The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

CHINA.

A letter from Hong Kong, dated 15th December, says :
Admiral Sir James Stirling still remains here. Commodore
Elliot arrived from the north, in H. M. S. Sybille, on the 25th
of November, but brings no intelligence of importance beyond
the ascertained fact that there is a navigable passage from the
Gulf of Tartary to the Amoor River. The Russian fleet seen
in De Castries Bay no doubt made their escape by that channel.
H. M. steamer Styx, Commander Bruce, left for Singapore
and England on the 6th instant, and H. M. steamer Rattler,
Commander Fellowes, sailed for England on the 9th inst.
The latter had on board two Russian officers, Lieutenant
Pouschkine and Mr. Schilling, and a number of Russian sea-
men, prisoners from the Diana frigate.
H. M. S. Nankin sailed on the 9th inst. for Trincomalee.
The French ship Sybille and steamer Colbert are now in
harbour, and the Virginie, Admiral Guerrin, is at Macao..
The intelligence of the fall of Sebastopol was celebrated on
the 3rd instant, by a royal salute from all the Allied men-of-
war in harbour, as well as from the battery on shore.
The American Commodore Joel Abbott, of the United States'
ship Macedonian, died here yesterday, after a protracted illness.
The trial of the American Consul Keenan stands over, pend-
ing the recovery of Chief Justice Hulme, who has been seriously
indisposed.
Commander Vansittart, of H.M. brig Bittern, has been pre-
sented with a testimonial and an address from the mercantile
body in Shanghai, commending the gallant conduct of the
officers and crew of the Bittern, and thanking them for the
eminent services lately rendered to the trade by the destruc-
tion of pirates on the coast.
The Chinese bankers and merchants at Ningpo have also
come forward to testify their gratitude, and have, among
other acts, subscribed £l,OOO, to be forwarded to the mother
of Mr. Turner, late master of the Bittern, who was killed in
action ; and £2OO to each of the three seamen who lost their
limbs in the engagement.
In Chinese politics we have nothing new to mention, and
no authentic intelligence has reached us from the interior. At
and around Canton all is quiet, and the Chinese appear more
confident of tranquillity than before.
Rice remains plentiful, though somewhat dearer.
Imports at Canton have been in limited demand, and
prices are somewhat lower. Stocks are light, however, and
improvement is looked for.

'BY ELECTRIC & INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPHS.]

LONDON. Monday Night.

NEW ORDER OF MERIT.

The Globe says : We have reason to believe that a Royal
Warrant for forming an Order of Merit has been already
signed by Her Majesty, and that a copy will be presented to
Parliament, in the course of a few days. Its provisions will,
we think, be found of a very satisfactory character, founded as
they are upon the principle of the honourable recognition of
personal gallantry, in whatever rank of the army or navy it
may be displayed ; thus, in all likelihood, the order will con-
sist of only one grade, and for this distinction every individual,
whether private soldier or ablebodied seaman, up to the admi-
ral or commander-in-chief, who will have distinguished him-
self by a conspicuous act of personal valour before the enemy,
will be eligible. In granting the order, the particular reason
for which it is awarded will be specified, and along with the
decoration the recipient will be entitled to a small annual
pension. The order is not intended as a reward for continuous
good service, as that is already recognized in different ways.
It will be confined to the naval and military, and it is probable
that the first batch of creations will comprise most of those
who have evinced conspicuous gallantry throughout the late
operations in the East. -
THE EAST.
MARSEILLES, Monday.

The Indus has arrived. She brings advices from Constan-
tinople of the 24th, and the Crimea of the 22nd ult. The
despatches were to laud at nine a.m. Little doing in the port

RUSSIA.

The St. Petersburg journals, of the 25th ult., announce ex-
treme activity in all Russian produce, with a constant rise in
prices.
The privilege hitherto enjoyed by the " Russian Company
for Marine, Fluvial, and Land Carriage Insurance," of its
shares being a legal tender as payments to or from the state,
has been withdrawn.
The Russian Government have advertised for bar iron for
overlaying the sides of floating batteries.

AUSTRIA.
At Vienna, on the 31st ult., the premium on precious metals
fell about one-half per cent. All stocks were lower.

ITALY.
The official gazette Vetoil states that recruits are still
raised in Sardinia for the Anglo-Italian Legion.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY.
Their lordships assembled at 5 o'clock.
Lord BRouomot gave notice that he would introduce a bill
to establish the right of appeal in insolvency cases in the
county courts. He also called attention to the excessive
amount of costs in the county courts.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that a bill had been prepared
by government for the improvement of the county courts as
regards the costs payable there, but whether the right of appeal
in insolvent cases was embraced in the bill he could not state.
He however promised that the remarks of his noble friend
should receive the attention of government.
Earl GREY gave notice that, on Friday next, he would ask
the Secretary of State for an explanation of a contradiction
between Colonel Rose's despatch of 25th March, 1853, and
Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's despatch of 27th May following,
in relation to a memorandum of Pisani as to the account given
to him by Rifaat Pasha and the Grand Vizier, with reference
to the substance of a note verbale preSented by Prince Men-
schikoff to the Porte.
In reply to the Marquis of Clanricarde, Earl GRANVILLE
stated that the clock of the Houses of Parliament would be
put up immediately.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH asked when the papers rela-
tive to Kars would be laid on the table.
Earl GRANVILLE, in the absence of the Foreign Secretary,
could not state the exact day.
The Earl of DERBY hoped the papers would be presented in
a separate form..
Lord WODEHOUSE promised that Government would attend
to that suggestion.
Their lordships adjourned at 5 45 p.m.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY.

The House met at four o'clock.
Mr. McEvoy took the oaths and his seat for Meath.
A number of questions were put by hon. members on dif-
ferent subjects, but none of them were of particular interest.
Sir G. GREY stated, in answer to a question from Mr.
Keating, that a measure founded on the first report of the
County Commission was in preparation, and would shortly be
introduced by the Lord Chancellor.
PASSING TOLLS AND TOWN DUES.

-----
The House then went into committee on the Acts relating
to Merchant Shipping, when
Mr. LOWE moved for leave to bring in a bill for the Abolition
of Passing Tolls, and the Regulation of Local Dues upon
Shipping. He stated that the measure which he intended to
propose was the necessary consequence of the alterations
lately made in the laws relating to shipping He said, that in
some cases, the tolls and dues charged upon shipping consti-
tuted a heavy tax upon commerce, and were often applied to
purposes not connected with it, and cited the case of Liver-
pool as one in point. He stated that the bill would apply
to all ports in the United Kingdom except that of London.
Passing tolls were to be swept away altogether; and with re-
spect to the debts which had been contracted upon them, in
the case of Dover and some other placestthey would be charged
upon the consolidated fund, the Admiralty taking the ports,
with all their responsibilities, into their own hands. In the case
of debts contracted upon the security of town dues, the rights
of the creditor would be respected and provided for by a con-
tinuation of the security, in a manner which he detailed at
some length. Special customs, as to the charities, would be
abolished altogether. Deferential dues charged upon foreign
shipping, for which compensation was paid to municipal cor-
porations and public bodies, out of the consolidated fund, to
the extent of £52,791 per annum, would also be abolished.
But, on the other hand, it would take upon it debts to the
amount of £60,000, by which trade and commerce would be
greatly benefited. All exemptions from local dues now
enjoyed by freemen of boroughs such as Liverpool were to be
repealed. After a few further observations, the right hon.
gentleman concluded by entering into some calculations, from
which it appeared that the changes which he proposed would
relieve the shipping trade of the country to the amount of
£263,000 per annum.
Mr. HEADLAM stated several objections to different points
in the proposed measure, which he said would affect the
interests of Newcastle, and he hoped that time would be given
for its consideration. _ _

Mr. HORSFA.LL warmly defended the Corporation of Liver-
pool in respect to the application of the Town Dues, and said
the legal question of their title to those dues should be settled
before the house proceeded to legislate. He hoped that time
would be given for full consideration of the bill before the
motion for the second reading,
After a few words from Mr. RICE,
Mr, MILNER GIBSON said the people of Manchester would
hear with satisfaction that government had determined that
they should no longer be taxed for the support of the muni-
cipal institutions of Liverpool. He approved of the bill.
Mr. LIDDELL dissented from the proposed measure alto-
gether.
Mr. LINDSAY, on the contrary, approved of it.

Mr. WATSON considered that it would unduly interfere
with the rights and property of corporations, but be reserved
his objections.
Mr. Lows having replied, leave was given to bring in the
bill.

Sir GEORGE GREY obtained leave to bring in a bill. to
amend the Metropolitan Police Act. The principal object
was to place the charge of the force in the hands of one corn.
missioner, with a salary of £1,600 per annum, instead of two,
and to appoint two assistant-commissioners, with the power
of justices of the peace, at a salary of £1,200 per annum each.
Lord DRUMLANEIG brought up the Queen's answer to the
address in reply to the speech from the throne.
A number of bills, on different subjects, were brought in
and read the first time.
Mr. PELLA.TT moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the law with respect to Crossed Bankers' Cheques.
Mr. WlLsox said he would not oppose the motion, but the
government did not pledge themselves to support the details
of the measure.
The motion was agreed to.
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in bills to
amend the laws of Bankruptcy in Scotland.
The house adjourned at 10 45 p.m.

THE FUNDS, STOCK, AND SHARE MARKET.
The American question caused a slight tone of flatness in
the English Funds during earlier hours, but there was even-
tually a recovery to the closing prices of Saturday. The fall,
in Corn, and the arrival of bullion from Australia, had a
favourable influence on quotations. In the Railway market
sales predominated, and business was in most cases effected
on lower terms, but the last prices showed steadiness. Land,
Bank, and Foreign Stocks opened:rather heavy, but rallied,
and closed firmly.