The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-22 00:00:00

Convulsively clutching the tangible index of returning pros-
perity, they hurried off to spread the good tidings, and to
incite others to share in the outward manifestations of

rejoicing.
The British, however, are eminently a practical people; and
although generally and greatly preferring the national honour
to individual aggrandisement, it was remarked as not a little
singular to witness the avidity with which they contrived to
amalgamate personal profit with public happiness, and to
measure, in a great degree, the extent of public honour by the
amount of private emolument. Thursday was in a great
measure devoted to the expression of feeling and the transfer
of stocks ; but with the following day came the exercise of
reason ; and this raised the inquiry, what is the cause of all
this joy ? The phrase that the propositions had been accepted,
" as a basis of negotiation," called forcibly to mind the un-
welcome conviction that better than a year ago Russia ac-,
cepted the "four points" as a "basis of negotiation ;" and that
this acceptance was duly honoured in the diplomatic vagarie
of Lord JOHN RUSSELL. It was also remembered that he
kept one set of tallies at Vienna, while he sent a second to
London, and brought a third, different from either of the other
two, home with him ; but that the whole ended as it had been
foreseen, before the stage was fully arranged for the comedy
in utter discomfiture and disappointment to those who ex-
pected any beneficial result from such negotiations. Happily,
in the present instance, few seem likely to be much deceived
The PREMIER is on his guard, if we can credit the opinion
uttered by the Morning Post, which is believed to echo the
sentiments of his Lordship. From this generally well-in-
formed organ of opinion, it appears that important proposi-
tions, which are not yet announced, will be ingrafted upon
that basis of negotiation, while the five points, it would seem, on
the same authority, were known to the Allies before they were
submitted to Russia. " When the cabinet of Vienna applied
to England and France," says the Post, "to know the terms
upon which they would consent to make peace with Russia, a
direct and distinct reply was given. Upon that reply Austria
founded the proposal which Russia has accepted, but she has
not represented to the CZAR the whole and exact tenor of our
demands, and it would not be fair in us, nor indeed just either
to ourselves or to Russia, to enter upon discussion before the
preliminaries have been arranged so clearly and unmistakably
that Russia, on the one hand, may not have it in her power to
pretend that we have entrapped her into negotiations without
making her fully aware of their import ; nor we, on the other,
be open to the manoeuvres of the adroit diplomacy which has
already, in former instances, so clearly amused our diplomatists
to our disadvantage. To take an example: in the Austrian
proposals the name of the Aland Islands is never mentioned .
but, nevertheless, we believe it will be found that Lord
CLARENDON had emphatically stated to the Cabinet of Vienna
that we must insist upon Russia binding herself not to re-
build Bomarsund. This resolve, justifiable on the grounds of
military snccess, and requisite as a matter of high import to
the well-being of Europe, becomes imperative, when it is re-
membered that we have only recently concluded an alliance
with Sweden, and that it is our bounden duty not to leave our
ally at the mercy of Russia, nor to permit the re-erection of a
huge and menacing fortress within a hundred miles Of Stock-
holm." From these observations it would seem the Cabinet
of Vienna has acted the part of a mediator but indifferently,
if so well, if no allusion has been made by it to so important
a case as Bomarsund and the Aland Islands. The problem of
a favourable issue to the negotiations appears much more
complicated when charged with this new element of discord.
The key to a satisfactory solution may be found, however,
in the subjoined remarks of the Post, if promptly acted on.
"In the meanwhile, we must keep our energies braced up, and
relax notone iota of the prodigious exertions that arebeing made
for the spring campaign. This, we are convinced, is the soul of
successful negotiation." Not a doubt of it. The best grounds for
conjecture, backed by the most authentic means of acquiring
information, concur in representing the Russian resources as
greatly impaired, if not entirely exhausted. Scarcely any
reason exists for believing that but for the good offices of
Austria the war cannot possibly be carried on by Russia for
more than another campaign. If, through those good offices,
the humiliation of bitter defeat, and the entire prostration of
her energies, be spared to Russia by a premature peace, that
will, in all human probability, be only a truce to last till the-
Court of St. Petersburg, or it may be the Court of Vienna,
shall, through the arts of diplomacy, have contrived to dissolve
the alliance between Great Britain and France. If peace be
established under present circumstances, there appears nothing'
to warrant a belief that Russia will forego the policy by which
she has been actuated for centuries : nor is there anything to
justify the opinion that she will not direct all her energies to
subvert that alliance which defeated the carefully-hatched
schemes of Nicnoras. If Russia yield to all the conditions.
required, peace cannot be refused to her; but, while conceding:
this, it must not be forgotten that the policy which, under
restraint, she professes to forego, is one which she long
cherished, and which she has more successfully pursued through,
intrigue than by open war.
While measures have been taken in the north to ensure the
cessation, or at least for the suspension of hostilities, in the
south, steps for their vigorous prosecution have been pursued
with equal alacrity. The Allied Council of War has assemble,
daily at Paris, under the presidency of the EMPEROR, who
takes a warm and active interest in the proceedings; but out
of doors the strictest secrecy is observed as to the result of the
deliberations. The De'bats states that one of the chief ques-
tions under discussion has been and still continues, the unity,
of the command of the Allied armies. This, of course, is a
question of grave importance, and from the Council will meet
with a degree of consideration its gravity demands. The Paris,
correspondent of the Independence Beige believes that there.
will be a continuance of the campaign in the Crimea; and:
that the expedition to the Baltic, to be almost exclusively_
British, will be without an army for disembarkation. In tha.
meantime, according to all the information that can be.
gathered, the CZAR is making such preparations for the dew
fence of his Baltic fortresses as indicate his belief that the,
coming campaign in these waters will be of a different chap
racter from the two which have preceded it. A London
rumour has it that 40,000 British troops are to be withdrawn
from the Crimea, and, under the command of Sir Cone*
CAMPBELL, to accompany 50,000 French soldiers in carrying
on hostilities in the Baltic. The same rumour has it that the
command of the British Baltic fleet will be entrusted to
Admiral Lusnexoeorr, a dashing officer, who, in the come,
mend of the "Naval Brigade" in the Crimea, earned high ,
honour, and rendered signal service. He is a young officer,
and comparatively a young man, being only forty-four ye,ars,
of age.
The Russian tactics of the " Peace at any price" party:in
parliament, have, it has been understood, been under Ton,
sideration, and has received the deliberate arrangement which,
so incongruous and heterogenous a combination can arrive at,
The leadership of this party in the House of Commons has
it seems, devolved on Mr. GLADSTONE, who will have as se-
conds the Marquises of BLA-ZIDFORD and GRANBY, and Sir
Janes GRAHAM ; the rank and file to consist of several
members who have hitherto held aloof from this anti-national
band, and who hesitate even yet in marching "through
Coventry" with such leaders. The non-commissioned officers
of the corps are to be, it is said, Messrs. BRIGHT. MILNER
Ginsorr, LAING, (the representative of the Austrian, railways),
and Mr. COBDEN, the voluminous author upon Russian virtue
and public spirit, and " What Next ? and Next I" These
motley peace champions, it is said, expect also to be joined by
a cohort of money-market legisle.tors, who, deeply skilled in
the game of " Beggar my neighieour," and well .read in the
play of " Who's the dupe ?" are expected to create much
diversion in their mode of dealing with the enemy, particu-
larly if no opportunity be afforded them of entering upon the
additional hazard of double or quits.
While thoughts of daring " wake the world to arma,""
somewhat more than a mimic war has broken out between;
the potentates who rule the destinies of Drury-lane and.
Covent-garden theatres. A smart quiz has been got up at
the former, upon the " conjurations and, the mighty magic'--'
of the Wizard of the North, late of the. Lyeeum. Tha sqnib.
is called The Great Gun Trick, and its-principal chavacter is.'
ably sustained by CHARLES MATHEW/I, for whom it has been
written. The caricature is cleverly got up, and being fully as
cleverly sustained, it has galled thin Wizard in twoways. It
has held his clap-traps up to mockery and derision ;. but it
has none more, the burlesque conjuring has proved. more
attractive than the real, and the Covent-garden hero is in high
theatric tiff. A running fusillade of handbills and numerous
broadsides of posters having proved ineffectual as a means of
silencing the "Great Gun" or of preventing crowds from being
delighted with the explosionethe original Wizard now threatens
a direct personal attack in the form of a new farce, neither very
facetiously nor courteously entitled, " Twenty minutes with
an Impudent Puppy." While the large houses are thus
belicose and thunderingly defiant, the trim little theatre in
the Strand provokingly laughs at both in a telling farce,
named " A Plague on both your Houses." This tripartite
icmomn sei es
erla3l: laet a
themufsuenm. ent to
the playgoing circles,
encounter of sharp wiwtshoalffaourdghs

Pilate EXTRA.OII,MNARY DISCOVEFY OF MoNET.___Th
e de
/a Manche contains the following strange story :2,,
com-
missary of police of Granville lately oper,ed, in order to
ascertain its contents, a small portative writing-case left some
years back in the care of the proprietor of the Hotel des Trois
Couronnes, by an English officer named Bell. In the case were
found securities of the value of 1,330,000 f. and a quantity of
private letters. When Mr. Bell left Granville to join his
regiment at Bombay, he owed in the town about 2,0091. ; the
proprietor of the hotel having paid the money, the writing-case
was left with him as a security. It is said that Mr. Bell last
year obtained leave to quit India and proceed to the Crimea,
where he was killed ; but nothing is exactly known here on
the point. The commissary of police immediately informed
the superior authorities of the contents of the case, and with-
out doubt something will soon be ascertained relative to the
absent officer."

MR. H. C. CHAPMAN'S REPLY TO MR.

BRAMLEY-MOORE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—You were pleased to give insertion, in your last Tues-
day's number, to Mr. Moore's entire correspondence with the
Board of Trade, which first apprised me of the fact, that
ex parte statements had been sent to the Marine Department
of the Board of Trade, totally misrepresenting the facts of the
case, and to which, of course, I could not have bad an oppor-
tunity of replying, or of refuting.
Had the whole case been complete, Mr. Moore's appeal to
public opinion, whether in good or bad taste, would have been
manly and straightforward, and his motives, no doubt, duly
appreciated by those who bold his vaunted definition of Con-
servative principles; and he would not be, as he is now, open
to the charge of an attempt to make political capital for him-
self, by means of covert attacks, not only on the law, but on
the honour and character of myself and the clerks in my office,
who carry out the routine of the Merchant Shipping Act.
As I bad some years ago convicted Mr. Moore " of having
borne false witness against his neighbour," I should have
treated his reckless assertions with the silent contempt they
deserved, had not you published his whole correspondence, as
being of importance to the shipping interests, and, by so doing,
you perhaps inadvertently became the dupe of Mr. Moore, in
publishing a libel. I, however, agree with you so far as to
admit that the questions involved are of importance (when
stripped of Mr. Moore's personalities). I trust you will, there.
fore, in common fairness to yourself and the public, afford
me the opportunity of reply, by inserting this letter in its
integrity from beginning to end in your paper of Tuesday
next.

The facts are simple, when truthfully put. The "Pied-
Nez" arrived from Quebec, lost an anchor and chain in bring-
ing up in the river, on the 4th December, with no buoy or
buoy rope attached. On the Bth a boatman reported having
picked up an anchor and about 8 fathoms of chain. In the
afternoon the master of the "Pied-Nez" called and stated that
he had lost an anchor and 36 fathoms of chain. He subse-
quently appeared with the boatmen, claiming the anchor re-
ported, as belonging to the "Pied-Icez.” My clerk told him
that he would be required to fill up the official form of claim
issued by the Board of Trade, produce the salvors' receipt for
salvage labour, and then he could at once take possession. It
then transpired that the boatmen would not deliver it to him
as he had demurred to paying them in full, the alleged agree-
ment being for an anchor and chain, and net for an anchor
and six fathoms of chain. I overheard the dispute from my
private office, and at once divining the cause, went and ex-

plained to the master that the law would compel me to
have the anchor lauded, to be held in custody, pending a
decision by the magistrates on the salvors' claims ; but
that the law also empowered me to compel delivery promptly,
on a deposit being made sufficient to cover a reasonable
compensation for salvage, revenue duty, and legal charges
He said he bad no money, and could not get any, as his• con--
signees' office was shut, and would not pay the boatmen un.
less they delivered the anchor on board. Seeing that neither
party would trust the other, I could do no more than advise*
as I had done, and left my office about four o'clock. This was
on a Saturday afternoon. It was quite optional with the
master to make a deposit, and so compel the boatmen to deli-
ver ; or to leave the anchor in custody, and take the boatmen
before the magistrates. On Monday I found the master had
subsequently elected to make the required deposit with my
cash-keeper, with instructions not to pay the boatmen any-
thing without his order, pleading, at the time, to be excused
being detained by having to fill. up the•form of claim, but pro-
mising faithfully to do so on Monday. This promise he has
never fulfilled; and this circumstance it was that led me to
suspect fraud somewhere—either that the boatmen had im-

posed on the master an anchor which was not hi;;;;;;t the
latter had claimed what did not belong, to him. Further in-
vestigation led to the discovery that the ship wag• classed A 1
in 1855, and would, consequeray, be furnished with three
new anchors and chains, with the maker's name-on them.

This anchor was an old one, with -no .maker's name on it,
and too light for a ship of the tonnage of the " Pied-
.Nez ;" and that, therefore, insurance must have been

effected on a vessel represented. to be- A 1, when in

reality she was- only A 2. ,The scale of fees is regulated
by act of parliament. A Receiver io-bound•to forward=s copy
of all reports of wreck of the value-of £2O to Lloyd's-rand to

the Customs, forwhich a fee is payalAe of ten shillinags; and

the owner of the' property, if claimed, .has- to pay all :logal
claims of salvors,. and a commission of five per cent., but; no

matter how great the value, the maximum commission cannot
exceed £2O on any one claim.
The law (as well •as my instructicn.4 defines " wreak" a*
jetsam, flotsam, lagan, derelict, &c., &c Some time ago a
ease was heard before Mr. Mansfield, and Mr. Simpson, of the
firm of Messrs. North and Simpson, quottiri the decisions,of the

highest legal authorities to prove that "lagan" meant: any,

article left or sunk,altliough buoyed, mut contended thnizthe

anchor and chain-which had been lost cloven months was•not•

" lagan," because it was not buoyed. The stipendiary magis—
trate decided that. if an article that wmi•buoyed was " lagan,r.
afortiori an arUcle not buoyed was much more " wroek.:'
Mr. Bramley-Moore asserted the contrary in his letter ta the,

Board of Trade,,.and demanded back the balance of deposit

retained as fees.

As Receiver, I adinib that I was wrong,nceerding to the law,
in allowing the master' to take possession of the anchor, and.

relying on his word.; _bat if it only involves the, questiomof
fees,- I would, in a similar case of a skip..rikling at anchor: in,
the Mersey, witb,,no spare bower anchair on, board, ratlzerlor.

feit my fees of office,.than risk the safety of the ship.-r-I

remain, Sir, yotwobedient servant,
Jan. 19th, 1866. HENRY C. CHAP AN.

COURT AND FAULTON.

Tun approa6ing marriage is announce& of Prince Gabriela
with the Princess Charlotte Bonaparte,.
THE Rev. Edward, Atkinson, 8.D., has. been elected:Au the
vacant mastership of Clare-hall, Canaridv, by the-votes,of
18 out of the 19:felLows of which the society consists..
IT is reported.in legal circles that Mr. Phinn, Q.C., will be
appointed the Assistant-Judge of t: Middlesex Sessians,„st
the room of .141 r. Serjeant Adams. Thesalary is 21,200.
EARL. JERLIZZ, while shooting in liampshire, has- met with
a serious accident ; a shot struck him and penetrated: ,just
above the right eyebrow. It has nct yet been extracted..
Mu. SAM L., WARREN, Q.C., author. of " Tea Thousand
a Year," is the vacancy in the: representatiou.of .
burst, to be 'created by the retireweat of the Right. Bon.
Spencer Walpole.
Loan AND, LA.DY COWLEY gave.e, grand ball at the British
Embassy, in. Paris, en Tuesday. The Emperor and. Empress,
the Duke of anthridge, and othcsmembers of the. Cour...eil of
War, were-present. The Empreaatlid not dame:
THE election of a member fon the city of Lincoln, in the
room of the late Colonel Sibtherp, took place on. Wednesday,
when Major.. G. W. Sibthorp, sou .of the late member, was
returned 3vithont opposition.

As the,-.Earl of Eglinton was. eoniiog out of. the National
Bank, Edinburgh, one day last week, he was sudd.nly jostled
by two persons, and, before ha-had time to seem:e his pockets,
twenty. five-pound notes had hem abstracted. No trace of the
thieve Izas•been discovered.

TH.E4marriage of Lady Jane Feilding with Captain Levett
took place at Monk's Kirby,Church on. Thursday week. The
bridal procession consisted of twenty-seventgarriages. After
the c.orernouy, a breakfast was riven at Newnhana Paddox, the
seatof the Earl of Denbigtt. the bride's father,
TIM; RIGHT Hon. SPENCER HORLWXO WALPOLE has
aacepted the office of Archbishop's Church Estates' Commis-
sioner, vacated by the laanented decease of the Right Lion.
Henry Goulburn. The income attached to the office is £J.,GOO
a-year.

comitA,NDER.I.N.CEiNg izt THE WRST INDIES.--It is
reported that Rear-Admiral Fanshawo„ C. 8., Commander-in-
Chief an the West India station, has applied to be superseded
on,the score of ill health, and that he will be succeeded by
Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,..K.C.B.—United Service
Gazette.

Tux Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emma Stanley
leave Knowsley this week for Bretby-park, on a visit to the
Earl and Countess of Chesterfield; after which the noble.earl
and countess proceed. to London for the meeting of parliament,
The noble earl has issued cards for a grand banquet to a large.
party of his political friends on. the 30th instant.

LIE Countess of Stradhroke died, on Tuesday last, at him
town residence in Hertford; street, Mayfair.. The deceased.
was daughter of the late Mr. Abraham Whittaker, and was
born March.ll, 1'769, so that she had nearly attained her 87th
year. Her ladyship married the late Earl of Stradbroke in
February, 1792, by whom she had a large family, including
the present Earl of Stralbroke and Admaral the Hon- Henry
John Roes.

THE COHNTESS (DOWAGER) OF ERROLL, daughter of Mrs.
Jordan, died on Wednesday forenoon, at Edinburgh; on her
way to the sick bed of her brother, Lord Adolphus Fitzcla-
rence.„ The deceased had left Mr. Dufrs seat, in the north of
Scotland, and, on Saturday stayed at Wemyss Castle, Dysart,
and reached Hdinhurgb on Monday, where her ladyship was
taken very unwell. The symptoms became alarming, and
Lady Mary Fox and the other relatives received a telegraphic
message early on Tuesday morning, conveying the intelligence
that the countess was lying in a very dangerous state. Lady
Mary Fox left town by the express train on Tuesday, and had
the consolation of being with her sister at her dissolution,
which happened at the hour before named, without any appa-
rent pain. We believe she died of congestion of the brain.
MARRIAGE OF SIR ROIIERT PEEL.—The marriage of the
Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., and Lady Emily
Hay, youngest daughter of the Marquis of Tweeddale, and
sister to the Duchess of Wellington, was celebrated on Wed-
nesday, in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, in the presence of a
brilliant circle of friends of both parties. The ceremony was
performed by the Dean of Worcester (Dr. Peel), brother of the
late Baronet, and uncle to the bridegroom. The Very Rev.
Dean was assisted by his son, the Rev. A. Peel, and by another
reverend gentleman. The youthful bride, most magnificently
attired, was attended to the altar by a bevy of bridesmaids
attired in white bordered with scarlet—a colour emblematic
of Leap-year. On leaving the church the party proceeded to
Apsley-house, where the Duchess of Wellington gave a break-
fast in the Waterloo Gallery, in honour of the occasion. In
the afternoon the happy pair left town for Drayton Manor,
near Tamworth, to pass the honeymoon. The bride, who is
the youngest of eight daughters, is in her 20th year ; the
bridegroom is in the 80th year of his age.