The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

Mr. JACOB CHRISTIANSEN, an extensive commission mer-
chant and shipbroker at Leith, has been committed for trial

on three charges of forgery.
A BULL-DOG belonging to Mr. Warriner, who trains race-
horses for Mrs. Osbaldeston, worried fifty-six sheep at Blew-
bury, Berkshire, a few days ago. The mischief done amounted
to £9O.

TEE PAVILION THEATRE, Whitechapel-road, London,
was destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning. The damage
is estimated at £20,000. The flames broke out in the scene-

painting room.
TEE Lincolnshire Times relates that several hams, which
were stolen about a fortnight ago from some premises at
Barnetby-le-Wold, have been discovered beneath the top
flagstone of a tomb in the village churchyard.
ON Thursday, the American steamer Ericsson (the steamer
on which the famous experiment was made in the United
States of propelling a ship by hot air) arrived at Southampton,
towing a_Dutch brig, which she had met in distress. The

Ericsson left on the same evening for Havre.
'MUNIFICENT OFFEn.—At a meeting of the Royal Geogra-
phical Society, on Monday, Admiral W. F. Beechey in the
chair, Count Strzelecki stated that, in the City, so much im-
portance was attached to the occupation and settlement of
North Australia, that a member of the society, M. Uzielli, had
placed £lO,OOO at his disposal, for the prosecution of the ex-
ploring expedition, in the event of the government refusing
to send one out.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.-021 Thursday,
the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company
was held at the Waterloo station. The report was adopted,
and a dividend was declared at the rate of £5 12s. 6d. per cent.
per annum, amounting, on £6,890,250 of paid-up capital, to
£194,041, leaving a balance of £11,606. It will be payable on
Thursday next, the 21st instant.
Tim committee for the erection of a statue of the late
Edward Baines, Esq., at Leeds, have decided upon appointing
Mr. Behnes the sculptor of the statue. The statue is to cost
700 guineas ; to be eight feet in height ; and to stand upon a
pedestal of Sicilian marble, at the east or right-hand side of the
vestibule of the town-hall. The second prize of £3O has been
awarded to Mr. Noble.

A WOMAN SWIMMING THE MISSISSIPPI.—When the ill-
fated Ben Sherrod was in flames on the Mississippi river, and
the lady passengers who had thrown themselves into the water
were drowning around the boat, the wife of Captain Castleman
jumped into the river, with her infant in her arms, and swam
ashore, a distance of half a mile, being the only woman saved
out of 16. She had learnt to swim when a girl.—American

paper.
TILE BRITISTE ASSOCIATION.—The annual country meeting
of the British Association for the Advancement of Science is
fixed to be held at Cheltenham, in the week commencing
August 0, and preparations are being made in the county of
Gloucester, in order to give a fitting reception to this learned
body. Lord John Russell, who has lately taken up his resi-
dence in the county, aids the committee, and a subscription
has been entered into to defray the necessary expenses.
A FEMALE RECEIIIT.—On Friday, the Bth, a young woman,
about 17 years of age, enlisted into the 97th Regiment, a re-
cruiting party of which corps is stationed at Windsor. Al-
though she slept that evening in a room where there were
several beds occupied by men, her sex was not discovered till
next morning, when, being taken before the medical officer for
examination, and ordered to strip, as is usual on such occa-
sions, she was obliged to confess that she was a woman. She
was then taken before the magistrates, charged with obtaining
' the Queen's money under false pretences, and remanded. It is
said that she enlisted in order to be enabled to join her sweet-
heart,
who is in a cavalry regiment in the Crimea. A sub-
scription has been commenced for her in Windsor.
THE following horrible accident occurred on the river
between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges, London, last week.
A lighterman, named Hosier, was out with his barge on-the
river, and attached to his vessel was a small wherry. By
some means or other the smaller vessel got adrift, when the
unfortunate man made an attempt to regain it by jumping off
his barge, but instead of alighting, as he intended, in his
boat, he fell into the river. Just at that moment a sailing
barge came alongside of the other vessel, and crushed the poor
fellow so tightly as to break his collar-bone, one of his arms,
both thighs, several ribs, and at the same time the anchor of
the sailing barge, which was hanging over the stem, caught
the man in the lower part of the abdomen ; the sharp flukes of
the anchor penetrated the flesh; and, owing to the speed at
which the barge was passing, the body of the man was ripped
open, and his bowels and heart completely exposed.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. The general half-yearly
meeting was held on Friday, at Paddington station, the Right
Hon. Spencer Walpole, M. P., in the chair. The special report
of the committee and the reports of the directors were seve-
rally taken as read. The chairman showed that there was an
increase of £86,000 in the receipts, as compared with the half
year ending in 1854. He concluded by moving that the reports
be received and adopted, which was done after two amend-
ments bad been negatived. The four retiring directors were
re-elected. The dividend was declared, and much conversation
followed on putting a resolution which had reference to mat-
ters carried at a former meeting. The chairman signified his
intention to resign, in consequence of his health not permitting
him conscientiously to retain a post of so much responsibility.
MYSTERIOUS MURDER NEAR BATS.—An inquest has just
been concluded on the body of Mr. Thomas Spiller, of Bath,
whose body was found last week near the mill-head of the
Swinford Copper Works, bearing upon it marks of consider-
able violence. The deceased, who was extensively known and
much respected, occupied the office of librarian to the Bath
Athenaeum, and he was also engaged at the Sun Fire-office in
that city. He was last seen alive on the 7th of January, at
which time he was known to have about him a large amount
in gold and silver, and various papers, &c. When the body
was found in the river it had nothing upon it but an old
handkerchief and some keys, while the head exhibited marks
of great violence. Some shirt studs had also evidently been
roughly torn from his shirt front. The jury returned a ver-
dict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons
unknown."
THE WRECK OP THE JOSEPHINE WiLms.—The inquiry
before the Folkestone coroner respecting the death of the
three sufferers in the wreck of the Josephine Willis termi-
nated on Tuesday, when the jury gave the following verdict :
" We come to a unanimous conclusion that George Summers
and others came by their deaths hi consequence of a collision
between the ship Josephine Willis and the steamer Man-
gerton, owing to an error in judgment on the part of the chief
officer of the ship, mistaking the light of the steamer for
Dungeness Light, and starboarding the helm. We also agree
that if a proper look-out had been kept on board of the
steamer the collision might have been avoided. We feel it
our duty also to state that there appears to have been a great
want of humanity on the part of the crew of both ships in not
sending assistance to the passengers of the ship whilst they
had it in their power to do so ; and we believe that if proper
efforts had been made many more lives would have been
saved."

MYSTERIOUS MunnEu.—On Tuesday, an inquest was held
at Swan Village, near West Bromwich, South Staffordshire,
on the body of a young man named Robert Grubbit, which
was found in the canal on Saturday afternoon last. The
throat was cut, and two large stones were in the pocket of
the jacket. A young woman, named Harper, stated that the
deceased had been her fellow-servant at Mr. Beddard's, who
resides at Dixon's-green, near Dudley. On Thursday, the
17th January last, a friend of the deceased called upon him
about noon. The deceased went out ; and it was proved that
he was at a public-house in the company of his friend. On
his returning to Mr. Beddard's, his fellow-servant said some-
thing to him about his remaining out so long. He appeared
offended, went out, and never returned. A woman states
that a few nights before the body was found she heard a great
noise about the spot where it was discovered, and on looking
out she saw three or four men standing near the canal, and
she heard what she fancied was the report of a pistol, and
one shouted " Shall I shoot the —?" Mr. Kite, surgeon,
of West Bromwich, had made a post mortem examination of
the body. He found a wound on the throat, five inches long,
which had evidently been inflicted with a sharp instrument,
and one on the forehead, half an inch long, of a similar
character. He also discovered several external bruises on the
skull. He was of opinion that the deceased was first stun-
ned, and thrown into the water after his throat had been cut.
He did not think the deceased could have himself inflicted
the wounds on the throat. The inquest was adjourned for
further inquiries.
RUSSIAN INTRIGUES AGAINST ENGLAND.—A Brussels
letter of the 11th says :—" Not a doubt exists that every art,
cajolery, and intrigue, is on foot, and should peace be con-
cluded,
will be redoubled, in order to enfeeble the Anglo-
French alliance. This has been the paramount object of the
Russian Cabinet, of its agents and its partisans, during the
whole couree of the war ; and, although they have signally
failed under belligerent auspices, they feel confident they
shall succeed under the shadow of the olive branch. This
being an indubitable and undisguised project, it is the duty of
Englishmen to be the more watchful and stringent as regards
the conditions of peace. Indiscreet Russians and ph ilo- Russians
in all parts of Europe do not scruple to announce a future
crusade against England. No means are spared to augment
or create universal hatred against us, and to bring our
powers, our resources, and our acts and objects, into contempt.
Not a day passes without my being told by persons more
frank than cautious, that England is universally unpopular ;
that all men's hearts are against us ; that France herself
would rejoice in a rupture, and in the revival of those accursed
feuds and conflicts which cost both nations such torrents of
blood and mines of treasure, and caused disasters to the one
which were better effaced from the annals of her history.. The
wishes of these persons may be fathers to their thoughts, as
regards France ; but there cannot be a doubt of our unpopu-
larity elsewhere. The majesty of our free institutions are
sores in the eyes of all despotic and semi-despotic courts on
the other side of the Rhine and Alps. Our devotion to our
monarchical and aristocratic organisation is a blasphemy in the
thoughts of demagogues. Our inexhaustible wealth and re-
sources, our wonderful commercial enterprise, and our com-
mand of the seas, which Bacon says is an " abridgment of
empire" for all others, are gall and wormwood to jealous and
inferior millions."
Stu CIIAELES BARRY AND THE TEEAsuur.—From copies
of Treasury minutes, dated the 6th of February, 1854, and 29th
of January, 1856, in regard to the claims of Sir Charles Barry
for services connected with the building of the New Palace at
Westminster, issued the 14th, it appears that on the 26th of
May last the following offer was made by Mr. White, as acting
for Sir C. Barry, with a view finally to settle all questions as
to commission, measurement, and all other claims up to Oct.
2, 1853, to which date the closed accounts extended, Sir C.
Barry, it should be said, having put in various claims for extra
payment over and above his commission :-1. That a commis-
sion of three per cent. should be allowed on the entire outlay
of £1,506,845, up to the 2nd October, 1853. 2. That a re-
muneration for measurement upon the whole of the works in-
cluded in that outlay should be paid at the rate of one per
cent. 3. That these commissions should cover all demands of
every kind whatsoever for the past, the services for warming,
lighting, and ventilating alone excepted, which should be dealt
with separately, and upon their own merits. 4. That the re-
muneration of Sir• Charles Barry for the future should be fixed
at three per cent. commission on the outlay as architect, and
one per cent. for measurement upon all works to which
measurement applies; and that no furniture, &c., should in
future be furnished by Sir C. Barry, except by the special order
of the Treasury. After numerous further interviews, and dis-
cussions with Mr. White, that gentleman, on the part of Sir
Charles Barry, declined the terms of settlement thus offered,
and pressed again the claims for the extra services performed.
The Treasury continuing to be of opinion that the terms herein
stated are not only fair but liberal, that they include all re-
muneration to which Sir C. Barry is justly entitled for the
services he has performed, have resolved to abide by them, and
direct that no further payment be made on account, until a
final settlement of the past, and an agreement as to the future,
arc concluded.

THE BISHOPRIC OF CARLISLE.—The vacancy on the epis-
copal bench, caused by the death of Dr. Percy, will be filled
by the Hon. and Rev. H. Montague Villiers, Canon of St.
Paul's, and Rector of St. George's, Bloomsbury. London. He
is a brother of Lord Clarendon, the Foreign Secretary, and
married a daughtcrof Mr. Hulton, of Hulton Park, Lancashire.

THE SHIPOWNERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.-The ship-
owners of the North are taking active measures to resist the
Government in passing the bill brought into the House of
Commons by Mr. Lowe, the Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, for the abolition of local burdens upon shipping, the bill
being in accordance with the recommendations of the royal
commissioners appointed to inquire into the harbour dues.
The Shields shipowners' societies have met and adopted peti-
tions to Parliament, and have appointed deputies to meet
similar bodies from the outports and the manufacturing towns,
in London. The South Shields Corporation have also adopted
a petition to a similar effect, and have deputed the mayor to
proceed to London to support the deputies. The Corporation
of Newcastle, which receives £lO,OOO a-year from the funds of
the River Tyne, applied for town purposes, met on Wednesday,
and appointed a committee to co-operate with other towns
interested in maintaining those dues, which they consider to
be "vested rights." Mr. Alderman Ingleden read a letter
from Mr. H. G. Liddell, the Conservative member for South-
Northumberland, who, in a great measure, owes his seat to the
shipowners of North Shields, who stated that be would do all
in his power to oppose the Government measure, and asking
for information. Mr. Headlam, M. P., and the new member,
Mr. G. Ridley, are pledged to support the Corporation. At
the same time, meetings will be held in all the seaports, to
adopt petitions in favour of the Government measure, which
has given great satisfaction to the shipowners.

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF. THE AFRICA.

By the British and North American royal mail steam-ship
Africa, Capatin Shannon, which arrived yesterday forenoon,
we have intelligence from New York to the 6th instant. The
Africa brought $303,941 in specie, and thirty-five passengers,
viz. :—Miss Jane Hope, Oscar Kingston, Robert Rait and
son, Wm. Moore, John Rusyite, R. M. Heneker, Jas. Brandry,
E. M. Merrell, H. Lodge, Leopold Sarbach, John Sharpies, H.
E. Visser, T. M. Drey, Macrouste, Thos. Hope, William It
Woods, Jas. Gillespie, Wm. Southwell, J. L. Van Wart, Robt.
K. Johnston, G. Holdsworth, Adrian Sein, Thos. W. Har-
court, R. Pasquel, Deigo Lopez Parodi, R. Bois, G. Noble, L.
C. Clements, Mrs. Clements, Bell, C. Bellaire, Mr. and Mrs.
Oscar, and J. Hall.
Neither the Persia nor Pacific steam-ships had arrived out.
Congress was organised on the 2d by the election of Banks.
The final ballot stood,—Banks, 103; Aiken, 100; Scattering,
11. Subsequent to the declaration of the result and the an-
nouncement by the tellers that Mr. Banks was chosen speaker,
objections were started by the Know-Nothings as to the lega-
lity of the whole proceeding, whereupon a resolution, endor-
sing the action of the house, was offered and adopted. The
lobbies of the house were crowded to suffocation, and the
excitement was increased by the startling cry that a boy was
being crushed to death by the pressure in the galleries. Some
of the members shouted out, " Fall back," "Fall back," and
others, "Hand him over the rail." The boy was at length
released from his imminent danger. Deafening shouts of
applause from the republican side and other quarters of the
house greeted the announcement of Mr. Banks' election. The
ladies waved their handkerchiefs in the galleries. For several
minutes the disorder was beyond description. On the 4th the
formality of swearing in the member took place. Speaking
of the election of Mr. Banks, the government organ says :
" Although the result is one that every national man must
regret, yet, as the republicans have a known majority in the
house, and therefore are entitled to a speaker—there is reason
for acquiescing, inasmuch as it enables the machinery of
government once more to move on."
On the sth the House of Representation was besieged with
office seekers. A Washington correspondent describes the
scene as follows :—" Mr. Glosbreener, after a severe and ex-
citing struggle, to-day was re-elected sergeant-at-arms. This
was a sad disappointment to the Black Republicans. Nathan
Darling was elected door-keeper. Johnston, tlre post-
master was overslaugbed. The contest for printer waxes
hotter ; the excitement this evening is intense. Wendle says
his chance is sure : while, on the other hand, the opposition
say they will lead him twenty votes. The respective friends
of several clergymen are pressing with great earnestness their
peculiar qualifications for the caplaincy. The contest for
printer and chaplain comes off to-morrow. Quite a number
of decapitations took place to-day. There is to be a general
slaughter about the Capitol in a few days. Ira Goodnow,
Lieut. of Police in New York, was appointed assistant door-
keeper. The pressure for appointments is awful. The area
around the Hall of Representatives was crowded this after-
noon with hundreds of office seekers, while others sought
refuge in the rotundo of the capitol. Members before and
even during the session of the House, were constantly signing
applicants' papers. No sooner had Captain Darling qualified
as doorkeeper, than he removed a messenger and appointed
his successor. This served as a signal for the crowd inside to
rush upon him with importunities, and the scene of excite-
ment was heightened, on the adjournment of the house by
the rushing in of the office-seeking forces outside."
There was some talk about a difference with France re-
specting the illegal transference of Russian vessels to citizens
of the United States. The Washington correspondent of the
Herald says :—lt has leaked out of the State department that
the French Government has assumed a position in relation to
certain Russian vessels, that have been transferred since the
commencement of the Eastern war, to citizens of the 'United
States, belly,- at the time of the transfer, in American ports,
which it is 'likely will make difficulty, unless the President
faints. A list of the vessels has been furnished to Mr. Mason,
our Minister at Paris, and the determination avowed on the

part of the French and English Governments to hold them as
lawful prizes of war if they are captured. Mr. Mason, it is
reported, exhibits some apprehension on the subject. The
correspondence will probably be called for in a few days."
The following, says the Herald, is General Cass' opinion of
Lord Palmerston. " The veriest of monarchists, and a rabid
hater of American institutions ; and although liberal in many
respects, yet on all questions touching our Government as
stubborn as a mule. So long as Palmerston presides over the
Foreign-office there is no prospect for any amicable adjustment
of our difficulties with England."
The Herald states that Lord Carlisle is in correspondence
with the Abolitionists of the United States.
Advices from Havana, of the Ist instant, report that two
French frigates were in the harbour, but no English. The
United States frigate Potomac had left for Key West. The
stock of sugar in market was smaller than usual, owing to the
unpropitious state of the weather for harvesting and trans-
porting. The market was dull.
Destructive fires had occurred at Syracuse, Manchester,
N.H., and Chicago.
The Irishman charged at Cincinnati with an intention to
invade Ireland had been acquitted.
On the sth the Central American question was again de-
bated in the senate, Mr. Foote denying the claims of England
on Central America, &c. The idea of yielding to her preten-
sions was not to be thought of. If England did not give way,
he would have her removed by force of arms. " Let England,"
said the member, "understand that we are in earnest about
this, and that it is not a second edition of ' 54, 50, or fight,'
and then backing down to 49. If, after such forbearance, war
comes, let it come—we shall be justified both by God and
man."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, February 6.
_

The Money-market, (says the New York. Skipping- and
Commercial List, of the 6th inst.,) is well supplied with
capital, and mercantile paper of a high grade meets with a
freer. currency at 8 to 10 per cent. for short, and 12 per cent,
for long dates. On call, 6to 7 per cent. are the rates. The
business community, generally, are easy in their finances, and
from the stagnation of trade for some time past, but a com-
paratively small amount of new notes have recently been.
made, which, in connection with the moderate specie ship-
ments to Europe, augurs prospective ease in the money-
market. A variety of opinions are expressed in Wall-street,
with regard to the late political intelligence from Europe.
Some argue that the war is to go on, while others urge that
a peaceful solution of the vexed Eastern question will be the
issue of the proposed conferences. Sterling exchange had
been comparatively scarce, produce shipments having fallen
off, and large quantities of ice forming a barrier to loading
and departure-of vessels. The irregularity of the arrival of
the Southern mail has also contributed to reduce the supply
of bills. Rates had in consequence slightly advanced-85 per
cent. now being the top rate for bankers. Continental ex-
change is plenty. The rates being f. 5.215 to f. 5.25. Ex-
change : Business for the Africa was very moderate. Sterling
is firm on account of the small supply of bills in the market.
We quote bills on London 85 to 8 per cent. prem.
COTTON.—Cotton had advanced on the Arabia's news to the
extent in all of sc. per lb. The market previously having
been very firm at the rates current on the 20th instant,
There was a fair demand at this improvement for shipment,
both to England and to the North of Europe. The sales for
the week are estimated at 16,000 bales.

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON.
Exports Total Exports Stocks on
to to Hand and

Receipts

Great Britain. Foreign Ports Shipped.
1856 1,901,017 712,913 1,121,032 141,629
1855 1,243,974 611,832 844,532 127,285
276,500 14,344
Increase 657,043 101,111

Messrs. Talcott and Co., in their circular of the sth instant,
state, " The sales for the week we estimate at 24,000 bales, of
which 14,000 are in transit. Prices have advanced ie., making
the full advance on the Arabia's advices it. to lc. In transit
cotton we notice an advance of the closing rates being 9c.
to 9,1 c. for middling Mobile and New Orleans ; lower grades
in proportion. The Arabia's mail came to hand yesterday
morning, and an advance of tlld. to id. per pound in cotton
took place. Very little cotton offering. Southern markets
have all materially advanced since the receipt of the advices
referred to. With regard to the crop, we fully confirm the
views we have advised on this subject, and oar figures,
3,300,000, are now being generally adopted."
BRBADSTUITS.—We had a tame market for Flour, without
change in prices. Subsequently, however, after the receipt of
the letters per Arabia, to the 19th ult., confidence was partially
restored, and several thousand barrels were taken for the home
trade and for shipment to England, at a decline from our
quotations of this day week of 25c. to 371 c. per barrel in all
qualities. At this decline, however, it is
cases now
sioiemlae
firmlyaetveandeclorineer
difficult to
is ti3niCs. to 4c. per bushel lower.
proauftrsecesl.l ahpseaery
eibnubseqie, quantity;
la.anctcjietipyi
Indian
.ltchloo%ru,nigi
drktehtefosur
pppolryklawrasge,2swci.thtofasiocr
r.
elcoewipetrs,
market
closing unsettled. Beef was in
with a limited demand, and an increased
latforhdesirerePg eilt
o demandas; Illaysea p: al
moderate,a. n—r
anddtt hhofe in
some holders to realise, the market was
again easier. Bacon is quiet, and the market is rather heavy.
Lard was again lower, with a moderate business at the decline.
Butter steady, and the demand fair. Cheese was firm for
good, and dull for inferior. Prices range from 9c. to 101-e.
IRON.—The market for Scotch pig was quiet, at $32 to
$32,50. Bars remained unchanged ; indifferent common
Welsh at $60,50 to $6l, six months, and refined at $66 to
$67,50.L.L C.—Foreign remained very dull, and sales were effected
with difficulty. Hard was steady at $6, cash.
SALT.—There had been no receipts, and the market re-
mained quiet. An invoice (the only one afloat) of 650 sacks
Ashton's and 750 ditto Jeffreys and Darcey's Liverpool Fine
sold at $1,50 for the former, and $1,40, four months, for the
latter. _

4.0
Grain, 7d. to Thd. per
.1•MO• •
uFEltocusr:r2ss.—.
3Tdo.
toLi2vse.rr
ic.dper k :
ba'orrreColt;ton,3-16d to 7-32dper
bushel. To London : Flour, 3s. 9d. to 4s. per barrel; Grain,
11d. to 12d. per bushel.
Nxw ORLEANS, FEB. 4.—Cotton firm ; sales to-day, 3,000
bales, at 9kc. to 91-e. for mid. Mess Pork, $16,76 to $l7.
Freights : Cotton to Liverpool, 0-30 d.