The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

THE ROYAL CHARTER.

A CONSIDERABLE sensation was created in Liverpool on
Saturday afternoon, by an intimation posted in the Under-
writers' Room, as follows :—" Plymouth, Jan. 26.—The Royal
Charter, from Liverpool to Australia, has put in here, a little
leaky in the upper works, from straining. Defects unimport-
ant : appears, over-laden. Passengers, crew, and cargo all
right." ` Royal Charter, (s.s,) Liverpool, at Plymouth, for
Australia, all well ; put in on account of heavy westerly
gales."
Yesterday morning, the following letter, which had been re-
ceived by Mr. Court, Secretary to the Association ofUnderwriters,
from Dr. Scoresby, was made public. From this it is evi-
dent that the gallant ship has encountered exceedingly severe
weather ; and that, notwithstanding the serious trial to which
she was put, her qualities as a sea-going craft are of the
highest order; that she sustained the buffettings of an unusually
tempestuous sea, and still retains the confidence of her able
commander, Captain Boyce, of his crew, and passengers. The
following is Dr. Scoresby's interesting letter on the sub-
ject :
" Royal Charter, Plymouth Sound, Jan. 26, 1856.
SlR,—The putting back of this splendid ship is a circum-
stance which will necessarily produce surprise, and, perhaps,
unfair comment. I think it my duty, therefore, as one of the
passengers, and not an unobservant one, to report through the
medium of the Liverpool press, the principal circumstances
leading to and rendering, according to my personal judgment,
our return both judicious and essential.
"The question of putting back was brought to an issue by
very heavy weather, encountered off the Bay of Biscay, and
the condition of the passengers in the 'tween decks. To two
circumstances, as it seems to me, the inconveniences and evils
requiring our return, are clearly traceable, namely :-Ist.
Some strange inadvertency or neglect about the `waterways'
and gunwale, with other smaller matters about the main
deck, by reason of which, as soon as the sea sprays began to
fly on board, the water poured down into the berths of the
third and second class passengers in extraordinary quanti-
ties ; and this, having no means of escaping, accumulated and
washed about, to the great suffering and damage of the occu-
pants of the berths.
"Secondly. The circumstances of the ship having inad-
vertently been far too heavily loaded. From prudential mo-
tives, in respect to the ship's proper stability under canvas,
several hundreds of tons of ballast were distributed along the
bottom of the hold, a full cargo, at the time, I understood not
being at all expected. Too late, with reference to the time of
sailing, for the removal of what was now a dead weight and
encumbrance, cargo flowed in till the ship was full. The con-
sequence was most unfortunate, the ship being mink deeper
in the water by two or three feet than her proper line of flota-
tion. The good qualities expected from so fine a model in
naval architecture were overwhelmed, and the ordinary ma-
nageableness vastly injured. This latter inadvertency neces-
sarily rendered the ship wet on the main deck, and so became
the cause of supply for the leakage there ; and whilst ruining
the ship's proper qualities for nautical evolutions, occasioned
the screw, even when raised up to its place above the ordinary
level of the water, to be continually dipping, and thus inter-
fering, by the position of its opaque blades, with the action of
the rudder iu steering.
"To my mind there appears no doubt, that, if the dead-
weight, especially that which is at the two extremities of the
ship, should be removed, and the defects abotit the gunwales
made good, that all the important difficulties and evils would
be removed; and I can see no reason why the Royal Charter
should not fully regain the reputation which, prospectively,
had been attained. And, in support of this conviction, I may
add, that her buoyancy and action as a `sea-boat,' was most
admirable, 1 may say splendid, rising above the formidable
disadvantage of her deep loading, even in heavy weather, with
high cross seas, we encountered off the Bay of Biscay; for
whilst her motions were singularly easy, she neither leaked
below nor ever shipped a sea !
"I will just add, that painful and onerous as the step taken
by Captain Boyce was, in putting back to this port, I am per-
fectly satisfied that a due regard for the health and safety of
the passengers, independent of other considerations, rendered
this important decision imperative—an opinion, I believe,
which is concurred in by all the passengers on board. Even
the avoidance 'of the wear and tear of a westerly gale still
blowing heavily, and which has already sent in here a -fine
clipper ship with loss of spars, might well repay for the loss
of time in putting back.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"'WILLIAM SCORESBY.

"Thomas Court, Esq.,
Underwriters' Rooms, Liverpool."

In addition to Dr. Scoresby's letter, we have also received
•the following extracts from the log of the ship, which fully
testify to the terrific nature of the storm which the Royal
Charter encountered :

Sailed 18th.-8 o'clock, passed lighthouse under steam
and tide with us ; off Point Lynas at 2.30, p.m. ; at Holyhead
at 6, p.m., strong tide against us ; at 61 set fore and aft can-
vass, at 7 and 8 knots, wind south, course S.W. by.W.
19th.—Stormy breezes from S.W., heavy sea rolling in from
Westward ; at 9, a.m., Tuslear, bore N.W., wind changed to
W. ; continued beating down channel under till sail, ship
working admirably.
20th.—Off Cork, thick weather, wind W.N.W, course S.W.
by W.; at noon wind N.E. ; at 1, p.m., hove -np screw, and
ran under canvass only 321- knots ; at midnight wind hauled
to W.N.W. with heavy gales ; put ship under close-reefed
topsail, very heavy sea, ship behaving very well ; under three
close-reefed topsail, and foresail out, screw up.
21st. Gale increasing, and sea worse ; wind hauled to S.W.
Wore ship and stood to W.N.W., keep on same tack till next
morning—much water coming on deck—ship going four to
five knots being able to carry sail from size of ship and
having lower topsail yards fitted as they are—when most
ships must have laid to.
22nd.—Gale continued terrific, and wind changed to
W.N.W. ; wore ship and stood to N.W. Ship behaving very
well, but storm so violent that great quantities of water came
on deck—four to five knots.
23rd, five a.m.—Wind changed to W.S.W., heavy cross
seas and blowing terrifically—four p.m., wore ship to N.W.
and sea breaking over ship, and continuing to that night
—going through water four to five knots.
24th, wind N.W., six a.m.—Gale and sea as bad as before.
Gale continued with every appearance of bad weather; at
eight a.m. wore ship—connected screw, and bore up for
Plymouth.
25th.—Wind and weather the same; running 131 knots.
26th.—Arrived at Plymouth, at three, a.m.
" Star of Peace" put in 25th, maintopmast, &c., carried away.

ON Wednesday, the Rev. Dr. Raffles delivered a lecture on
" Rome" to a highly respectable audience in Salem Chapel,
Burnley.
THE NEW CHURCH SOCIETY'S Son= will be held this
evening, in the Concert-hall, Lord Nslson-street, Jas. Harvey,
Esq., in the chair.
GOMPERTZ'S PANORAMA will continue on view, at the
Queen's-hall, Bold-street, all this week. Yesterday, the pro-
prietor, with great liberality, admitted the children connected
with the Blue Coat Hospital to enjoy the display.
" THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE AND • SCHOOL OF ART" is
the new name agreed upon for the Liverpool Mechanics'
Institution, should the subscribers at the next annual meeting
confirm the resolution of the directors.
SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.-Mr. Hackett's new ora-
torio, " The Passage of the Red Sea," was produced, on Wed-
nesday last, at St. George's Ilan, before a numerous audience.
Mr. Best presided at the organ, and the leading vocal parts
were sustained by Madame Weiss aod'Mr.Thomas._ _ _

THE MURDER IN Tolamr-PARS.—The man, John Fer-
guson, who murdered Sarah Drummond in Prince William-
street, Toxteth-park, yesterday week, as detailed in our last
publication, was on Tuesday committed for trial under a war-
rant from the coroner, on the charge of " Wilful Murder."

DEITII OF TUE ROMAN CATROLIC BISHOP OF LIVER-
POOL.—The Rev. Dr. Browne, appointed'hy the Pope Roman
Catholic -Bishop at Liverpool, expired suddenly, at his resi-
dence, Catherine-street, on Friday morning. Dr. Goss is to
be the new bishop. The solemn office of the dead, prcesente
cadavere, was recited at St. Nicholas's, Copperas-hill, last
evening.
MADAME CONSTANTINI'S CONCERT, which takes place this
evening, in St.,George's Hall, under the patronage of T. B.
Horsfall, Esq., M.P., and C. J. Ewart, Esq., M.P., will be a
treat, presenting, as it does, numerous features of novelty and
interest. Among these will be the recitative and scena,
"Upon the Doomed City," from Tully's new cantata, on the
taking of Sebastopol.
'TEE SARDINIAN.—The Royal Mail clipper ship " Sardi-
nian," Captain Sheridan, which left Liverpool for Melbourne
on Tuesday last, has, as we learn, been compelled to put into
the port of Troon, in the Clyde, on the Ayrshire,coast. After
her departure she had a strong favourable breeze, and was
running at the rate of fourteen miles an hour, when, about
two p.m., of Thursday, the wind chopped round in a southerly
direction, and increased to a hurricane. The canvas being
blown to ribbons, and several spars carried away, the captain
bore up and reached Troon at midday on Friday. The crew
and passengers are all well. 'the ship behaved most nobly,
and proved herself a splendid sea boat ; and Captain Sheridan
and his officers and crew displayed great skill, coolness, and
activity, under the trying circumstances. This fine vessel
sustained no injury of any kind beyond the loss of canvass to
a small extent, which was set at the time the gale caught her.
She has since been refitted, and was to leave Troon this mor-
ning at six o'clock, in prosecution of her voyage to the anti-
podes.
IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—Three young men, named William
Joving, Joseph Reynolds, and John Armstrong were charged
at the Police-court, yesterday, with having, on Satur-
day night, robbed Mr. Meredith Roberts, a gentleman re-
siding in Hope-place. From the evidence it appeared that the
prisoners, who are well known to the police as dissolute cha-
racters, and who are a pest to the neighbourhood, were lurking
about the corner of Murray-street and Marble-street, when
the prosecutor, who was slightly elated with liquor, went into
A public-house in that place, kept by a man named Jones, and
be was immediately followed by the prisoners. They called
for three glasses of ale, which were snpplied. The conductor
of the public-house asked them for payment, when one of
them said, the " old gentleman" would pay, meaning the
prosecutor. On being asked, Mr. Roberts said he did not
mind, and pulled out his purse to do so. Immediately on his
taking out his purse, Joving seized him by the wrist, and
twisted the purse out of his hand. The other prisoner, Arm-
strong, then called out, " sling out." In answer to this,
Joving put his hand behind him and gave the purse to Arm-
strong. The conductor, likewise named Jones, seized the two,
and called for assistance, when Smith, a police-constable, came
and secured them, along with the purse, which was found to
contain £4. The prisoner Reynolds did not interfere in the
robbery. He was accordingly discharged. The other two
were committed for trial.

AUDACIOUS ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY AND MURDER.—OR
Thursday morning, about ten o'clock, a most daring attempt
at robbery and murder was made in the shop of Mr. Durandu,
bullion dealer. At the time mentioned Mr. William Hughes,
clerk with Mr. Durandu, left the shop in the charge of a lad
named Stoddart, the errand boy, while he went for the cash-
box, which had been deposited for safety, as was usual, in Mr.
Hornby's, a few doors off. Immediately on Hughes leaving,
two young men, brothers, named William and Henry Eyre,
entered the shop, knocked down the boy Stoddart, and placed
him behind the counter, threatening to murder him if he spoke
or stirred. They then placed themselves behind the door, in
waiting for Hughes, whom they assailed with a poker and a life-
preserver, striking him over the head with such violence as to
cut him severely, and to knock him down. He still struggled
and called out " Murder," which brought him assistance, and
the ruffians were secured. So desperate was their assault
upon Hughes, that both the poker and the life preserver were
broken. He was taken to the Northern Hospital, where his
wounds were dressed ; and he is now, we understand, recover-
ing. The two robbers were taken before the Police-court, and
remanded to Thursday. They are the sons of a man who, in
'August last, was sentenced to six years' penal servitude for
appropriating a bank post bill for £5OO, which he found in
the street, to his own use, by forging the name of the party
to whom it was addressed.

COMMERCIAL and MONETARY NEWS.

MONDAY NIGHT.

IF the Public Funds be taken as a test of public I
feeling with reference to the probabilities of the forth-
coming negotiations for peace, it would seem that
great confidence is entertained of their ultimate suc-
cess ; for, in the fluctuations which have recently
taken place, the tendency has been towards a marked
advance, notwithstanding the continued demand for
money and the payment of the final instalment of the
Turkish loan. There is no doubt that a termination
of the war would have a considerable effect in diminish-
ing the pressure which has prevailed for some months
past—not only in the demand for gold from abroad, but
also from our own government—as well as render un-
necessary any new loan ; so that the improved state of
the Funds may be attributed solely to the belief in the
present expectations of peace being realised. Money
for commercial purposes has been in active demand,
and no abatement has yet taken place in the rates of
discount. There is nothing, however, to weaken the
confidence in mercantile stability, and as the accounts
just received from Australia by the Champion of the
Seas are far more favourable than preceding reports,
we may reasonably anticipate a more improved demand
for exports.
The accounts of the Bank of-4 England published on
Friday are, on the whole, of a favourable character,
the changes being comparatively unimportant. In
the stock of bullion there is an increase of £8,361,
which, with the decrease in the actual circulation of'
£16,630, accounts for the increase in the reserve of
notes unemployed of £26,195, making the total nearly
Five Millions, a sum considerably in excess of any
probable demand upon the Bank resources ; and,
therefore, rendering less ' justifiable the present high
rate of discount. The private securities are diminished
by £558,498, and the private deposits £455,263: the
one probably accounting for the other, as the deposits
are employed in paying acceptaces falling due, while
the public deposits are increased by £219,628.
The discussion on the operation-of the Bank Charter
Act is still going on ; and there seems no reason to
doubt that it will be brought before the attention of
the Legislature in the next session. Whatever may
be the crotchets of the bullionists, who can see no
virtue but in hard gold—which, except for the faith
in its universal convertibility into other commodities,
is intrinsically almost as valueless as paper—there is
no legitimate reason which has yet been adduced why
our merchants should be compelled to pay twice the
ordinary rate for accommodation, in order to bolster
up a system which all experience has proved to be
a vicious one. Nd one can deny that there is an
abundance of money, and that trade was never in a
more healthy state ; so that the security for accom-
modation is as undoubted as it can be. Yet, because
a law has passed, which the first alteration in circum-
stances has proved to be unsound in principle, the
mercantile interests have had to bear a heavy burden
which virtually doubles their rate of contribution
towards the war, without in reality contributing
anything towards the Exchequer. Such is the effect
of our monetary regulations.
The accounts from Manchester report a continued
improvement in that market, and a considerable
amount of business has been doing, at advanced prices,
in yarns, and also in manufactured goods. This is
owing to the better feeling which exists, from the
probability of a termination of the war, but complaints
are made of the advance which has been obtained not
being a sufficient compensation for that in the raw
material. The Woollen trade is also firm, and prices
are maintained, without, however, realising any ad-
vance of importance.
The Corn markets during the week have shown a
firmer tone since the decline which took place when
the intelligence from Russia was first received. This
is owing probably to the belief that it may be some
time before we shall receive any large amount of
foreign supplies, whatever turn the affairs of the war
may take; but it should be considered that the long
continuance of high prices has tended considerably to
diminish consumption, and that there is also a verylarge
amount of home-grown Wheat in the hands of the
farmers, who will do well to bring it to market while
a fair price .can be obtained, as should it be kept till
the season is more advanced, it will come into compe-
tition with the very large importations which we may
reasonably expect to receive.
The East India and China Association have pub-
lished their usual comparative statement of vessels
both British and foreign, with their aggregate ton-
nage, entered inward and cleared outward with cargo
from and to places within the limits of the East India
Company's charter, from the Ist of January to the
31st of December, 1854 and 1855.
The statistics of vessels entered inward show that
in the case of the port of London there was an in-
crease of 42 vessels and 45,251 tons, the difference
between 824 vessels with a capacity of 443,515 tons
and 866 vessels with a capacity of 488,766 tons.
Liverpool exhibits an increase of 1 vessel and 29,998
tons, the arrivals in 1854 having been 260 vessels
with a capacity of 160,572 tons, and in 1855 261 ves-
sels with a capacity of 190,570 tons. It appears that
the net increase is 24 vessels and 69,730 tons ; the
arrivals in 1854 having been 11-70 vessels with a capa-
city of 637,552 tons, and in 1855 1194 vessels with a
capacity of 707,282 tons. The principal arrivals have
been from Calcutta, China, and the Cape of Good
Hope.
The statistics of vessels cleared outward exhibit in.
the .case of the port of London a decrease of 231 ves-
sels and 21,276 tons, the difference between 912 vessels
with a capacity of 452,968 tons in .1854 and 681 ves-
sels .with a capacity 431,692 tons in 1855. The return
for Liverpool shows an increase of 25 vessels and
66,739 tons, the departures in 1854 having been 440
vessels with a capacity of 313,735 tons, and in 1855
465 vessels with a capacity of 380,484 tons. The net
decrease in the number of departnres is 225 vessels,
with an increase of 50,465 tons, showing a continued
tendency to the construction and employment of ships
of larger capacity. The figures for 1854 and 1855
respectively are 1491 vessels with a capacity of
832,596 tons, and 1266 vessels with a capacity of
883,061 tons. The principal departures have been for
Calcutta, Madras, China, Singapore, and the Cape of
Good Hope.
The return from the Bank of England for the week
ending the 19th January gives the following results,
when compared with the previous week :
Public Deposits ... £3,858,237 ; Increase ... £219,628
Other Deposits ... 13,512,245; Decrease... 455,263
Rest ... 3,365,212 ; Increase ... 34,539
On the other side of the account :
Government Securities £13,728,246; Increase.... £314,787
Other Securities ...... 16,857,506; Decrease ... 558,498
Notes unemployed
The amount .of notes in circulation is £19,370,670,
being a decrease of £16,630, and the stock of bullion
in both departments is £10,425,312, showing an increase
of £8,361 when compared with the preceding
return.

PRODUCE.—There has been a good inquiry for
Sugar, and prices for refining qualities may be quoted
6d to is per cwt. dearer, in other qualities no altera-
tion. Little doinc, in Coffee. Holders or Tea are
firm, and business has in consequence been limited.
Rice has been much depressed, and prices are is per
cwt. lower. Rum has also given away. Of Hides
a large quantity found buyers at public sales. Palm
Oil, £44 to £46 per ton. Tallow dull at 61s. to 635.
per cwt. for Petersburg Y.C.—To-DAY our Sugar
market continues quiet ; including Saturday's busi-
ness, the sales in West India amount to 250 hhds.,
chiefly Demerara, at 38s. 9d. to 425. 3d., and at
465. 6d. per cwt. for grainy ; 260 bags yellow Dates,
with all faults, have also been disposed of. There
is nothing to notice in Molasses, Rum, or
Coffee. The Tea market is moderately active, but
prices are unchanged. Rice remains fiat, and we have
no transactions to report. 260 bags Sago Flour have
been sold at 255. per cwt. for sound.
METALS.—There is very little to report in Pig Iron,
which remains in an inactive state without alteration
in value. Manufactured Iron is in good demand at
full prices. Copper and Tin without change.

WooL.—We have no new feature to report in the
Wool market since our last public sales ; stocks of
Levant and Mediterranean Wool are now very light,
with little prospect of any great, increase for
some time to come. Good Egyptian and better
classes of Bosnia and Servia Wools ; also Syrian fleece,
white and grey, are wanted, and would realise full
quotations ; the market generally is firm, with rather
an upward tendency :—lmports for the week :-1,173
bales Australian ; 640, Peruvian ; 597, Mediterranean ;
562, East India ; 55, Portugal ; 30, Irish ; 13, Scotch ;
10, Coastwise. Total, 3,080.