The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

' resting discussion will readily present themselves when par-
liament assemblies, not the least interesting of which will be
a consideration of how the funds for carrying on the war are
to be provided. The publication of the revenue returns indicates
the unpleasant fact that there is a deficiency of £400,000 in the
actual expenditure to make up ; besides which there is also a
large provision to be made for the war expenditure otPthei
current year. Here is a fine nut for the economists of all
classes to crack, speaking, as these facts do, of coming loans
and increasing taxation. However complete the legislative
and ministerial lull may be, these topics are engrossing much
attention out of these charmed circles, and lively anxiety is
expressed by many in relation to the war expenditure ; the
present state of the money market, and the operation of the
Bank Charter Act of 1844. True enough, on this last subject
there is much conflict of opinion. A large amount of "au-
thority" exists in favour of repealing the Act altogether—an
extensive section of the monied public are favourable to a mere
modification of its provisions, retaining its principle entire—
while a third, and by no means contemptible, portion are op-
posed to any alteration at all. The Bank Charter Act is a
measure on which it is understood Sir ROBERT PEEL bestowed
the utmost attention, and that he believed it to be so perfect
that he set his heart on it with all the enthusiasm o
devoted love—some do not scruple to say that he looked
on it as the crowning measure for securing the ascen-
dancy of a plutocracy, rich only in money-wealth. Not.
withstanding all the care and caution which he bestowed on
its concoction and consolidation, it was once in most material
jeopardy from the vote of a parliamentary committee, of
which he was himself the chairman. The story is thus
narrated, and it is not very generally known. In 1848, when
Sir ROBERT was not in office and Lord JOHN RussELL was
Premier, the support of the former was invaluable to the
Whig Cabinet, who, in return for that support, agreed to
back the pet scheme of Sir ROBERT against all odds and
chances. The act was not popular among the Radical
section of parliament or of ministers, and a committee was
appointed to inquire into its operation. The alliance between
Sir ROBERT and the Cabinet was perfectly understood and
acted on, and accordingly when Mr. HuasE, who was not in
the secret, moved the adoption of a resolution by the com-
mittee for repealing the act of 1844, Sir CHARLES WOOD,
the Whig Chancellor of the Exchequer, moved a counter
resolution in favour of the act ; Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who
had never attended a meeting of the committee, came down
and voted against Mr. HUME'S* resolution, which was rejected
by the casting vote of the chairman, Sir ROBERT PEEL
himself. On this occasion Mr. DISRAELI, Mr. THOMAS
BARING and others of the Conservative party, left the
committee without voting. The result of the vote puzzled
Mr. HUME greatly, the grounds of the combination by which
it was brought about he could never unravel, and it is said
the secret springs of action which led to it have not yet been
revealed.

The prospects of peace, which have for some time past occu-
pied so large a share of public attention, have "grown fine by
degrees and beautifully less," until now no' one can find for
them " a local habitation or a name." Consideration seems
to be now prudently and properly. directed to the discovery
and provision of means, by which, at the commencement of
operations in spring, the Allies shall be able to deliver heavy
and vital blows at different points of the Russian territory.
Preparations of the most vigorous and energetic character
are being made for striking heavy blows against the enemy in
different quarters. Many circumstances point with unmis-
takeable precision to the Baltic as one scene of terrific' action,
so soon as its waters shall be sufficiently freed from ice to
admit of uninterrupted navigation. " There is no use in
hesitating," says the Post, understood to be deep in the secrets
of Lord PALMERSTON ; " there is nothing to be gained by
the system of cautious delay—it is time that we should
not only show, but should actively employ, our enormous-
strength by sea—that we should show them that no'
strength of defence, that no armament of forts is suffi-
cient to secure them from the force of the British
attack. We must appear close to St. Petersburg with argu-
ments which Russia cannot answer. We must see what
conditions of peace she will venture to offer when the last sail
of the navy on which she has spent her time and her treasure
is demolished—when even CrOnstadt is insufficient to defy
the armament that we are now gathering for this ex-
ploit." Big words, indeed, are these,.but not bigger than the
occasion calls for—not higher in their-tone than thearmament
to which they are applied will fully warrant, if that armament
is meant, indeed, to go forth in its might. Let it also be
borne in remembrance that the Post is not given-generally to
flourish " in King Cambyses' vein," but is rather remarkable
for the sobriety of its tone; and is nce a little entitled to
respect for the accuracy of its information. What, it may be
askedris the extent and power of that armament, from which
so ranch is expected ?—and in what does it differ from those
which have already, on two occasions, promised so muchi and
accomplished so little ? The fleet is, really, something stu-
pendous to contemplate. It is to consist of twenty ships of
the finep and eighteen frigates, armed with such a number of
guns,. and capable, of throwing such a Weight of projectiles, as
has never before left our shores.- These are to be accompanied
by a line of floating batteries, heavy mortar-ships and gun-
boats, amounting in all to 243 sail, and carrying the enor-
mous number of 3,140 guns. Such- a flotilla it can never be
the intention of any sane Minister to send to the
Baltic, or any other sea, merely for. the purpose of taking care
of the ships of which it is composed, and avoiding danger, as
has been the case with those which,wen sent in the,two first
campaigns-. While this immense armament is being got ready
for despatch,. the Russians appear to- feel, satisfied that this
time the war is not to be conducted on the principles of
drawing-room conflict. They are concentrating troops•in the
vicinity of St.. Petersburg, and taking active measures for
putting the capital in. a condition to resist a siege. They are
also busily engaged in strengthening.the fortifications-along
their vast line of frontier in the interior. As an indispensable
corollary to-such expensive expeditionsasthe Allies are fitting
out for attacking Russia at different and distant points-in
Enrope and-in Asia,. the plausible fiddie-faddle of Lord Joni
Russumand his friends, as to no alteration in the boundaries
of Russia; must he given up. No -good purpose of even a
temporary character can .be attained.. by entering a territory
on se many different points, if we mean to abandon them at
the end of each campaign. If dismemberment of the Russian
Empire must follow,the obstinacy of the autocrat, he must be
prepared for it. The time has long since gone by when the
war could be carried on against Russia with the arms of
courtesy ;. the struggle is- one for very life, .and as such it
must be fought out.
A. curious coincidence of indications-appears to mark-the
course of feeling, in respect to the present war, _as was at-
tendant on the great struggle which. raged with such extra-
ordinary and perilous-violence at the- commencement. of the
century. Then,.as-now, a few degenerate sons of Albion. took
every opportunity and means of exhibiting sympathy with the
enemy. Then,.as-now, every opportunity was seized to throw
discouragementiu the way of our progress, and, like the peace-
at-any-price faction,of the present day, the disaffected of that
period were continually discovering symptoms of lukewarm-.
ness on the part of our allies, and were eqeally ingenious and
communicative - with, respect to the resources of the enemy.
In point of fact, itovvonld seem that, cowardice and, treachery
are ever actuated.by the same motives, and are at- all times
equally skilled izthe use of the same weapons. For- the last
few weeks-all the Russian organs, of whatever calibre or pre-
tence—bothßritish and continental—have been busy in repre-
senting, that the EMPEROR, and people of Prance are both
tired of the war, and that its longer continuance, if it be per-
severed in,. must be maintained by Britain. single-handed.
On the twenty-ninth of last month a grand militaryfele was
given.in Paris, every indication of which was. widely at va-
riance with such an opinion. The occasionmas the celebration
of the return of the Imperial Guard from the Crimea, and never
since the year of Austerlitz has France displayed such a spec-
tacle of military ardour-and. enthusiasm. Monarch and people
vied with each other in.rendering the entry of these brave men
into the capital a triumph. The military feeling reached a pitch
of enthusiasm which. sober Englishmen have a difficulty in
understanding, but is easy of comprehension to him who
knows the warlike partialities of Frenchmen—above all, to
him who knows. with what exuberance of hope the youth of
France, of the middle and lower ranks, look to the career of
arms as the ladder to fortune and to fame. The address made
to the returning heroes by the EMPEROR was calculated in the
highest degree to influence the martial sentiment, and every
one resident in France knows that the war never was so po-
pular among that high-spirited people as it is at this moment.
A similar feeling pervades our own countrymen. It is math.

felted by less palpable signs. Like their personal and collective
courage, it is more earnest than demonstrative, but it is not
the less truly there. The nation stands on the tip-toe of ex-
pectation—by the people no effort has been spared, no means
withheld which ingenuity could suggest to bring the contest
to an honourable end ; the people are now in a mood to demand
realization and to scout pretence.

AN INTERESTING EVENT.—On Friday morning last divine
service was celebrated in the parish church of Studley, when
a large congregation of parishioners and neighbours assembled
to unite with Sir F. H. Goodricke, Bart., and family, in re-
turning public thanks to Almighty God for the preservation
of Lieut. Goodricke, under circumstances almost miraculous,
at the attack on the Redan. Lieut. Goodricke, a very young
officer, volunteered from his own regiment into one going to
the Crimea. At the final attack his revolver was struck with
three balls, either of which from the position in which the
pistol was held, must have proved mortal had it struck him-
self. His sword point was carried off by another ball, and a
fourth passed through his coat. As the English were retiring
another ball struck the gallant officer in the breast, and passed
right through him, near an artery. This wound was pro-
nounced mortal. Lieutenant Goodricke has, however, returned
home, and is now likely to recover.