The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

CARDIGAN HARBOUR OC7REFUGE.—Mr. L. DAVIES gave
liotice that on Tuesda, the Ith inst., he would sumit to the
house a motion for the appointment of a committee b
tO inquire
into the expediency and practicability of constructing, in the
Zest advantageous part, of Cardigan Bay, a harbour of refuge.,
a afford protection against the injury to commerce, and to
ert the harrowing scenes of woe attendant on the frequent
tilwrecks which occurred in St. George's Channel ; which
"41'hour might be constructed also to serve as one of defence
against invasion. And that the said committee be at liberty
receive evidence as to the feasibility of employing the con-
!lets of this country on that work, making their employment
remunerative to the country, beneficial to themselves, and at
the same time preserving our social condition, the security of
save men.
IRISH TENANT La.w.7—ln answer to a question, Lord PAL-
-ItERSTON. said the government, last year, was induced to
take charge of a bill, introduced by an independent member,
on the subject; but, from the difficulties that were thrown in
ipway by the introducer, amongst others, the government
Id not propose to introduce a measure this session themselves,
llor were they prepared to take charge of any private bill on
the subject.
THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP.
The House having resolved itself into a committee,
Mr. LowE moved for leave to introduce two bills, one to
amend the law of partnership, the other for the incorporation
regulatioa. of joint,stock companies and other associations.
rie explained the state of the law regarding these matters and
the changes proposed by the bills. The object of the first
Was to remove an impediment to the adoption of so much of
u 0 principle of the commandite system as would not vio-
tently disturb the existing law of partnership. The other
'fill contained additional provisions for the regulation and con-
trol of joint-stock and other associations. In expounding the
views of the Government with reference to the restraints
ttPon these associations, Mr. Lowe adverted to the principles
Which should guide future legislation upon this subject and
that of incorporation, which he considered not a privilege,
Ut just as, much for the benefit of the public as of the com-
Van, y incorporated. The principle of limited liability, he con•
tended, was freedom of contract and the right of unlimited
association. The law of unlimited liability rested upon two
grounds—namely, that it insured the stability of a company,
'and that it prevented fraud ; but Mr. Lowe insisted that it did
not secure either object. The only safeguard for the state to
adopt was, in his opinion, to arm courts of justice with effi-
''elent means to stop extravagance, securing, at the same time,
Publicity. The bill would repeal the Winding-up Acts, and
the Joint-stock Companies Act, and the Limited Liability
Act, and substitute new provisions (which he explained), com-
pulsory and permissive, for the same objects. In deference to
the opinion of a select committee, the bill would not apply to
Insurance companies.
Several members expressed their approval of the bills,
Which were brought in and read a first time.
COLONEL Than.—ln answer to a question, Lord PALMER-
ITON said there was no intention of making any alteration in
the law with regard to aliens. The result of communications
that had passed between Her Majesty's Government and
Austria had been, that Austria had expressed herself ready to
deliver up Colonel Turr, and he was now at liberty to return
to the service of this country. As the matter had ended in a
*satisfactory manner, it would be of no use going any further
Into the question.
JUVENILE REFORMATORIES.—Sir J. PAYINGTON inquired
of the Home Secretary what were the intentions of the
Government respecting the future support and regulation of
juvenile reformatories, dwelling upon the magnitude which
the question had assumed, and upon the inconveniencies
incident to the existing state of the law upon the subject.
Sir G. GREY acknowledged that the subject was one of
undoubted importance; but, as the experiment was in course
01' trial (the result being so far satisfactory), Parliament, he
thought, should have longer experience of its operation pre-
vious to further legislation.
Mr. MILES pressed for an early consideration of the subject.
After some observations by Sir S. NORTRCOTE, Lord R.
saitosvENoE, Sir W. JOLLIFFE, Mr. MILNES, Mr. ADDERLEY,
and Lord R. CECIL, the subject dropped.
The House adjourned at half-past eight o'clock.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

PORTUGAL

We have advices by the steamer Cintra, from Lisbon, to the
29th ult. The same day, at 5 p.m., she passed the Sultan
going iuto Lisbon. The Cortes resumed their sittings on the
19th ult., being engaged in the election of councillors. Nothing
of public interest had taken place. It was expected the
Finance Minister would bring forward his report, and bills
respecting contracts and loans for railway construction.
Although the heavy gales upon the coast have subsided for
the last few days, rain continues to fall in great abundance.
The Donna Maria steamer has been unable to take in her
cargo, and her departure for the Brazils is put off to the 6th
of February.
Accounts from Algarve represent two-thirds of the inhabit-
ants of that province as being reduced to the greatest misery.
The rains and storms have stopped the fisheries, inundated
lands, and many houses have fallen there, in consequence of
the wet season and shocks of earthquake.
The sufferings upon the banks of the Tagus and other rivers
are also very great, and much of last year's promised abund-
ance of oil has been neutralised by the loss of the olives, which
could not be gathered, and have been carried off by the floods.
All this actual distress, and the impossibility of doing neces-
sary agricultural labour to secure this year's crop of grain,
render the country's prospects gloomy in the extreme.