The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-07 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

PnA-KcE.—The official report gives the amount subscribed
for the new French loan at the enormous sum of three thou-
sand six hundred millions of francs, £144,,000,000 sterling! or
more than five times the amount required. The subscribers
number 310,000. The subscriptions of -50 f. reach 230,000,000 f.
These latter, are accepted in full.—The large force which has
been -collecting at Marseilles for some time, is about to leave
in -07-steamers, chartered for the Crimea. Each vessel,will
carry 600 men- The flotilla will make a trial trip before pro-
ceeding to the seat of war.—A smart shock of an earthquake
occurred at Lyons on the 25th, and occasioned some slight
damage to several houses. Letters from the provinces speak
of the shock having been felt distinctly at 'Strasburg, Mul-
house, Metz, Grenoble, Besancon, Auxonne, and Dijon, but
no -casualties are reported in any of those places.—TheEm-
peror and Empress reached Paris on Monday evening, having
left Bordeaux at eight in the morning, and stopped at An-
gouteme; -Tours, and Aubrais. Their Majesties will, it is said,
take up their residence at the Chateau of Villeneuve-l'Etance
while awaiting the arrival of the Queen of England. The
Empress-is much improved in health.
SPazN.--Advices from Barcelona speak of the ruinous effects
of the insurrection. Many of the influential manufacturers
and opulentindividuals had, left, or were preparing to leave
that city;' five hundred millions of reels have been withdrawn
from circulation, and thousands of the working population had
been reduced to hopeless beggary.—A despach of the 30th from
Madrid states that the governors of provinces have claimed
the church property confiscated by the new Jaw. Tim sales
will soon-commence.—A letter of the 27th says The mar-
riage which it was believed had been resolved on between a
daughter cf Don Francisco de Paula and Prince Adalbert of
Bavaria, appears to have been broken off. The Prince-sud-
denly quitted the Court, which is at the Escurial, to comellere,
and he-is immediately to leave for Munich. It is said that he
has been summoned home immediately to join, the army, but
it is possible that this has been done only to cause the mar-
riage to fail.
SWITZERLAND.—A letter in the Times thus describes- the
earthquake near Mont Cervin, Switzerland :—" The impres-
sion given to those within this house was that some powerful
agent had violently shaken the house backwards and forwards.
The ceilings were cracked and portions of plaster fell, stones
were thrown from the roofs of the chalets, and large blocks of
rock were hurled down from the mountains." The greatest
damage done by the earthquake was at Loueche (Valais) in
Switzerland, where an hotel was thrown down. The persons
who were in it escaped with difficulty.
TIIRKEY.—A conflagration took place at Constantinople on
the 17th of July, and for a time exposed the French military
workshops 'to imminent danger. _ The fire began just after
noon, and, favoured by the heat of the sun and an impetuous
changing wind, consumed 130 houses. The buildings occupied
by the French were entirely of wood, and were only saved by
the incessant exertions of the pompiers, who likewise saved
many of the houses of the town, which must otherwise have
been destroyed. A letter from Constantinople of July 19 says:
"The Sultan has ordered magnificent necklaces in brilliants to
be made, as -presents for Queen Victoria and the Empress
Eugenie, and saddles, also embroidered in brilliants, to be made
for the Emperor, the King of Sardinia, and Prince Albert.
The value of these presents will be about 2,000,000 f. Ethem
Pasha, Minister of Public Works in Egypt, has arrived here.
He accompanies the sister of the Viceroy, who was married to
Kianil Pasha. ex-President of the Grand Council. Abbas
Pasha forced thecouple to separate, but since his death they
have become reconciled, and again live together."
Russra.—The Russian government not having offered any
difficulty about the exchange of prisoners, preparations are
being made by the French commander-in-chief to liberate as
many as possible from Odessa.—A private letter from St.
Petersburg states that the Czar had given orders for every
inch of ground to be contested at Sebastopol, and that the
public buildings were to be blown up in case the allies succeed
in passing the second line of defence. The same communica-
tion states that the army in Asia was to be considerably aug-
mented.

GREECE.—A private letter from Athens announces that the
currants appear to have escaped this year the fatal malady of
the vines, which devastated them for three years consecutively.
It also states that the Mavrocordato Ministry has become con-
solidated since the entrance of Lycurgus Crestinitis and of
Zygomalas into the cabinet. These two energetic Ministers,
in concert with General Kalergi and M. Mavrocordato, have
succeeded in baffling, for the present, the intrigues of the
Russian party, who, still headed by the Queen, make desperate
efforts to overthrow the present Administration, all whose
sympathies, as you are aware, are for the Western Powers.
SYRIA.—A letter from Syria announces that an insurrection
had broken out at Hebron, under the command of a certain
Abdelrahman, and that in an encounter between his forces
and those of the government upwards of 200 men of both
sides had been slain. Abdelrahman, it is added, held forcible
possession of Hebron ; but the government was preparing
irregular troops to march against him.
EGYPT.—We learn from Cairo that on the 21st of July the
Austrian Archduke had arrived, and that the Viceroy of
Egypt was in negotiation with the revolted Bedouins, in order
to obtain money and men to serve in the Crimea.
SOUTH AMERICA.—By the steamer Iberia arrived at
Southampton, we learn that the Portuguese steamer Dom
Pedro 11. arrived at Lisbon on the 29th ult. with dates from
Rio Janeiro of July 1; Bahia, July 6; Pernambuco, July 9;
St. Vincent, July 18; and Madeira, July 25.—At Rio the
stock of coffee was 110,000 bags to the end of June, against
80,000 for the corresponding period of last year. Exchanges
had opened dull at 271, but left off firm at 27,-1 to 271,
£160,000 having been negotiated for the Dom Pedro. Dis-
counts 8 at the Banks, and 81 to 10 privately,—At Bahia the
exchange was quoted at 271 to 28, and at Pernambuco at 27
to 27+.—The Dom Pedro spoke on the 16th July the Frwlish
• g"-.l,utta for Liverpool all well,
in let. 14 48, and long. 25 51 ; also, on the same day, spoke
the English bark Mary Stoddart—The royal mail steamer
Avon was spoken with at Bahia; she left that port on the 6th
July for Rio de Janeiro.—The Portuguese steamer Donna
Maria 11. left St. Vincent on the 18th for Pernambuco, and
the royal mail packet Great Western left Madeira on the 17th,
also bound for the Brazilian ports.
WEST INDIES AND PACIFIC.—The Tyne arrived at South-
ampton on Friday with advises to the following dates :
Vera Cruz, July 5 ; Tampico, 1 ; Havana, 11 ; Santa Martha,
9 ; Greytown, 4 ; Carthagena, 11 : Chagres, 9 ; Jamaica, 11 ;
Jacmel, 13 ; Porto Rico, 15 ; Berbice, 9' • Demerara, 10 ;
Tobago, 12 ; Trinidad, 13 ; Barbadoes, 14 ; Grenada, 13 ; St.
Vincent's, 14 ; St. Lucia, 15 ; Martinique, 15 ' • Gnadaloupe,
;16 ; Dominica, 15 Antigua, 16 ; St. Kitt's, 16; St. Thomas's,
18 ; Valparaiso, June 14 ; Callao, 24 ; and Paita, 27. She
brought $650,877 in specie. At St. Thomas's yellow fever
was very prevalent, and the mortality was rather great.
Heavy rains had fallen in Jamaica. In British Guiana the
progress of. the crops had been retarded by excessive rains.
At Grenada the weather was unfavourable for the crops. We
learn from Chili that a company had been formed for the con-
struction of a railroad from Santiago to Talca. The mines of
Copiapo were still improving. Rich deposits had been reached
in Chanarcillo and Tres Puntas. The state of the weather
was unfavourable to commerce. In commercial matters there
is no change for the better to report. Freight to England £5
to £5 10s. per ton.

INnia.—Bombay dates are to June 27. The rains had
commenced auspiciously, and, as far as accounts inform us,
the opening of the south-west monsoon had been attended
by neither squall nor thunderstorm. The catherans and rob-
bers on the Peshawur frontier have been giving some annoy-
ance, sacking the villages within the frontier, burning the
grain stored for the season, and carrying the inhabitants away
with them. Major Edwardes, the Commissioner, with a
brigade of the Punjaub Irregular Horse, under the command
of Major Neville, Chamberlain, had been out endeavouring to
bring to order a series of villages which for three years had
refused tribute, and spurned allegiance. On the approach of
our troops the rebels sued for peace, offered to pay up their
arrears, and promised to be on their good conduct henceforth;
and, as this was all that was desired, they were left unmo-
lested. Village burning is only resorted to with those who,
having invaded our territories, and done all the mischief in
their power, retire before and defy us. The Governor-General
is still on the Neilgherries, which, he is not likely to leave till
October next, and Lord Elpbinstone is at Poona.

CIIINA.— Canton dates are brought down to June 8. The
Overland Friend of China regards the recent reverses of the
rebels as only temporary and local. The Pekin Gazette of
April 20 supports this view, admitting that Woo-chang, the
capital of Hoo-pih, has been taken by the rebels, and Hank'-
how has again fallen into their hands. The Lieut.-Governor
of Hoo-Kwang and the Prefect of the provincial city both
died in the struggle. The North China Herald states that
the rebels have taken the city of Kwang-sin, in the north-east
part of Keang-se, and that Lew, of Shanghae notoriety, and
' Seaon-kin-tsze, are said to have raised their standard at Tung-
pa, situate about sixty miles to the north-west of Soo-chow.
The Canton government, according to the last-mentioned
authority, is straining every nerve to carry forward its plan
of ruling the country by sanguinary force ; and, in pursuance
of this, a reward of fifty dollars per head is given to the lead-
ingmen of villages for every man denounced as 'a disaffected.'
The distress among the poorer claws at Canton has been
relieved by considerable importations of rice. H.M.S. Rattler
has been busy among the pirates. On the 28th of May a
second pirate fleet of six boats was cestroyed, five captured
vessels released, about thirty pirates killed, and four made
prisoners by the boats. It was said that the headman on
shore had caused five of the pirates tobe seized. They were
offered to be given up on payment of a reward. Next week,
however, a colonial lorcha, with seventy chests of opium on
board, was captured by a fleet of pirates at St. John's, on the
west coast.

AUSTRALIA..—The ship Catteaux Wattell has arrived from
Sydney with accounts of May 13, and is supposed to have gold
on board. The dates from Melbourne, indirect, are May 10.
The Boomerang, with the English mail of Feb. 5, had not
arrived, being eighty-eight days out. The Essex was to leave
Melbourne June 1. The import market at Sydney maintained
the improvement which occurred before the last advices were
despatched; but the supplies were adequate, and of building
materials in excess. The Government had not raised the
duties. Produce was in demand, as the exchange. in London
had risen to 2 per cent. for thirty days' bills. Vat' Panama,
we have also dates from Melbourne to the 10th.
CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND.—A man of the name of
M`Kenzie, influenced, we presume, by the "border," spirit of
his ancestors, coolly " lifted" a flock of 1,000 sheep, which he
drove off in a westerly direction, with the view, it is supposed,
of getting into the Nelson district over the mountains. After
a chase of some days the sheep were recaptured, and the tlief
himself subsequently taken.—lt is confidently stated that a
process has been discovered by a resident that effectively and
cheaply prepares flax for the market. So satisfied is the li-
ventor of the feasibility of his plan, that he is preparing en
establishment for carrying out operations on an extensive
scale.—The funds of this province are most flourishing, the oc-
penditure for the last quarter of 1854 being but £2,100, aid
the balance in hand £22,700.

TITREISII LOAN &rm.—After reciting the text of the cca-
vention, the bill authorizes her Majesty, in conjunction will
his Majesty the Emperor of the French, to guarantee the h.
terest on the loan, for which purpose the Commissioners of
the Treasury are authorized to issue out of the consolidaed
fund of the United Kingdom such sums of money. as may at
any time be required to be paid to fulfil her MNesty's
gxa-
rantee in respect of such interest as and when it may becone
payable, together with the attendant charges of management
thereon, such charges in no case to exceed the rate of £lOO
per million of capital on which such interest shall be so say-
able. Sums repaid as interest are to be carried to the Con-
solidated Fund, and the accounts are to be laid before Paris-
ment,

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE PACIFIC.

BY the United States mail steam-ship Pacific, Captain-Nye,
which arrived on Sunday morning, we have intelligence from
New York to the 25th ult. The Pacific brought 175 passengers,
and $900,000 in specie. On the 25th, 'at 4.30., p.m., passed
the U.S. steam-ship Atlantic, going in. August 3rd, lat. 51
15, lon. 20, passed the ship Jane Black, bound west, -and, off
Saltees, the ship Evangeline, bound up.
On the 24th of June the steamer America, from San Fran-
cisco for Crescent City, with two or three companies of troops
for Puget's Sound, was burnt at Crescent City. No lives were
lost, and the freight for Crescent City was safely landed.
On the 20th ult., the Verandah Hotel, New Orleans, was
totally destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $lOO,OOO.
The thriving village of Angels Camp in Calaveras County
has been destroyed by fire.
A railway train had run off the Central line at Syracuse,
owing to the wilful misplacement of a rail, on the 20th, and a
large number of persons had been seriously injured,though no
fatal results had followed. A reward of $5,000 had been
offered for the apprehension of the offender.
The President had signed a treaty of commercial reciprocity
between the United States and the Sandwich Islands.
Claims, to the extent of $5,000,000, for idemnity, had been
made against the United States Government by the sufferers
by the bombardment of Greytown, a number of whom had
arrived at Washington to press their demands.
Another case of slave stealing had occurred at Philadelphia.
A young Cuban was landing at South-street ,wharf, from the
brig General Taylor, attended by his slave, a Cuban negro,
when they were met by a number of free negroes, who told
the latter he was free. A scuffle ensued between the captain
of the brig, some whites who had come, and the negroes, but
the latter triumphed, and carried away their Cuban friend,
who has not since been seen.

Judges and jurors render the liquor law a nullity, One ex-
plains the act away, and the other won't convict when cases
are brought into court.
Actions for -illegal detention and imprisonment had been
brought against Captain Cook, of the United States revenue
cutter James Campbell, by the parties taken out of the Bri-
tish brig Buffalo, and conveyed to Boston, where they were
tried and acquitted of the charge of violating the neutrality
laws by enlisting men for the Crimea. The plaintiffs claim
damages to the amount of $40,000.
The New York Herald publishes a communication from
its Washington correspondent, dated July 20, which states
that the President had received an autograph letter from the
Emperor of Russia, in reply to one of congratulation on his
accession to the throne. The document, which alludes in
highly complimentary terms to the increasing greatness of the
United States, contains a paragraph to the effect that the
dying admonitory advice of the late to the present Emperor
conveyed an injunction to him to study the private papers, to
be found in the Imperial escritoire, which he (the Emperor
Nicholas) had received from the eminent men in the United
-States, among whose names were to be found those of Jack-
eon, Clay, Webster, and others. The letter proceeds to ac-
knowledge the value of those papers, and expresses his Ma-
jesty's sense of obligation at the strong national interest mani-
fested by the American people in the success of the war upon
which his great father had entered. It concludes by proposing
the most lasting friendship between Russia and the United
States.

CALIFORNIA.—The Star of the West arrived at New York
on the 25th ult., with a fortnight's later intelligence from Cali-
fornia. She had on board 303 passengers, and $1,000,000 in
specie. She brought dates from the Sandwich Islands to the
6th ult. :The British storeship Rattlesnake was at Honolulu,
where H.M.S. Monarch, eighty guns, had arrived from Callao,
and had sailed, after a few days' stay, towards Petropaulowski.
The accounts from the mines were extremely encouraging.
Tunnelling and quartz crushing was being prosecuted with
activity, and the newspapers teemed with flattering notices of
the discovery of new and rich lodes. Gold had been discovered
in large quantities in the neighbourhood of Fort Colville, said
to be similar to Feather River gold, and it was stated that as
much as from $l2 to $2O per day were taken out. Gold had
also been discovered near the level, in the city of the Sacra-
mento, and many claims had been staked out. Eight men
took out $197 on one day, and on another more than $BO. The
gold was probably buried there by some miner in the early
days of California, and never returned for, and the washing of
the river eating away the banks brought it to light. The
miners in some districts had refused to deposit any longer in
banking houses, and preferred to bury their treasures as they ob-
tained them to trusting the chances of another Adams and Co.
earthquake.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, 25TH JULY.
MONEY.—Of monetary matters the New York Shipping
List says :—" We note some signs of a revival of business,
though most departments of trade are still characterised by
the usual degree of apathy incident to midsummer. With a
plethora of unemployed capital, and only a moderate demand
for it, the money market is easy at six to seven per cent. for
high grades of sixty days commercial paper, and eight to nine
per cent. for fair names, short dates having the preference.
Sterling exchange keeps up to the specie point, and there does
not seem to be any prospect of an abatement in the shipments
of coin and bullion. In exchange the business had not been
large, and there was but little variation in prices. We quote
Bills on London, 9i to 10-1- per cent. premium ; Paris, &c.,
f. 5,131 to L 5,121, sixty days, and f. 5,081, short sight; Ham-
burg, 361 to 36k; Bremen, 794 to 79/."
COTTON.—There had been a very quiet cotton market
during the three days past, the aggregate transactions proba-
bly not exceeding 1,000 or 1,500 bales. There were no large
parcels pressing for sale, and the market closed with, if any-
thing, rather more tone. We continue the quotations current
on Friday, with the remark that they are little better than
nominal. The very limited transactions yesterday and the day
11,1,1 Ty a.l rt 5.a.78,. Iva LAMM, 1115 vus
the opinion of some of the best informed of the trade that no
large purchases or large sales could be effected at that quota-
tion, in the present condition of that market.

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS 07. COTTON.

,
EXports to Total Exports Stock in
Receipts. Gt. Britain. to For. Ports. Hand.
1855 .. 2,715,873 1,435,117 2,104.715 127,285
1854 2,828,906 1,486,973 2,116,640 127,809
• • Increase .. .. ..
Decrease 113,033 51,856 11,925 524

Messrs. J. T. Stewart and Co., of New York, in their circu-
lar dated July 25, say,—" The Canada's advices to the 7th in-
stant were received on Wednesday, the 18th, announcing a
decline of fully. Id. in the week. Since then holders have
found it difficult to make progress in sales as buyers have de-
manded zc. decline. Some sales have been effected at off,
at which the market would be well supplied by consignees.
The sales for the first week were 9,000 bales • for the present
one we do not estimate them at over 4,000 bales, as no disposi-
tion is evinced by parties to operate. The Southern streams
continue down, and thereare no indications of a crop exceeding
2,800,000 bales. Of the amount in the interior we are yet in
doubt ; it is estimated at various figures between 100,000 and
400,000 bales beyond the actual receipts at the shipping ports
by August 31, the close of our cotton year. The majority of
opinions incline to the lowest figures current. We regard the
prospect for the coming crop as favourable, but not stronger,
as there has for the past fortnight been general complaints of
too much moist weather producing too rapid a growth of the
stalks, and having other attendant evils it is not necessary to
name. An opinion is also gaining ground with us that the
culture of corn has attracted more than usual of the force of
planters. Be this as it may, it is quite certain that no parties
look now for any very large product for the coming year. The
cereal crops are favourably spoken of in all the States; and, as
the goods markets have followed the course of cotton, and ma-
nufacturing stocks are rising in value, it is considered that the
prospects for a large consumption have seldom been more flat-
tering than at present."
BREADSTUFFS.—There has been somewhat of a check to the
downward tendency of the prices of breadstuffs, though it
seems quite evident that. prices have not yet touched bottom.
New wheat from the south is arriving freely from Georgia,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. A large portion of
the supplies received by the southern steamers came from
Tennessee ; a section of the country that has heretofore af-
forded but a small surplus after supplying its own wants.—ln
flour, owing to the favourable accounts from all quarters
respecting the harvest, prices had declined 60c. to 624 c. per
barrel since the 17th instant, and sales were not readily
effected, in quantity, at our quotations. Holders, however,
evinced more firmness than at the close of last week. In wheat
our quotations show a large decline, and the receivers of new
wheat are eager sellers. For Indian corn there was still a fair
demand, and prices were a shade lower.

PROVISIONS.—For pork only a limited demand had pre-
vailed ; the arrivals were moderate and less pressing for sale.
The market for new mess had advanced 121 c. to 25c., while
other kinds were firm at previous prices. For beef there was
a moderate inquiry, and the buoyancy previously noticed still
continued. There was no demand for prime mess at the
present asking rates, and, in the absence of sales, our quota-
tions should be considered nominal. Lard remained buoyant
at the recent advance, with a fair demand.

IRON.—Scotch pig remained firm, with moderate business
doing at $3O to $3l, 6 mos. English sheet and bar were
steady at previous rates.

Cos.L.—There was but little inquiry for foreign. We
notice sales of 356 tons Newcastle gas $B, 4 mos., and 40 tons
inferior Liverpool at $4,50, cash.

SALT.—The market was well supplied with most descrip-
tions, and prices were unchanged.

FRElGRTs.—Freights were inactive. We quote—To Liver-
pool : Cotton, -id. to 5-32 d ; corn, 21d. to 3d. ; flour, ls. ;
rosin, 9d. ; turpentine, ls. 9d. to ls. ed. ; measurement goods,
10s. to 12s. 6d. ; pork, is. 3d. ; beef, ls. 6d. to ls. 9d.

NEW OBLEAss, July 20.—Cotton has declined lc. under
the influence of Canada's news, middling being 'quoted at Sic.
to 91c. The sales to-day were 2,500 bales, and during the
week 7,500 bales. Receipts of the week, 7,000 bales. Stock
on hand, 45,000 bales. The total receipts of the season at this
port are now 184,000 bales short of the same period last year.
Flour sells at $8,25 to $8,75. Coffee : sales of the week, 3,000
bags, at Mit. for prime. Stock, 10,000 bags. Cotton freights
to Liverpool firm, at 7-16 d. Sterling exchange, 91 to 01 per
cent.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30.—An improvement perceptible
in all kinds of produce, owing to large purchases by a promi-
nent jobbing-house in the city.

AN EXAMPLE TO MANITFACTUBERS.—We find the follow-
ing in the trade report of the Times under the head Notting-
ham. Considerable interest has been excited in consequence
of the splendid edifice built during the last two years for
Messrs. Adams, Page, and Co., in this town, being publicly
opened. Even while trade is somewhat depressed, this firm
employs upwards of 400 hands under one roof. In their new
establishment, such are the arrangements made for economizing
time, that it is intended to shorten the hours of labour, and
devote half an hour each morning for the celebration of
Divine Service, according to the rites of the Established
Church, in a chapel built for the purpose, and by a duly
ordained clergyman, whose further duty it will be to attend
to the spiritual and material welfare of the people employed,
the firm paying his stipend from their own resources.
ATTEMPT TO SMUT UP PUBLIC ROADS.—The south road
from Bander to Braemar passes by the enclosures.of Balmoral
Castle, and on the plea of its interfering with the royal pri-
vacy, it is suggested that the road should be closed up. We'
will not belie:re that her Alajesty has given the slightest sanc-
tion to such ill -judged proposal. The thoroughfare is a
public one, leadfug through the forest of Ballochbuie, and
opening up some o'f the grandest scenery of a district pecu-
liarly rich in natural beauty ; and the idea of interdicting ten
or twelve miles of roaL.l because the traveller obtained a glimpse
of the lawn before Balm.,olC4etie as he passes is utterly inde-
feneible,—Fife Herald.

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

THE monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednes-
day ; J. A. Tobin, Esq., Mayor, presiding.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee included a recommenda-
tion, in accordance with the opinion of the Town-Clerk, to
increase the salary ,of Mr. Linton Hughes, Deputy Town-
Clerk; from £4OO to X 450 a year. The Town-Clerk (Mr.
Shuttleworth), who-•had been requested to report on Mr.
Hughes' application for increased remuneration, bore the
strongest testimony to the zeal, assiduity, and ability with
which Mr. Hughes had discharged the duties of his depart-
ment—duties which, he said, had considerably increased since
his appointment, although his salary had hitherto remained
at the same amount as had been paid to his immediate
predecessor.
Mr. HO6TBY moved the confirmation of the proceedings,
with the exception of the increase on Mr. Hughes' salary,
which, in compliance with the standing orders, should be
deferred till next Council meeting. After some discussion the
motion was carried unanimously.

WATCH, LIGHTING, AND FIRE POLICE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee having been read,
Mr. GREGSON moved their confirmation, with the exception
of the acceptance of a tender for the new lamp posts, upon
which some further information was required.
Mr. HODSON asked for information with reference to the
case of a police-officer named Pearson, who had been charged
before them with recklessly and indiscriminately causing
parties to be fined, and also with receiving bribes in money
and drink. He understood that there were thirty witnesses
in attendance for examination, and that several of them stated,
in the most emphatic terms, that they had given the officer
money. If that were so, he certainly deserved instant dis-
missal, and he felt sure that no committee who had the
interests of the town at heart would keep such a man in their
employment one moment after such a charge had been
substantiated.

Mr. JOHNSON said he was present when the case of
Police-constable Pearson, who was charged with receiving
bribes and drink, was under investigation. A great number
of witnesses were brought forward, none of whom could prove
that he had ever received money. He admitted, however,
that he had occasionally received drink • but there was no
proof that he had suppressed any information in consideration
of any drink that he had received. The committee, however,
thought he had departed from his duty in accepting drink at
all, though they did not consider that his offence was of so
heinous a nature as to make it necessary that he should be
dismissed from the force; but they had decided to remove him
from the position which he had recently filled, and had
appointed him to another duty elsewhere.—(Hear, hear!)
Mr. GODFREY said he had been a member of the sub-com-
mittee by whom this case had been investigated : and he
must say that he had never heard better evidence than that
of the witnesses who had been examined. There were nearly
thirty witnesses in attendance, but only ten were examined,
for the committee thought, after hearing those ten, that it
was unnecessary to carry on the investigation, and resolved to
examine no more. Every one of those witnesses said he had
given Pearson money or drink, and one or two of them stated
that the officer asked for it. A return had been made to the
committee, which showed that the officer had laid 606 inform-
ations in six months, or at the rate of 25 a-week ; and one of
the complaints was that those charges were laid partially, and
that when seven or eight carts were crowding a street, at one
and the same time, one had been singled out, and the owner
summoned and fined, while the others had been permitted to
go free. He certainly thought that such a person was not fit
to be in the force.

Mr. RosEnTsorr said Mr. Godfrey was somewhat in error
with respect to the number of informations. It appeared that
the total number of informations which this officer had laid,
in the time specified, had been 658 ; and of these 606 had
resulted in convictions, which was a proof that the officer, who
had been especially appointed to watch over and protect the
public interests, by seeing that the streets were kept clear, had
not only not failed, in his duty, but while discharging that
duty had not laid informations against individuals upon light
or insufficient grounds.

Mr., MINN, without having heard anything of this case be-
fore he came into the room, was able to bear testimony, from
his personal knowledge, to the fact that there was no case
which came before the committee which was not thoroughly
sifted and investigated; and he believed that if the Council
interfered with the decisions of the committee, except upon
very strong grounds, they would take a course which would
be very detrimental to the efficiency of the police-force and
the interests of the town.

Mr. PARKER, Mr. HALHEAD, and Mr. BRANCKEB sup-
ported the decision of the committee, and the latter gentleman
stated that the memorialists themselves were perfectly satis-
fied with that decision. Their object had been gained by the
removal of the officer to another sphere of duty.
Mr. Moss and Mr. HODSON each made motions in con-
nexion with this subject, which were found to be incompetent.
Mr. GODFREY, in reply, defended the committee, and the
mode in which investigations were conducted before it. At
the conclusion of Mr. Godfrey's reply, the proceedings of the
committee were confirmed.