o f th e Ch urch of England.or the success of this undertaking the natives are indebted to the persevering zeal of the Rev. William Badnall, their resident minister. The want of church accommodation had for some time been felt; and to supply this want, the rev. gentleman took, and fitted up, on his own responsibility, the chapel lately occupied by the Wesleyan Methodists, but now con verted, by license from the Bishop of Chester, into a church. When this circumstance became known to the villagers, the seats and sittings were eagerly sought after, and before the chapel was finished, every sitting was taken by the industri ous poor, and had there been more than double the present number, they would not have met the anxious demand. The lower part of the chapel is let in single sittings, at 2s. each per year, and the gallery in pews, not one of which remain unlet. This is very satisfactory, end clearly proves, that if increased accommodation is supplied, the result must be fa vourable to our truly scriptural church. On Wednesday sermons were preached in the mo rn i ng b y t h e R ev . M r . Stafford, An d i n d n the evening by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, from Cliildwell. After both sermons collections were made in aid of the church, to the amount of 427 10s. 21d. Although this .sum may be considered handsome by those who know n the congregation to be composed of individuals who o btain their living by manual labour, it is very far short of the sum wanted to clear their minister from his responsibilities his that account. We may therefore venture to hope, that more wealthy hearers will not forget that they mercantile these ap p wy children, e i cf l sao d o htnr r gac e nse n hota , st, character, im portant duty to discharge, and will, to u t se e aerv.ces the phrase, " hold him harmless." between the ' partook of a boys of the National Church of England s udding, given to a i l . a n im haqdForne supply of roast beef and pollu.mfbis day will long them by the SubScribers to the school. This parents must 1 it ' ai ' lril t sy h "that accountagrokoedd in their scriptural be remembered by find that their best friends ono t oe e cs r eu , education, which is of the soundest will to man" which ancient custom _ the language of the Rev. Mr. Wilson for this period of the year. better than by the congregation, said, " May the ' who, when addressing with excellent minister health to see his Almighty bless y our dwith success , and ma he using labours crowns . _ . Jesus,, y reap, in your de d in Christ a plentiful reward." votedness to Go ~ POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-FRIDAY. THROWING MISSILES FROM THE GALLERY OF THE AMPHITHEATRE — CAUTION. A young ship-carpenter, named William Watkinson, was charged with having, on the previous evening, thrown from the gallery of the Amphitheatre, into the ring, while the per formances were going on, several pieces of wood, to the great danger of parties below. person employed at the theatre as a gas-fitter, said that he was standing at the circle door, when he saw the prisoner stoop, and then throw •down a piece of board, about four inches in breadth, and sixteen to eighteen in length, into the ring, so that it went across the circle, being aimed at a po lice-officer on the opposite side of the house. The prisoner afterwards threw down, in the same direction, several smal ler pieces of wood. The board (of thin deal) was produced. A nail was stick ing in it. The prisoner said that the wood had fallen upon him from the roof, and that, in throwing it down, he did not intend to strike any one. It appeared, however, that he had taken aim at the officer, and nearly struck one of the musicians. Mr. Rushton said the conduct of the prisoner had been most reckless and disgraceful, to throw down such missiles from a great height, in a place of public amusement, by which he might have seriously injured the officer, or some of the musicians. He added, that the offender's mother had cer tainly spoken of him as an attentive, industrious lad, and he therefore felt the greater regret in punishing the offence, which he could not pass over. He ordered him to pay 40s. and costs, or, in default of payment, to be imprisoned for one month. BILLETING OF SOLDIERS. Mr. George Robinson, publican, of St. James's Place, ap peared before the magistrate, and preferred a complaint of having had soldiers billeted upon him too frequently. He stated that he had one soldier on the Sth of November, for seven nights, and two others on the Ist of January, for four nights. He added that there were 2,700 public-houses in the borough liable to have soldiers billeted on them, and con tended that no billet should have been sent to his house for a month beyond the date of which he complained. Calculating the number of houses liable, he thought he ought not to be called upon to receive soldiers more than once in three Months. Mr. Highton (the billet-master) said there were about 2,000 houses in Liverpool eligible to have soldiers billeted on them. About 180 of them had stables attached to them, or were contiguous to livery stables, and these houses were ab stracted for the exclusive use of cavalry, which, taking the average of preceding years, would give them about an equal proportion of soldiers during the year. The best answer he could make to the complaint would be to state the circum stances under which be had taken the office of billet-master, and the method he had adopted in issuing the billets. When he was appointed to the office, in October, he found that the books had not been regularly posted, and, consequently, had no correct data on which to proceed. He continued to issue billets from the old book in the best way he could until the 9th of November (the day of the Mayor's appointment), when a new book had to be made out. He took advantage of that circumstance to have a correct list made out of the public houses and beer-houses, and began, at that time, to issue billets according to the order in which the names of the par ties liable stood in the billet-book. Mr. Robinson, it ap peared, had had a soldier billeted on him on the Bth of No vernber,—the day previous to the commencement of the new system, —so that, in fact, the whole of the publicans had not had billets since that time ; and he thought the period re ferred to the most favourable for that purpose. Mr. Rushton said he was perfectly satisfied with this ex planation:_ 111 r. Ellis (clerk of the magistrates) said that Mr. Robin son had evidently made a mistake as to the number of public houses and beer-houses. He had included, in his calcula tion, all the houses in the " collection," which comprised Wigan, Ormskirk, Warrington, &c. Mr. Robinson said he was quite satisfied, and left the court. [We have taken the preceding report from a contemporary of Saturday, but we have been informed that it contains se veral inaccuracies. We are told that Mr. Rushton acknow ledged the case of Mr. Robinson to be a very hard one. It appears that instances frequently occur of recruits being bil leted for six or seven days upon publicans. This must be felt as a very great grievance, which ought to be removed as speedily as possible. Why should not a delnit be erected in Liverpool for the accomodation of recruits ? or why are they not immediately forwarded to Manchester, where there is a depot already in existenc e ? It i s ti me for the publicans of Liverpool to get up a general remonstrance against this heavy and accumulating tax.—Ed. Liverpool Standard.] AN OLD FOOL—CAUTION TO AGED PHILANTHROPISTS. On Friday, a case, of complaint of an ancient admirer of, and sympathizer with, the fair sex, which had been partly heard and postponed from the previous day, was finally ad judicated upon by Mr. Rushton. A sedate-looking gentle man, in a white cravat, of apparently about 60 years of age, made with great gravity and circumlocution a statement to the following effect :—" I am a cabinet-maker, at Uttoxeter, and on Wednesday last, the first day of the year, came on business to this town. I lodged (as in former years) at Mr. Whittle's public-house, in Cumberland-street. I had ar rived that day by the railway, from Manchester, and finally from Wigan, and being hungry, went first to Jones's eating house, and afterwards to the Wellington-hotel, and got something to eat. When returning back to my lodgings, near the top of Cumberland-street, the prisoner and another woman touched me with an umbrella. One of them asked me to give them a glass. I s a id I had no money. They pleaded great distress, and I consented. We all went into a trublic-house in Cumberland-street, and I paid for two penny worth of rum for myself, and a glass of whiskey a-piece for them. We then left the house. I had a yellow canvas purse containing 22 sovereigns, and from £2 to £3 in silver, which I had received on my way to Liverpool. It was in my left hand breeches pocket, and I felt it when I left the public house. It was bulky. I was sober at the time. I went down Cumberland-street with the women, and up a dark " rubbishy passage, and into a house. The witness then de scribed the room, in which there was a fire and candle, and reiterated at every sentence that it was pure good nature for the distress of the females that induced him to go with them, and that he strenuously resisted all the insidious attempts to corrupt his morals. The sequel may be foreseen. The old booby lost his purse, which the " fair ones" found means to extract front his pocket with astonishing celerity, and he threw himself as early as possible upon the aid of the police. By their exertions the prisoner was traced out as one of the two nymphs with whose distress he had sq tenderly sympa thized as to treat them to whiskey, and as he swore to her identity, she was committed for trial at the sessions. None of the money has been discovered. The complainant, at the close of the case, was rather aggrieved that he should be in convenienced by being bound over to appear at the sessions, next week, as he had a great desire to make a preliminary visit to his domicile, in Uttoxeter. Mr. Rushton reproved him for his egregious folly ; hoped he would not again risk his money in a similar way, and told him he had better, as a matter of ecenomy, remain in the town until he gave Iris evi dence at the trial. The prisoner was then fully committed. A DRUNKEN PORTER IN THE EXCHANGE NEWS-ROOM. At the Police-office, on Friday, a tall, strapping porter, named Foster, was placed before Mr. Rushton, on a charge of entering the Exchange News-room in a state of intoxica tion. It appeared, from the testimony of Mr. Thos. Jones, one of the assistants, that, on the preceding evening, the pri soner entered the newsroom, and, fancying himself, doubt less, in a pothouse, commenced bawling for " ale." He staggered about some time, and, at length, contrived to thrust his shoulder through one of the windows. He was seized, and quietly handed over to a police-officer. He was tined ss. and costs, amounting to 95., and in default of payment, to be imprisoned five days, Mr. Rushton adding, that, if the defendant paid the money, it would be transferred to the committee of the room. Mr. Jones took the opportunity of informing the magistrate, that the subscribers to the room were constantly annoyed by boys and rabble congregating on the area, causing great noise and confusion. Mr. Rushton stated, that an application to the Watch Committee would, probably, remedy the evil complained of. SATURDAY. THEFT IN ISLINGTON MARKET. Catherine Gilligan, a market woman, was placed before Mr. Rushton, on Saturday, charged with having stolen a ham, value eight shillings, from Elizabeth Bradley. It ap peared, that, on Saturday morning, about half-past nine o'clock, Mrs. Bradley, who comes to Liverpool on market days from Sefton, attended Islington Market. She had a basket of cabbages for sale, and, on the cabbages, was a large ham, which belonged to a Mr. Bruckledge, of Sefton. The prisoner asked the price of the lot of cabbages, and was told that it was two shillings. She offered eighteen pence, which was agreed to, paid, and accepted. The prisoner said she would leave the cabbages a short time. Mrs. Bradley turned herself about to attend to some other business, and, in the meanwhile the prisoner walked off with the ham. The pri soner came back in about an hour, and was about to carry off the cabbages. Mrs. Bradley accused her of having taken the ham, which she denied, saying she had never seen it. She was, however, given into custody, and, on search being made, the ham was found at her residence. The answer of the prisoner, on her voluntary examination, was, that she did not steal the ham. It was in the basket, she said, and the woman sold her all that was in the basket. She was committed for trial. YESTERDAY. COMMITMENTS. No fewer than three individuals were yesterday committed for trial at the prrsent sessions, for felony. Amongst them was a young man, named Edward Byrne, a clerk with Mr. Muspratt, manufacturing chemist, on a charge of taking a quantity of copper money, belonging to his master, and ap propriating it to his own use. Another ease was a theft from the shop of Mr. Daniels, clothier, bottom of Dale-street ; and the third a case of robbery, by a girl (Mary Brian), in the house of Mr. Dobson, Great George -street. As all these cases will be tried this week at the sessions, we deem it un necessary to give the heads of the evidence. DEATII BY BURNING.—On Saturday night a little boy, named Riding, four years of age, residing with his parents in Nash-grove, was seriously burnt by his clothes catching fire. Mr. Black, surgeon, Scotland-road, was called in, but the poor child lingered until five o'clock on Sunday morning, when he died. METEORIC PRENOMENON.—At one minute to six yester day (Thursday) morning, while engaged in looking for the comet, I was startled by t h e sudden appearance of a very bright meteor, It shot rapidly from the zenith, near Arctu rus, in a slanting direction towards the west, at an angle of about 18 to 20 degrees, passing about 21 to 3 degrees west of Spica Virginia, where it burst, illuminating the whole sky, and disappearing behind a b an k o f cumu li, a t an elevation of about 30 degrees, leavi ng b e hi n d i t a stream o f li g ht, ich - continued for a moment or two after its i m mersion. descen It ex t ceeded Venus, both in s i ze an d sp l en d our , d u ring its , and changed into a fin e re d at it s di spers i o n. I tried to hit upon its track with the Iflass, )s but was unfortunately not quick enough. The day p rev ious had been roust unusually close, and towards eve n i ng a sma ll rain set ju fro m the south: th e a nd appeared to blow upper current had veer e d t o S.S.W 8 pretty strong, tho ug h th e un der ‘ : a sgd strong b reeze . A t at times quite a d ea d calm, occasionally increasing to a the time of its appe a rance the s tars were beautifully conspi spicuous, and Venus shone wit h good more than her usual splen dour, casting a very perceptiblielesrhal w ereow , brightlyan and th e light iliu icloudsnet illuminated which occasionally obscu red . c eption of a few patches here and by her rays. Wit h the exception . cumuli, wafted.._ briskly with the there, obscured by Pa- 5 . 5 ' and a bank of cumuli and starli, extending westerly wind, at an elevation of 20 to 30 degrees, .u t n ° us l ii V a . l S ly .M clear. — Correspond en t of Mercury. ftrhoe,:n,slikElSS„, YoRK PACKETS. —We do not recollect any per i o d, since the Canadian rebellion gave a prominent in which greater an x i e ty h as b ee n interest to Ame rican news, won 'rested for the arrival of the New York' packets than during the week which has just passed. Day followed day, and, though the winds were frequently favourable, neither the Cambridge, nor the Independence, nor the Liverpool made their appearance. Morning, noon, and night, the only interrogatory was, " Has the Liverpool arrived ?" the Rail ing vessels not being supposed, by general consent, to have any chance against the steamer; or, if anyone had a chance, it was in favour of the Cambridge alone, owing to her having had ten or twelve days start of the Liverpool. The answer, uniformly, was " No:" followed by an inquiry from the interrogator, " What has become of her ?" The purveyors of of news for the London journals were, of course, , f o pres h i. qui vice, both by day and by night. The Message o supposed, be Presi dent Van Buren to Congress would, certainly it W b sg y the Liverpool; brought by the Independence, hence, there was, in the poli a ti n cil d imp° rta . importance of the doc . .n -ment, a more than ordinary stimulu s to vigilance and activity though these gentle ' on the part of the news-agent s. Sti ll, ' men paced the pierheads . d r g many a weary hour, "i n ' thunder, lightning, and in r u ain tn ," no lade_ pen d e ence, n . o Liver ' pool hove in sight to glad the ir eyes and rejo i ce t h eir hearts. The express messenFers w ere ready, but there was ao Mes. age to carry.—Albion. 4 LIVERPOOL EPIPHANY SESSIONS. The Epiphany Sessions of the peace for the borough of Liverpool commenced in the Court-house yesterday (Mon day), before JosHuA WALmsLEy, Esq., mayor, and .iftaans CLARKE, Esq., recorder. The calendar contained the names of 108 prisoners for trial on charges . of felony, and nine for misdemeanours and assaults, The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury : Wm. ANTIiONY, Esq., of Hope-street, timber-merchant, foreman. R. W. Ashley, Everton-road, merchant; John Bibby, Duke's place, merchant; Francis Boult, Chatham street, coal-agent ; Jos. Brice. Bedford-street, corn-mer chant • George Barnsley, India-buildings, cotton-broker; Samuel Beckwith, Tower-garden, hide-broker; A. A. Cooke, Brunswick -street, merchant; Robt. Crosbie, North John street, merchant ; Wm. Fosbcry, Plumpton-terrace, mer chant; Vincent Higgins, Tabley-street, iron-merchant; Chas. Ironside, Water-street, merchant ; Samuel Job, Pownall street, merchant ; John Lomax, Duke's place, ship-builder ; George Loch, Exchange-pl ace , merc h ant; J as . M u i r , G oree , merchant ; Wm. Macgregor, St. George's hill, merchant ; Jos. Parton, Beau-street, broker ; John Pemberton, Fen wick-street, merchant ; George Ranniden, Canning-street, gentleman ; John Smith, Peel-street, merchant ; Win. Shand, Allerton, merchant; Rodolph Zwilchenbart, Shaw-street, merchant. _ The TOWN -CLERK having read the Queen's proclamation against vice and immorality, The RECORDER proceeded to address the grand jury. He said.--I am happy to meet you on this occasion under very different feelings from those we experienced at the ses sions held at the corresponding period of last year No one can forget the melancholy events of that time. I am, how ever, very glad to say, that out of those circumstances has • sprungupa very valuable institution, calculated not on y to mi tigate much suffering, but also to suppress crime. That institu tion cannot be too much recommended; and if its funds should not be sufficient for its objects, I am satisfied there is feeling enough in the town of Liverpool not to let it cease from that circumstance. Looking at the large jurisdiction which this court now has by the operation of the municipal act, looking at the extensive population which resides within it, the pre sent calendar does seem to be rather a large one. These is, I am happy to say, a decided decrease of the crimes which usually had been committed with considerable violence. The activity of the constabulary force has been, I apprehend, the great, but not the exclusive cause, of that decrease. But another class of offences has sprung up, which appears to have taken the place of those which formerly were attended with violence. In the calendar you will see a number of offences effected by contrivance, by deception, and by strata ; and these seem to have superseded the crimes which were accompanied with violence. You will observe in the calendar a considerable number of offences committed in obtaining goods by false pretences ; but I am sorry to say the tradesmen of this town are exposed to other kinds of fraud. Parties take forged orders, and tradesmen, believ ing them to be genuine, act upon them, and in this way they are plundered to a very considerable extent. We see this in various cases in the calendar. There are two other cases which I am sorry to see have taken place in this town. One of them is the case of a domestic servant robbing her master to the extent of £BO. or £9O. This is a very serious case. The relative duties of master and servant are of the last importance to society, and ought nut to be infringed upon. There is, also, another case—number 41,—0f a con fidential servant robbing his master. Toe prisoner is charged with robbing the prosecutor from time to time, carrying the property to Manchester, and there disposing of it. These kind of offences are not within the range of the police. Tne police cannot prevent them. Every thing, in that respect, must depend on the conduct and prudence of the par ties. The police are very valuable in taking up dishonest servants when they are detected, but no police in the world can prevent them. I have always felt it my duty, and I shalt invariably act upon that feeling, when confidential servant; rob their masters, to put the sentence of the law into force against them. I remember very well the great Lord Ellen borough transporting a coachman who had pilfered his mas ter's corn instead of giving it to the horses. On that occa sion Lord Ellenborough, in passing sentence, said—.' tne relative duties of master and servant shall be kept up and maintained by me, and when I find them violated I will al ways do my duty." The man was transported, and at this moment he is abroad. There is also another class of cases in the calendar which I am soiry to say has greatly increased. You will hardly credit me when I state that one-fifth of all the cases in the calendar are attributable to the vice of in temperance, and to no other cause. Now, when there exists, as there does at this moment, a very earnest and a very gene rous desire to improve the moral conclizion of all classes of so ciety, one would hope that no class of persons would be found to interpose any obstacle to those who would cure intempe rance by prevention. It is of the last consequence to public morals that intemperance, which is the source of so much crime, should be checked. The law recently introduced into London, I know, from autho r ity, i s operating beneficially. There the public houses are closed at a certain hour on Sa turday night, and are not allowed to open till one o'clock on Sunday, and 1 hope that by degrees this will become the ge neral law of the country. There is also a case in the calendar of publishing obscene books. That, I am happy to say, is a very rare offence in the town of Liverpool : and 1 must make the same observation with regard to it as I made just now, namely, that where there is a growing desire to improve the moral and religious condition of the people, it is lamentable to see offences committed which have a tendency to counteract those efforts. Gentlemen, it is of the last con sequence that crime should be put down, not mei ely by force of law, not merely by the vigilance of the police, but counter acted by order and morality spreading through the country. That is the great source to which we must all look for the prevention of crime.—The learned Recorder then dismissed the Grand Jury to their duties. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY BY A DOMESTIC SERVANT. Mary Mullin, aged 25, pleaded guilty on arraignment, to an indictment, charging her with having feloniously stolen eighty sovereigns, one £lO Bank of England note, six £3 Bank of England notes, and one £5 Bank of Ireland note, the property of her master, Mr. John Hall, corn dealer, of Queen-square. It appeared that on the 18th November, the prisoner took an opportunity of entering her master's bed-room, and broke o p en a d rawer, f rom which she ab stracted the mousy mentioned in the indictment. The rob bery was discovered about ten in the evening, and the prisoner then given into custody. In answer to the Recorder, Mr. Hall said, the prisoner had been in his servince.only for two or three days. She bro ug ht no c h aracter with her, but gave references, which Mrs. hall was unable to examine in conse quence of ill health. The prisoner tied the court she was guilty of stealing the money, that she took it to her mother, that her mother told her for the honour of God to take it back to the owner—and that her mother would have taken it baek but she did not know where Mr. Hall lived. All the money with the exception of £2 or £2 lOs was found by an officer, buried in a field, about a mile from the town—Sen tence deferred. STEALING FROM AN r:MPLOYER Samuel Thomas, 28, was indicted for having stolen one box of wards and keys, the property of Robert liridson. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. PAGET, and the pri soner was defended by Mr. VENAULES. When the prisoner was placed at the bar, it was evident that he was violently agitated. His lips were livid, his countenance frequently changed colour, and his frame trembled. The governor of the gaol said he had been, since he was in confinement, sub ject to very severe fits. The Reconie: ordved a chair to be provided for his accommodation. The trial had not proceeded long when the prisoner was seized with convulsions. Mr. Venables intimated that he had been subject to tits from his youth, and that under their influence he had taken the pro perty. Mr. Paget having made some inquiries respecting the prisoner's character, said he had no desire to press the case. A. verdict of acquittal was con. equently taken, and the pri soner, who was all the time in strong convulsions, was ordered to be delivered to his ffiellds as soon as he should be sufficiently recovered. ANOTHER. THEFT FROM AN EMPLOYER John Bolton, 28, was indicted for having felonious!) stolen ninety-eight skins, the property of Messrs. Robin son and Hadwen, his employers. Mr. HENDERSON and Mr. CARDWELL conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. MURPHY. The prisoner was employed as confidential warehouseman, by Me , zrs. Robinson and Hadwen, and took the Neutria skins, named in toe indict ment, and, without any authority, sent them to a person in Hanging Ditch, Manchester, with a regular note, request ing him to sell them. T! ac jury returned a verdict ef guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy, on account of his good character.—Sentence deferrcd. STEALING COaN. Edward Robinson, 45, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with having stolen eight sacks of wheat, the property of John Tomlinson and another. The prisoner. appeared, had gone into the warehouse, and, when he ar in the top room, be lifted up some lx-m-ds arid descended into the room below, and filled the sacks. He received a good chitracter. Sentence deferred. Tired. EMBEZZLEMENT. Thomas Barber, 26, was indicted for having feloniously embezzled the several sums of £5 Els, £2 3s 9d, 41 II s 2d. £1 is 2d, and £22 14s, which he had received on account of his master, William Gillmore, butcher. The prisoner pleaded guilty. The prosecutor Said he had been in his service from three to four years, and, in considcraLion of his wife, recom mended him to mercy, but ho would not again receive him into his service. Sentence deferred. MINT CASE. George Ford and Mary Ford, (husband and wife,) were indicted for a misdemeanour, in having in their possession, on the 31st December last, twenty pieces of false and coun terfeit coin resembling half sovereigns, and one counterfeit sovereign, with intent to utter them. Mr. LAWRENCE and Mr. HENDERSON appeared for the prosecution ; the pri soners were undefended. George Ackers said, he was a clerk in the carrying depart ment of the Grand Junction Railway Office, in Liverpool. On the 27th December there was a I eticule came by th e ma il train from Birmingham , add ressed to " Mary Ford." At that period they were in the habit of receiving provisions and perishable articles, and he was separating them from the others for the purpose of delivering them in the morning, when he found the dirsenctritiboonnathiet ti(eteicounl.teail-atshdeecfaocuendt.evfleliet rel i g )e n7a d nd it a , counterteit sovereign. By the instruc tionsf thereforeso of the manager he informed Mr. Dowling. On the 31st two officers (Ainsworth and Fell) came, and the reticule was made up as it had come, and it was given to Pendlebury, the parcel deliverer. James Ainsworth, a police-officer, said, it had been ar ranged that the reticule should be taken to Hendrick's pub lic-house in Bannister-street. Fell had previously taken the female prisoner, and witness apprehended Ford afterwards. Ford said he knew nothing about ti e. reticule, but that the parcel man asked him to sign for its delivery. Joshua Fell confirmed the testimony of the last witness. He added that the male prisoner came into the public-house followed by the woman. Fendle'tniry then came in, and said there was a parcel addressed to Mrs. Ford from Birmingham. She said she knew it came from Birmingham, and that the carriage was only ls. 3d. instead of Is. 6d. Ford's house is nearly opposite t, Hendrick's house. The parcel was ad dressed—" Mary Ford, to be left at Hendrick's public-house, Bannister -street, Liverpool." William Pendlebury proved that the female prisoner paid the carriage of the reticule, and that the other prisoner signed the delivery-book. Mr. Dowling produced the counterfeit coin. This was all the evidence for the prosecution. The pri soners denied the charge, but called no witnesses. The jury returned a verdict of gnilty against both the prisoners. The . Recorder sentenced them to twelve months' imprisonment, with hard labour. The court adionrned about five o'clock, till half-past nine this morning, (Tuesday.) FoolCnAcE.—A foot-race of 133 yards, between Fowler and Savage, of this town, for ze4o, will take place this day, at two o'clock in the afternoon, half-way between the Blat k Bull and Aintree Race-course. From the well-known speed of both men, it is looked upon with much anxiety as to termination. Betting is 6to 4on Fowler, at which figu. e a deal has been done. UNPRECEDENTED QUICK PAgSACJE: NEWSFROM PERU. —The Maypo, Captain Seymour, arrived at this port on Thursday night, after the quickest passage from Lima on re cord, she having been only 85 days from port to port. The Maypo has on freight 500,000 dollars. The dates from Lima by this vessel are to the 10th of October. The Chili troops were to leave Callao on the 18th, for Va!paraiso. Santa Cruz had been elected President of Bolivia, ant. it was the general opinion in Lima, that, immediately on the departure of the Chili troops; a revolution would break out in that city in his favour, as Gomarra's Government was very unpopular. Several of the Chili troops had been assassinated in the streetr, so much were tbey detested by the Limanese. The state of trade was favourable. . The Congress was tp ses..sion, but it proceedings bed not been of general itetettst. r