The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

THE WAR.

Intelligence from the seat of war in the Crimea continues
rather to indicate the peace evolutions and the style of pastime
adopted by our soldiers and their gallant allies, than to con-
vey information of a warlike cast. So far as can be gathered
from the communications of the London journals' correspon-
dents, and also from the official despatches, the armies appear
to be in the enjoyment of good health, and to be disposed, as
far as possible, to make the most of the respite which has
been allowed them. The weather has been severe, but not
such as to cause any of the fearful sufferings and disasters
with which the correspondence of this time twelve months
was so harrowingly filled.
Tbe correspondent of the Times, writing from the camp
before Sebastopol, on the 4th of January, says, in reference to
THE WEATHER.

We have had a heavy snow storm last night and this
morning. The fall has ceased, but the snow lies several inches
deep on the plateau. On all sides, at the distance of about
three-quarters of a mile, our horizon is limited by a. haze a
few shades greyer than the snow and semi-transparent, so
that figures are dimly seen walking within it. The wind
howls drearily round the huts, but the snow lends light to the
foreground, and the temperature is milder than it has been
for the last few days—far milder than it was on the 2nd, a
piercing day of frost, wind, and sleet. Fatigue parties, in their
short, fur-lined coats, their heads protected by those black
sealskin caps, the shape of which reminds one of pictures of
Russian travelling, bring up firewood on their shoulders to
the different commissariat stores, and a considerable amount
of snowballing goes on among them in the intervals of their
toil. Here and there carts move slowly through the deep
snow, in which, hard by my window, some Tartar dogs are
now disporting themselves, apparently quite in their element.
The winter piece is complete, and not unpicturesque. But it
suggests a wish that the whole, instead of part only, of our
army had more substantial shelter than tents against the
sharp wind, the drifting snow, the bitter cold that will attend
a return of frost, and the chilly floods which a thaw must in-
evitably bring. Well provided in most essential respects the
soldiers are—well clothed and well fed ; but it seems strange
that by this time they should not all have been hutted. Huts
are getting up, however, with great rapidity, along the road
to Balaklava. The health of the camp continues good.
Drunkenness, from all I can learn, is much less rife than it
was last autumn. There can be no doubt that in the autumn
issues of back pay and the difficulty of transmitting money
aggravated the evil.
JAN. s.—Nothing new since yesterday. It is a severe frost
and a fine bright morning.

Writing on the sth, the correspondent of the Daily News
gives the annexed particulars as to.
SNOW-BALL SKIRMISHES.

Yesterday and this morning the troops have been amusing
themselves by snow-balling each other, and really, without
exaggeration, military tactics were displayed by the con-
tending parties that would not have disgraced our greatest
generals. Before a battle commences it is usual to construct
a redoubt, or two or three batteries on each side, about 100
yards apart. In this open piece of ground, between the
work, the fight is most curious. No distinction is made or
shown during the contest between the officer and the private.
Sorties are made, rifle pits established, and sometimes flags of
truce are hoisted, all for the purpose of taking each other's
works, on which generally are fixed two or three flags of
different colours. Some of these flags are often captured ;
but the chief standard on each side is always a make shift
union jack. This is never fixed in the snow, but always
waved over the works by a soldier, as long as they are tenable.
The principal challenges given are one company against
another, or the right wing of a regiment against the left ; but
yesterday evening, in the Light Division, there was a most
hot contest between the first and second brigades. The
middle ravine was the great point in dispute. As one brigade
charged down, the other retired, and then, as the former came
almost to a stand-still, through being blown while ascending
the enemy's side of the ravine, it was sure to be charged down
upon, losing, in all probability, several men taken prisoners.
These great battles, still unsettled, were at last stopped by a
brigade-major, but not until he had got well slated himself.
Amongst the prisoners taken by the 2nd Brigade, who were
in most cases dragged by their legs, down and up the sides of
the ravine, I noticed Colonel Wellesley, 7th Fusiliers, Capt.
Thynne, Rifle Brigade, and several other officers.
The operations of the engineers still continue, and the same
correspondent, writing under the same date, says, in regard to
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE DOCK,

On Wednesday evening the English engineers blew up the
bottom of the centre dock, which is at top 236 feet long and
95 feet 4 inches wide, and at bottom 191 feet long and 40
wide. There were 13 charges in all-11 of 1601 b. each, and
two of 300 lb. each—total, 2,360 lb. of powder. The hour
named was half-past four ; but all was not ready for Mr.
Deane to operate upon with his ten voltaic batteries and elec-
tric wires till an hour and a half after, when the demolition
was pronounced complete as far as it went. Two cables were
again used, to which the small wires leading to each charge
were attached. In addition to a large number of engineer
officers, there were present, although it was dark, the Com-
mander-in-Chief, with two aides-de-camp, Brigadier-General
Straubenzee, with his aide-de-camp, and two officers of the
11th Hussars, viz., Captain Dallas Yorke and Cornet Wilkin,
besides the garrison of Sebastopol and the officers on guard,
the whole being under the superintendence of Brevet-Major
Nicholson, R.E. The enemy took no notice of the explosion,
nor have they been firing much lately from the north side,
although it is reported that on New Year's Day the French
and Russian picquets were uselessly firing at each other.

The Times' correspondent on the 6th January writes as fol-
lows, concerning
THE RUSSIAN TROOPS AND THE WEATHER.
Yesterday was a model of a fine winter's day. The long
icicles that fringed the eaves of the huts glittered in the bright
sun, the rays of which tempered a sharp frost. It was the
very day for pedestrians, and, notwithstanding that the snow
lay a foot deep on the ground, numerous walking parties were
out, officers' ponies getting an unaccustomed holiday. Groups
of young gentlemen, armed with fowling-pieces and revolvers,
were seen sallying forth in pursuit of an imaginary game, and
returning with empty bags, having been gratified by the dis-
tant view of a flock of bustards, by an overhead prospect of a
flight of wild geese, or by a glimpse of a remote hare contemp-
tuously observing them. The Russians took advantage of the
fine weather to hold a review of a large mass of infantry on
the heights above Inkermann; and the Light Division, having
no foe to combat, divided itself into two brigades, and had a
furious battle with snowballs. At night the cold increased,
and this morning it is very severe. There is no wind, so we
feel it the less, but still it is tolerably intense. Early ablutions
were a struggle with masses of ice, and towels stiff as boards,
and which needed thawing ere they could be used. The
cold weather has not yet lasted long enough for us to judge
of its effect upon the general health of the army; but the
men are so well fed, and in such fine spirits, that it is to be
hoped, notwithstanding canvass coverings, there will be no
serious increase of disease to record. At present the sanitory
state of the army is most satisfactory. The difference between
this year and last is very striking. To take the light, division
as an example : it is about 6,500 strong, and has 433 sick, no
cholera, and but a small proportion of serious cases. In De-
cember, 1854, there were 258 deaths in that division ; in De-
cember, 1855, there were only eight, and three of those were
from wounds. Of course, the absence of trench duty goes for
a good deal in this enormous difference, but not a little of it is
also to be attributed to the shelter, warm clothing, and good
food the army now enjoys.

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

The Paris correspondent of the Tmes says :—" In my letter
of Sunday last, speaking of the place that would be selected for
the peace conferences, I mentioned that the French Govern-
ment had not, and would not, demand Paris, but that, if pro-
posed by England, they would make no objection. I believe I
can now inform you that Paris is the place selected. The Em-
peror Napoleon proposed to the English Government that
London should be the place, and the English Government, not
to be outdone in courtesy, fixed on Paris, and expressed a hope
that no objection would be made. This choice, of course
gives satisfaction here, and has been readily acquiesced in by
Russia. Each government will no doubt put its best champion
forward to represent it on the occasion, and the public voice
seems to approve beforehand the choice that would be made of
Lord Palmerston ; nor would Lord Clarendon be an unpopular
one. The Russian Government has fixed on M. Brunow as its
representative. It is not true, by the way, as has been stated,
that an intimation has been made to Prussia that her accept,
ante of the Austrian propositions is a sine qud non to her ad-
mission to the conferences. I believe no intimation has been
made to her on the subject ; and it is to be hoped that Prussia
will be left in the same inglorious loneliness in which her own
choice has placed her. I should have said that the Russian
Government previously ascertained that M. Brunow would not
be objected to by England and France. M. de Buol is spoken
of as the Austrian plenipotentiary."
The Vienna correspondent of the Times writes :—" Things
are for the moment at a standstill, there being a difference of
opinion between the allies on the subject of the interpretation
to be given to the fifth proposition. England stoutly main-
tains that Russia must not again be permitted to fortify the
east coast of the Black Sea, and Austria and France propose
that the question should be left in abeyance until the Peace
Conferences have met. The British Government is, however,
extremely desirous to come to a clear understanding with its
allies on such an important point before it again enters the
diplomatic lists, and, therefore, a few days may elapse before
the preliminaries of peace are signed. A diplomatic corres-
pondence respecting the Aland Islands and the Caucasian
coast is now going on between the allies of the 2nd December,
and, therefore, considerable reserve is necessary on my part ;
but it may be observed that it is, perhaps, not absolutely ne-
cessary that England should insist on the eastern coast of the
Black Sea being disarmed.' Russia has herself destroyed
the whole chain of forts on the Caucasian coast, and, there-
fore, the object of the British Government would be attained
if the status quo should there be maintained. The less that
is said or written about the northern forts of Sebastopol the
better it will be for all parties, as neither France nor Austria
are inclined to deprive Russia of what is now called her ' legi-
timate means of defence.' In order to avoid a schism, France
and Austria may, perhaps, be induced to agree with England
that the Aland Islands must not again be fortified, that the
consuls of the allied powers must be allowed to reside at the
different Russian ports in the Black Sea, and that the status
quo must be maintained on the eastern coast of the Black
Sea, but neither the one nor the other power is likely to go
further. Certain it is that men high in office aver that Count
Buol was not informed of the exact sense of the fifth proposi-
tion until after Count Valentine Esterhazy had left Vienna.',

The Presse says :—" We understand that the Court of St.
Petersburg has expressed a wish that the impending Congress
should be held at a principal metropolis, and has suggested
that either London, Paris, or Vienna should be named. The
Allies, we hear, are rather of opinion that the Congress should
assemble at some neutral city of less importance. Frankfort-
on•the-Maine is much talked of."

The Globe of Saturday says :—" No step can be taken towards
framing a preliminary treaty of peace, much less concluding
such an .important instrument, until the governments of
France and England shall have been in possession of the pre-
cise form in which Russia has accepted the Austrian proposi-
tions. This acceptance will probably reach London and Paris
within a few hours, but the diplomatic proceedings that will
ensue cannot possibly reach a stage that would warrant the
conclusion of an armistice for a period considerably more re-
mote than the day fixed for the meeting of parliament. A good
deal of gossip is also printed in reference to the scene of the
anticipated negotiations, and the persons who are to conduct
them. We do not think, however, that anything has been yet
decided in reference to this, and must, consequently, regard
the statements in question as so many ingenious guesses,
which may be in some respects justified by the probable re•
sults."

Although the governments of France and England have not
as yet received from Austria the formal proposals, upon which
alone official action can be taken, it is not premature to an-
nounce that the Earl of Clarendon will assist at the conferences,
which will be held at Paris, as Plenipotentiary upon the part
of the Queen of Great Britain. There will be no armistice
until the preliminaries, at least, of peace shall be foriaally
signed.—Observer.

PARIs, Thursday.
It is asserted that the governments of England and France
have already taken into consideration the necessity of being
prepared to name a city in which the negotiations for peace
shall take place. Both cabinets have agreed that it shall not
be a German town ; and, in all probability, Paris will be fixed
on, as affording the envoys of the Allies the best opportunity
of immediate reference to head-quarters. The Emperor, being
so near at hand, would, under such circumstances, create the
utmost confidence in France, and Lord Palmerston's personal
attendance would, no doubt, be equally assuring to the people
of England.

BERLIN, Thursday.
It has been determined, at a council at which the King pre-
sided, that Prussia will make no very open demonstration of
her wish to be admitted to the conferences.
It is expected here that the conference will soon resolve into
a general congress, to which, of course, Prussia will be sum-
moned.

Diplomatic relations between the representative of Russia
and those of the Western Powers have been partiallk resumed.
On their last meeting, the Baron de Budberg and Lord
,Bloomfield were in conversation for a very considerable time.
The news of the Russian acceptance has been received very
coldly in Sweden. The national feeling there is greatly dis-
appointed at the prospects of peace.
We learn from Copenhagen, that a similar dissatisfaction is
manifested by the ultra-national party of Denmark.

BRUSSELS, Thursday.
The rumour from Paris is, that an armistice is concluded for
90 days ; another report runs that the conferences will take
place in Paris.

THE CRIMEA.
MARSEILLES, Thursday.
The Thabor has arrived with advices from Constantinople
of the 14th, and from the Crimea of the 12th instant.
The Eldorado has landed Russian cannons from Kamiesch.
Conferences have been held in Constantinople in order to
adjust the first and fourth points relating to the Principalities.
The persons who took part in these conferences were Aali
Pasha, Grand Vizier; Fuad Pasha, Minister of Foreign
Affairs; Prince Callimaki, M. Thouvenal, Lord Stratford de
Redcliffe, and Baron de Prokesch.

The firing continues on both sides of Sebastopol.
The Allies have blown up two of the docks.
The Russians are taking up their winter quarters at Sim-
pheropol and Baktchi-Serai.
The news from Kinburn is to the effect that the Russians
had 30,000 men in echelon, between Petrosska and Otchakoff,
and that in consequence fears were entertained of an attack
on the fortress of Kinburn. The garrison had been rein-
forced by troops under the command of General Lebceuf.

The flotilla was frozen in, but would aid in thedance, if
the Russians should attempt the place.
General Vivian, fearing to be attacked at Kertch, has called
for officers of infantry and artillery to be despatched to him
from Constantinople. -----

- RUSSIA.
HAMBURG, Jan. 24.
An imperial ukase has been promulgated at St. Petersburg,
decreeing the issue of 10 new series of paper money, each of
three million silver roubles. At the same time, eight series
formerly drawn are renewed, making altogether 54 millions.

AI\IEL ICA.

♦--- -

ARRIVAL OF THE CANADA.

Br the British and North • :-,rican Royal Mail Steam-
ship Canada, Captain 1.;t11L.7. arrived on Sunday, we
have intelligence from to the 16th, and from New
York, by electric telegrapi.. 19 the 17th instant. The Canada
brought 77 passengers. 4)11 the 17th instant, in lat. 43 12
N., long. 66 38 W., pa..,cd th A%:erica.

During the outward passa.ce of the Canada, the weather
was so bad that the watch had to get into the rigging to save
themselves from being wa:4lle4l.overboard.

The U.S. Mail SteanL-ship Atlantic, hence, arrived at New
York on the 13th ingant, and the steamer Ericsson, from
Havre, on the 15th._

Mr. Crampton, the Brit6ll Minister, .had dined with the
President, at Washington.
Congress continued utiorgaltied. The last ballot was :
Banks, 93; Richardson; t;t; : 33; Pennington, 9; Scat-
tering, 8. The number neee:isary to a choice was 105.

A telegraph to a Roston paper from Washington, says:—
"It is not true that the President has prepared a special
message relative to the illicit recruiting. There is nothing
new relative to the Spur kership. The call for a preliminary
Republican Convention, t,, be held at Pittsburg, on the 22nd
of February, was issnetl. The statement in the English
papers, brought by the steamer Atlantic, that a treaty of
alliance offensive and defensive, had been concluded between
the United States and Ru,ssia, is a pure fabrication."
An accident had occurred on the Hudson River Railroad,
by which an engineer and fireman were killed, and a number
of persons injured. It occurred through the ice lifting a
bridge and displacing the rails.
A dry-goods store, at Utica, had been destroyed by fire.
Exceedingly severe weather, with intense cold and snow-
storms, had occasioned disasters and great loss of life at sea.
CALIFORNIA.—The steamships Northern Light and Empire
City had arrived at New York with $1,889,000 in California
gold. The transit route was .perfectly healthy, no sickness
having occurred among the passengers, although they were
obliged to remain at S:nt .In:di del Norte two days and
eight hours, owing to t 1,,• it!)) t ion of the Northern Light,
in New York, by the United States officials. The mines in
California were yielding nmre abundantly than ever. Busi-
ness was dull to a degree Id deli haul not been noticed for many
months. A vessel had arrived with intelligence about the
Russian position in Amoor river, which is reported to be im-
pregnable.

In Nicaragua matters were improving under the adminis-
tration of Rivas. The governments of San Salvador and
Honduras have sent letters of recognition to the new Govern-
ment, and the Minister from Hoduras was reported to be on
his way to Granada. Walker was receiving accessions to his
forces continually, 2ts men having joined him recently.
Colonel Kinney was still at Juan del Norte. A large number
of his men had joined Walker. The U. S. frigate Potomac
had arived at San Juan. It. M. ships Arab and Espiegle were
also there.

The Bermuda Gazetl,; referring to the difference at An-
tigua, in consequence of" the authorities having taken a negro
from an American vesrzel, on the ground of his being a slave,
and to inquire into which the United States frigate Cyane
was sent to Antigua, says :- -On her arrival at English
Harbour, the Cyane found. much to her surprise, H. M.
sloop of war Medea on the ground before her. One of the
officers of the latter ahil 1.. it sent on board the Cyane,
Commander Fairfax is rcin;rt d to have informed him that he
was most happy to see ti I.:ll;..ji,zlirhan as a private gentle-
man, but could have loitl,ll, to say to him in his official
capacity ; and that he (I.,o;,,auder F.) would not salute the
English flag until rel,;,rvi 1,.11 was • made to the American
Government for the ilistili ~tfered to the stars and stripes.
The Cyane, on enterio_ the harbour, had taken a very
menacing position in regard to the Medea and forts, but the
Medea, as soon as she had finished coaling, managed to place
herself so as to put the Cyane in what would have been a very
uncomfortable fix, bad the! come to blows."

COMMERCI AI. IS'I'FILLIGENCE.
NEW Yolur, 15th Jan.
The demand for money seemed to abate. The leading
financiers, however, confidently expect a change for the better
within a few days. Foreign exchanges continue dull, and, in
some instances, lower rates have been accepted. The quota-
tions were—London, 108 to ; Paris, active and rather
firm, 5221 to 523; Amsterdam. *lull, 401 to 41; Hamburg,
firm, 36 to 361- • Bremen, dull, 77?. to 781.
COTTON.—TfIe market has been more active, at prices, if
anything, favouring the purchaser, though not sufficiently
lower to justify a change in the quotations. Sales, 2,000 bales,
about half in transiin.

Mr. W. P. Wright, in hi, ,ii.,•ttlar, states that "a fair busi-
ness has been done in euttoi: Irensitu, chiefly from Mobile
and New Orleans to Li Ver ~.1 : the sales for the past ten days
I estimate at 4;000 I quote, from New Orleans with
id. freight, ordinary, 71c. 3 got)4l ordinary, 7-1-c.; low middling,
84c. to Bic. • middling, tre. From Mobile, same freight, kc. to
lc. below these rates. Vcry little has been done in Atlantic
cottons, owing to the high cost. Southern markets have been
less active during the week under review. By telegraph we
have the following :—New Orleans, Jan. sth : Receipts for the
week, 45,000 bales ; same week last year, 28,000. Sales for
the week, 48,000 bales. Middling, 84c. to 81c. Freight to
Liverpool, 11-16 d. Sales to-day, 7,000 bales; market firm.
Freight to Liverpool, .lan.: Sales to-day, 15,500
bales. Middling, 9c. Otli .fan.: Sales two days, 25,000 bales.
Middling, 9c. Freight to Liverpool, Id.; Havre,l c. Mobile,
sth Jan.: Receipts for the week. ;.tl,OOO bales; same week last
year, 9,000 bales. Total excess in receipts over last year, 610,000
bales. Sales for the s,lOO bales. Middling, Bc.
Freight to Liverpool, : it:tyre, lie. pet lb. Exchange
on London, 74 to 71."

The foll Owing is- a statement of receipts, ex-
ports, &c.

1555. 1854. 1853. 1852.
Receipts at the Ports 1,5411,722 926,281 948,318 1,494,000
Exports to Great Britain :-,02.210 418,467 267,612 555,265
France -5.734 102,472 74,629 98,385
Stock on band 44.2,435 :153,183 490,000 595,000
BREADSTUFFS.—Tin• ri,,,;r market has been much depressed
since the sth instant, in e,.iisequence of, the unfavourable
tenor of the Emtlis:i a,rolons received per Canada and At-
lantic to the 22nd and wember respectively.. The de-
cline in prices amount, to 50c. per barrel, at which
the business transacted ;-est,,e,lay, after receipt of the advices
per Atlantic, was still on a very moderate scale. Wheat is
quoted sc. per bushel lower, and to effect sales to any con-
siderable extent sonic further decline would be required.
Indian Corn in fair &nand ,vitliout material change in prices.
FREIGIITS.—There nn material alteration in rates. To
Liverpool: For cotton, 7 per lb.; grain, Bd. to 81-d. per
bushel; flour, 2s. 9d. to per barrel. •To London: Grain,
12d. per bushel; flour; is. per barrel. T 8 Havre Cotton,
ic. per lb.; grain, 20e. per busliel; flour, 85c. per barrel.
HAVANA, Jan. 8.-.—The past week was almost entirely de-
voted to holiday pursuits. The stock of new sugars, about
6,000 boxes; and rentainin .1.1. .4,000 for shipment; quota-
tions not settled. llfolasses s..o!At for at 7r. Cigars in good
demand. Exchanges deelim.(l London, 81 pm.
LA.GUAYEA, Dec. 5.,.1111t Ty is quiet, and business is
more active, particular) e tlte produce market. Coffee, how-
ever, arrives in small lot- et. I:;+ir qualities obtain readily
121 c. to 12/c. Ox and co‘.- bides al.(' in good demand at 201 c.
per lb.; cocoa, $23 per fa neg.() : indio, 8 reals per lb.; and
cotton, 124 c. to 13c. per lb. The :,.Ticultural condition has
greatly improved, and next•years production will exceed any
thing this country ever yielded. T.ts products will consist of
tobacco, Indian corn, hemp, stigar-e:tr.e, coffee, and manufac-
tures on an increased scale.