The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

131 ; Caledonians, 29+ ; Lancashire and Yorkshire,
751 4 -I-1 ; London Stock, 921 11 ; Ditto Fifths, ;
Sheffield Stock, 21+ ; Midland tock, 64 1- i• 4 ;
South Eastern, 17.÷.

CorroN.--The market during the week has pre-
sented a decided reaction, and not only have prices
advanced, but the amount of sales has been limited
by the small quantity on offer, the present stock being
considerably below the corresponding period last year,
and rapidly decreasing. The sales for the week, up
to Friday, reached 65,720 bales, of which 7,800 were
taken on speculation, and 7,770 for export, leaving
50,150 for the trade. TO-DIY, there was another
advance of *d. to id. per lb., and the sales amounted
to 12,000 bales, including 4,000 for speculation and
export. The following is a comparison of present
rates with those of the corresponding period last
year :---

New Orleans, middling
„ fair
Upland, middling
„ fair

1854 1855
5 5-16
6f 64-
5 3-16 5 0-16

PaonneE,--There has been great excitement in the
Sugar-market, and prices have advanced from 6s. to
7s. per cwt. on Colonial, and 3s. to 4s. on Foreign
descriptions. The transactions have been very exten-
sive, Including sales for arrival. Coffee steady. Tea
in moderate request. Cocoa in good request for
export. For Rice a fair inquiry. Rum steady, Palm
Oil higher. For Tallow a good inquiry at improving
prices. To-DAY, the Sog,ar-market confirmed very
firm at the advance noted at the close of :last week ;
the transactions (including Saturday's badness), were
large, consisting of 200 hhds. Trinidad at 505., 330
hhds. Antigua at 545. 'bo 565. 6d., 14'4``0 hhds. Porto
Rico at 545. to 585., 350 bags Cossipore at 585., 600
bags Dates at 545. , 640 mats brown Mauritius at
48s. to 495. 6d., 450bgs white Petnams at 505., with
1400 bags brown to -arrive at 31s, 6d., and 4000 bags
afloat at 31s per'cam. Molasses econtinne scarce, awd
there being also tittle Rum on,offer, the business is
still limited. 100 bags Rio Cdtee are reported at
per cwt. The trade have been engaged inspecting
the numerous samples of Tea, by the Conrad and.
Pam, but as little has been done. We have 'had
comiderably more doing in Rice, 2700 kar.gs 'old:
Lai ong having realised k2s., besides which 4'Cargo'ofi
17000 bags Arracan has 'been sold afloat for ihe'entr-
tin ent at ins. 91; and. 53 tons broken Bengnl7 to atiire
;at 14sAi1. per cwt. 'We have also to notice 150 cases
CagtorTin at 61c1 p 0 lb., 450 bales 411 tent `016:65.
!perlton, 450 bags'yellow Mustard Seed,iiittifthe qtay,
'at 78s, and 450' heos Bengal Rapeseea, ;to i-friire, at
65's. per oarter; c 'el'. and L

ooL.---Since ebr last weekly reva 'we Ihnve no
'fettirre to notice in the Wool-market, .12int at the same
,time betteefeang has been alanifegt dmingthe last
I-two. br three 'days ; stocks of all acseriptitins'xiire very
'light; and the trade generally in :a very 'hedltiy state,
thb,t it is expected shortly to •see•mbre :activity in
the market. “Imports for the vteek are, '1,044 bales
Eaktllndia, it I Lisbon, 133 Sec:bob, -214tisli, 5 Coast-
Wise, .I,o6siteru, and 2 Ileaderraten:.;'Utal, 2,489

:'Messrs 0 (came and Co., it. thii'Artior:thly circular;
'Say-:-=-
The tsa:steraonth has been evie ,df unnittil•klulness ; the !un-
easy feedbag regarding the Monemarket`vilfich characterised
the closed/ Sept., has since then considerably increasek;and
the fur &- advance in the !brnfl: 'rates .6f. discount t 6 6 anfi 7
.per eentqwears to have completely • destroyed confidence,s)..nd
fel' the present to paralyse traMng- opeatiens generally; tusi-
nem libilinmetions have in •cousetinence 'been very incrarcur-
taited,ltet from the lightuess+6l-itocks of wool and theihner-
wigeileiathy state of the tradeidn' the,n-rar.Ufacturing districts,
)prioes:lirawe not as yet given way :ratteii+Aly, and the Aii.cf re-
inart,oftifais untoward eveut, ,so 'far as regards the wool trade,
tSeeniStiso be au entire eessafsion Of 'ill-speculative demand and
a detennination on the put ,6f-cormiers to °Online their
'tpertit'Aus exclusively to•supPly*ehi,immediate reciWirements.
Salegfaave been made in Yatmoishri*tier, Lisbon, Oporto,
-Egyptian, fine Per avian:ma tliel tater 'classes 'of Turkey and
Viist tudia without any Inategal •rOchietion in' rice, but for
ihiitvver sorts of Tailley,.lßrtisiaß Barbary, &c., Is ices may
pbequoted ld. to Id. IperiliLlowerillthoug,li in a great measure
~motinistal, as there is•altottitubsencenMeniand for these descrip-
-- lions; of Mohair-and Alpaca- sto*szrxe very light wad the late
1-vadvaaced rates are •wall lupptitted. In Engliall and Irish
0; ,eonairing wools a Tabu:tint. of Id." to Id. per lb. sty be quoted
lion-same sorts ;in 'Scotch 'not I.7trutia doing, amilto effect sales
I.llemer rates would 'have to be stibthitted to.

TlMBER.—Weolndietildfilhwing from the monthly
iknialar of Messrs. Sion3l4"SlATElti and C3o.:—

1 "The arrivals into the,klocks'of the Mersey, during die
moseth, containir.g froni;Th_itish North lanerica, are—
;.!S9 vessels, 48,019 tons, againse'6B vessels; 41_,'943 tons, for the
,carresponding vcriodaaSt%year. The tonnage:employed in the
reanadian timber trade, as compared with /fast year to this
ktirse, is only 50;000 mgdinttfu2poo tons - tint from St..rolm
mu& other ports at lie _greatly ,he excess, 184,000 tons
~against 136,000 to the-same 'period last 'year.. The great defi-
,-diency in the eupPly,of Quebeclimber, and. an extensive eon-
qmenption, have Tedneed thesistcok and. enhanced the prim •so:
:.3easiderably, that cargoes4hick sold at the •cemmencemeatof
s: ;;be import season at 16til..per`ftot for 78 feet average, cargoes
osf the same desciipbion:are mow worth 200.1 pm foot."

METALS.—aleite iSNVery little to-report, as every-
iling is dull, it ,Without chancre in prices, Seotdh
cgs may be quoted at 755. per t.0n,.(v0.b. at Glasgow.
ila Manufactured iron Imo-alteration. Other aritieles
Nwithout change.

:IMPORTANT TO SHIPOWERS AND

17.n)1EIVWRITERS.

THE Sarin' M.E,:n3VA ID .

A case of great importance to shipowners and underwriters
tune on for investigation on Saturday, ,before Mr. Mansfield,
the stipendary enagistrate,,azdt Captain Robertson, of the
'Board of Trade. Is the -case had .occasioned a considerable
extent of conversation :and ,tascussionoa great numher
parties interested in ,shippktg•-were•lpresent at the opening of
:the investigation, Whialvtoel:4sace in: the magistrates' private
room.

Mr. Mansfield, before ',proceedings—tad that, from the statto
4of his health, it was impossible for him. to.sit if the apartment
were crowded. Re therefore ;requested that all parties not
immediately concerned [the ease. would leave the room, as
cthe public would be ampirrppresented, and fully informed of
';alL'hat took place, Jcwlthe ..gerlemen..wilxi were present to
iropczt for the press..
..Mr. Hull, solicitor, Who :eared for Ale shipowners, said
aths.,clients, Messrs. Bilkington JanchlViiiscn, the eminent
,shipowners, of the White .Starlizie of Australian Royal Mail
Taw-lids, whose interests ,were ,d6pply,involvel in the investi-
;gallon about to procabd, %were zinost anxious that every pub-
ahould be gives to theproceedings.
Mr. Mansfieid repeatetirthatangq publici.tyorould be given
itotth9.lroceedings by the :gentlemen of :the; press who were
;prese..nt.; and considelikg the.sindliness of; the .apartment, he
Imusteiasist on the roe= being.Alemed. i 'Gassers. Pilkington
And Wilson were not wkoessesiitilae•caseituzd..desired to be
present,iley might remain.
Yligs.a.:e then liroceedeiel. ilt,niacan irNuirytdemanded by
Captain
.Etlward Devey, ref the &Is* :Mermaid, rbelonging to
Xessrs., lidkington and irdsori!s "..White-Star Line," into
,certain wi,.irges made against ilimin:a..JetterAddressed by the
Zeitish.Cowal at Pernambszo to the :BQatcl:of. Trade.
Thertoyal mail clipper-ship Mermaid,; it. swap, MI her borne-
aimed xoyage from Melbourne, Laving been detkiried by ad-
arensemiiails gird severe weather, tbeearne • ptraitkeVei for pro-
/644n5, and captain Devey made for Pernambuco, with the
linteation..etrlreiving supplies of f vesh provisieks,t kit not in-
teuttog to. remain longer than a low lon:vs. ,Theiletrnaid, as
has teen intimated some time ava,:arri-.eed Liverpool on the
2@th .efJast..mpith, with about 510 ipassetwors on bowl and a
very Talliahle.garoo, comprising, acnaorag.atller artigles,..gold to
the vitine of ;4 000.

In ibilffetini the 'stormy seas. will& 4ko ,eucoon.tered, the
vessel :had became !slightly leaky, a cisoutasteuce whit had
attracted ,Captain Devey;s early and .eatoest atten,tieo, and
which a .rx.inute ..iwzestigation had conminood tsf no
serious 1911Qtalent,Atiftsuch as in no way as toaffnperil Alle.s*fetY
of the skip. oa,arriting at Pernambuco,,ooo. or two of be
cabin pasatagers, ,Aetnnucli acquainted with :maritime affairs,
and alarmed for ,their personal safety, oonammdcated to the
British Consul the fact ?that the vessel was leaky. Theconsui,i
more acutely Alive to the importance of this ,ecomunication
than consuls semethnesane, issued an order that Abe liermaid
should be immediately suiveyed. Against this 40,cflptait.1
nautical officerseoluehsBpecience and judgmentresuonstrated,
declaring it to be altogether unnecessary. Regardless .of,tbk
captain's opposition, the , corsul insisted on the antw,ey
made; and the panties toAlient this important duty was en-
, trusted reported it es 'their, minion that the ship could uot!be
allowed to proceed os ber,vctyuge until she had been exteasively
tmpaired. Apart from his ,con7ierilion that no such course of vro-
!fieeding was necessarysentpt.Amw.aware that it was impostade
Ito take a vessel of suck tounagc„as the Mermaid over the barst
!Rernambuco without inearringAgreat cost and waste of Unite
,in }having her lightened of her ccm:go, remonstrated against the
.order. He further .knew that, ,aven:after the ship had been
;lightened sd as to get her into the 4aort, there was no dry dock,
or,indeed, any dock at all, into winoh a vessel of such mag-
nitude:as the Mermaid could be put,And that the only way in
which,she could even be examined was to have her beached,
an operation which, in his judgment, must have proved fatal
to the ship. In these circumstances, he refused compliance
with the,constd's order. The consul insisted on submission,
and furthei• ;Intimated his intention of .euforeing obedience,
and also insistigg on means being afforded for seeming the pay-
ment of his (theconsurs) commission of two and a half per
cent, upon the gold on board, a commission amounting to some-
where about £10„GO.O. The captain, fully convinced of the
seaworthiness of his ship, yet also deeply sensible of the
heavy responsibility x:hich rested upon him, stated the
case plainly to his passengers, at the same time assurin.,
them that he had the fist reliance on the perfect safety assuring
proceeding on the ,voyage. Trusting in his representations,the
passengers, with the exception of 10 or 12, volunteered to go
with him, and signed a memorial to that effect. Armed with
this document, and animated by the confidence in his judg.
ment which its presentation implied, he resolved to crave the
authority of the consul ; and having first, so far as it was pos.
eible for him to do so, provided against every contingency
which might arise on the voyage, he sailed from Pernambuco
on the 16th of Sept., and after a pleasant voyage of one month
and four days, brought his ship, his passengers, and his cargo,
safely into the Mersey—thus elearlYj
justifying his reliance on
the seaworthiness of this noble ship, and vindicating her cha-
racter. In addition to all this, the energetic promptitude of
his decision saved the pockets of his owners and the under-
writers a sum which would not have been less than £25,000,
in charges for repairs (which, if executed at all, must have been
inefficiently performed,) for detention of the ship, and for the
commission claimed by the consul.
The fact of the Mermaid having made the run from Per-
nambuco to Liverpool in so short a time as that occupied, may
be presumed as proof of her excellent sailing condition and
qualities, and is in itself g sufficient evidence of the soundness

of Captain Devey's judgment, and a justification of the pro-
priety of his conduct. Shortly after her arrival, the vessel,
quite a new one, was put into the graving-dock, and has been
completely overhauled. The leak was found to be of the most
trifling description, and was easily repaired by a slight caulk-
ing. She is now on the berth loading for her next voyage to
the Antipodes, for which she will take her departure on the
20th instant; and, competent authorities here state broadly.
that if carried into Pernambuco and beached, she must infal-
libly have been ruined by the straining to which a ship of her
length and tonnage would inevitably have been exposed.
Such was the nature of the case relied on by Captain Devey
in demanding an investigation into his conduct on the trying
occasion.

His application having been daly laid before the Board of
Trade, the investigation he demanded was at once complied
with, and the inquiry was accordingly proceeded with, the first
witness called being Captain Devey, who was under examina-
tion for nearly three hours. In the course of his testimony he
reiterated the leading points stated in the preceding abridg-
ment of the case. Mr. John Napier and Mr. Faugg, both
passengers on board the Mermaid, were next examined, and
they, in the main features of their testimony, bore out the
evidence of Captain Devey. They also stated that they, in
common with the majority of the passengers, were satisfied
with the entire prudence and management of Captain Devey,
wise never for a moment seemed to entertain any doubt as to
the seaworthiness of the ship. Indeed, they had the most
thorough confidence in his judgment and seamanship.
At the close of this evidence, it being now six o'clock, the
further hearing of the case was adjourned till
YESTE R DAY.

According to the terms of adjournment, the further inquiry
into this case was proceeded with in the magistrates' private
room, before Mr. Mansfield and Captain Robertson yesterday
morning. Before the regular, proceetings had commenced,
J. W. Harden, sq., Judge of the Cheshire County Conrt,
at Birkenhead, having applied for permission to the bench to
do so, said he had taken the liberty of attending on behalf of
his brother-in-lay*, the Bishop of Sydney, who had gone out a
passenger in 'the Mermaid on tier last voyage to Melbourne.
The bishop had_ desired him. (Mr. Harden) to state that he
entertained the very higheit respect for Captain Devey, pet-
sonalln.and that he regarded him as a most intelligent and
amiable as cell as gentlenitmly man. That he had experienced
the greatest attention =A care from him, Elia had implicit
reliance en his management of the ship as a prudent and jue-
.tions man, an able Kaman, and an officer of courage and
judgment.

The first witness eslled was Mr. Wilson'Green,-surveyor of
shipping to the Board of Trade. He stated generally that he
was acquainted with' the character and strticture of the Mer-
maid, having exatr.ined her shortly after she arrived ,In'.Liver-
peal from America, where she was trailt. She was a ship of
medium sharpness of bottom, and was well-upon the too r. From
his knowledge of her form, he would not consider 'her making
from six to eight inches of water an hour, as indicated in the
*ell, through!eakage, any cause for alarm ; and eertainly would
not have thought it any reason far considering her unfit to •
make the voyage from Pernanatato to Liverpool. He came
to this •c,orfelusion because the ,well was small and would be
easily fillefi, as it contained lint little room for water. To one
inexperienced in such mattors'it might appear alarming, tat
he did not think it was any cause; of danger. He had heard
the-efidence given, and had read 'the -report of the sl'vey
maik,iit Pernambuco. Fran all he:had heard and read, and
• fixim is knowledge of thethip, he should not think thee was
any Winger to be apprehended; indeed in passenger slips he
hndfound those the most healthy 'which did admit za little
tealkge. From what he-saw of the -ship, he was Of opinion
that she is equal in strewth' to the ordinary ships of'the class
tervhich she belongs. 'Supposing the evidence he had heard
"tee be true, which be had no reason to doubt, he -should not
for a moment have hesitated to proceed in her from Pernam-
thuco to Liverpool. If he had himself examined her there and
found the matters initorinesionvivith her as stated, he should
'have said the ship was .qitite fitto proceed.
Mr. Robert James, -and -1&r. William Haxledean, ship
surveyors to the Beard beEmieration, were jointly examined,
and they stated in -general' that they surveyed the Mermaid
when she came iiratto,Livepool, that was it April, 1854, and
she was then -a bmn-new ship. She had been jointly inspected
by them and by Lleyd's. The examination was for classifi-
cation and also for reinis tration to make the voyage as a
passenge-Ship. "Everything was done to her to render her
in all erects ttted'for the purposes` cf a passenger ship.
When completed shoveas-as efficientasaship could be. She was
sound and well built, and - a superior ship of her class. She
was a star'-.4. hAnittorned ship with a good rise of floor. They
shoed not ,consider,a-chip of her bad making six or seven
inchesofwater hi the yell daring thetirtt hour or so after it had
beet pumped out, a natter of great •oeusequence, and not one
inifazatingany• danger. Their reason for thinking so was, that
she -was \very" 11111.af ember, and had-not much space for hold-
ing watet,so thatitvould show fast and rise rapidly. They
had examined her in the- graving-deck since her last arrival.
isi(cloingva, they Observed water. tikkling down the keel, near
tibegarboardltrakeioa the larboard side,that is closetothekeel.
Onseeir.g this,-they ordered the •cepper to be taken off; which
was done. - On• the copper and gilt being stripped off, there
was a :rush' '="iif,warer, about three inches broad, which came
cat seirthe.joint atTthe garboardstrake. Examination showed
thisiteitare•beenneglected in the zaulking. The copper was
all 'stripped off, end the ,whole of the bottom was earthily
caNuVaikizirrs neelail:gsofetl.se tThheempaatrtterrefenwithedhetor.
‘exwasat:aintieidk,bd,
' inclination of haVing been Strained in any way. The pitch was
ago'dther pabrattol;llf tleie7
atia- she is now perfectly tight. She shows '
• untcracked: forward nor aft iof the leak, nor on her top-sides.
Net- a dten of water had been made on the opposite side:ofthe
keel to that where the lei!: was. They saw her in the dry
dela,when she \vas about to depart on her last voyage, .as she
was 'then coppered, nut :having been done so on her first
\voyage. She avas then aaefectly sound, and well found in
• 07ery-respect.
Captain Samuel Reed, :manager of the Ferries under the
Woodside. Commissioners, was next examined. lie said he
knew the port of Perimmbaco well, having been.six or :-eight
times in, it, across the bar. There is not more than fourteen
leet4water on the bar. lie knowsithe Mermaid -well, having
•often examined her, behaving at one timebeen intended to
,command:her. She isaveessel which would draw from mine-
teen to- twenty feet, and if heavily laden would draw twenty-
one •feet. In his opiriicrn she could not have been -safely
lightened 'to a draft of fourteen feet, and he should have,con- ,
iiidered ut dangerous to attempt taking such a vessel -over
the. bar.

- -
.invideiace was then-Offered to show that the cargo had-bone
odelivered in good order•:n Liverpool; but it was motrthought
-desirable by the gentlemm making the inquiry.
Mr. Hull then briefiyaddressed the bench, contending that
the ...justification of Capt. Devey's conduct hal been complete.
Captain Robertson.qtaid, after hearing the evidence he had
.consnlted with his colleague, and they had agreed ..entirely
.the.-statement made:by the learned gentleman. They had
also.: tsought it Tight -to state what their report on-the.case
would be. It would-be in substance nearly as follows:: after
duo consideration of evidence and looking to all Ihe -cir-
-eumstane,es which lead been brought forward, they -mere of
Winkel that the Cislatitin was justtfied in proceeding ,in the
'.ermaid from PeruunVnico to Liverpool ; and thatso far from
being to blame for doing so, they thought that under all the
trying circumstances,ae had done all that could reasonably
have been expected-fsora a person placed in so responsible and
trying a position.
This announcemezt vas received with a hearty manifesta-
itioniti applause.