The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-07 00:00:00

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
There has been no change in the tone of the
Cotton Market, but the amount of business done
has not been quite so large, the sales amounting
to 8,000 bales,2,ooo bales of which have been taken
on speculation. Prices were about the same as
yesterday.
The Liverpool Share Market was flat at the open-
ing, and declined during the day about 1 to g per
cent., rallying, however, at the close, although not to
the opening prices. Aberdeen, 128123. Chester and
Birkenhead, 131 14. Caledonian, 27 9.16 27 11-16.
Chester and Holyhead, 13 tn. Eastern Counties, gi
10. East Lancashire, 18 181 Great Northern, 23 234.
Ditto A Shares, 98 9. Great Western, 55 554.
Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 802- 801. Liver-
pool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 151. London and
North Western Stock, 1003 1001 Manchester,
Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 25. Ditto Preference,
113 11g. Ditto New 6 eel. cent Pref., 3 In.
Midland Stock, 683 691. North British,
North Staffordshire, 8 7V. South Eastern and
Dover, 18f 18 11-16. York, Newcastle, and Ber_
wick, 18-f 18f. York and North Midland, 241 24f.
Leeds Capital Stock, 141 141. Dutch Rhenish,
op. Ditto New Shares, 2 2 1-16 p. Great Western
of ainada, 25 1-16 25 316. Ditto New Shares,
2 15-16 3 1-16 p. Great Luxembourg, 93 81d.
The official returns of the Revenue and Expendi-
ture during 1855, just issued, have naturally given
rise to much conversation, but all things considered,
they are held to be less unfavourable than might
have been expected. With the lavish expendi-
ture necessitated by the war, and the limitation of
commerce which necessarily follows, the income
derived from the ordinary sources of revenue could
scarcely fail to exhibit a deficiency. In the pre-
sent instance the excess of expenditure has
amounted to 21,141,1831 8s ld, but when the
16,000,0001 loan, the 3,500,0001 raised by authority
upon Exchequer Bills, and the 407,9021 ls, pre_
ceeds of Exchequer Bonds, sales, &c , are added,
there was a balance of assets over liabilities to the
extent of 3,888,000/ 6s 3d on the 31st December
last. To this last-named item, however, must be
added 3,500,0001, the remaining moiety of the un-
issued Exchequer Bills for which the Chancellor
obtained power in August. As before mentioned,
a further loan will no doubt be necessary.
The National Bank of Belgium have published
their annual statement for the year ending Jan. 31,
1856. The amount of specie in the Bank coffers at
that date was 51,312,270 f., having diminished about
one million during the month of December. The
notes in circulation amounted to 101,476,840 f., and
the accounts current to 31,967,854 f. Compared
with the returns of the two previous 3 ears, the re_
suit is satisfactory, and shows a sensible progres-
sion in the affairs of the Bank. The amount of
specie in hand has been much the same during
that period, but the Portfolio item has increased
five millions, the circulation four, the accounts
current three, and the advances on the public
funds one, million francs. In other respects there
is not much variation in the affairs of the Bank ;
showing that prudence and judgment have been
exercised in managing its affairs during two finan-
cial years of difficulty.
Commercial letters from St. Petersburg state
that the government have just published some
interesting particulars relative to the external trade

of Russia across its European and Asiatic frontiers.
In the year 1854 the exports in produce and mer-
chandise amounted to 65,337,681 silver roubles,
and the imports to 70,358,608 roubles. During
that year also the amount of specie in gold and
silver imported was 11,999,496 silver roubles, and
the sum exported 6,401,350 roubles.
A special general meeting of the shareholders in
the General Iron Screw Collier Company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern ; and, after some
discussion, the objects for which the meeting had
been convened were carried—namely, to enable the
directors to reduce the capital from 250,0001. to
125,0001. in 5000 shares at 251. each, instead
of 50,000 51. shares as heretofore. Other reso
lutions were further carried enabling the directors
to adopt such measures as might be deemed neces-
sary to bring the company under the operation of
the Limited Liability Act. Some of the pro-
prietors were opposed to adopting the Limited
Liability Act, under the impression that that act
would necessarily be repealed if Mr. Lowe's bill,
introduced last Friday, were passed into a law. It
was, however, explained that the company would
be benefited by coming under the Limited Liability
Act, and that if that act were repealed, they
would then be placed under the still more
favourable measure of Mr. Lowe, if it should pass
into a law.

The Funds opened with little change, but sub-
sequently experienced a decided improvement,
owing chiefly to a money purchase of 200,0001. in
new 3 per cents. and Consols. The Market closed
at to per cent. better than yesterday, the
prices being 911 91+. Speculative purchases for
the March account are encouraged by the progress
made in the arrangements for the settlement in the
Consol Market. The charge exacted from specu-
lative buyers for carrying over their purchases to
the 14th of March has also receded to-day to 3,4 to
per cent. The prospect that an armistice will be
declared towards the end of the present month,
and the hope that the approaching conferences
will result in peace, continue to induce operations
for a rise as well as bona
„fide investments. The
settlement of the account in Consols has led to
the failure of another jobber in the Stock Exchange,
but the amount involved is not important. At
Paris to-day the 3 per cent Rentes closed to -I
per cent. higher than yesterday. The
Corn Market to-day was dull at Monday's
fall. The Freight Market is quiet, the de-
mand for tonnage being very limited, and the
supply by no means abundant. Very little altera-
tion, therefore, is observable in current rates.
The prospects of peace have occasioned some
inquiry among the Russian merchants for ton-

nage, but at present no rates of freight are
mentioned. The Railway Share Market to-day
was generally flat, and the closing quotations
were in many cases below those of yesterday.
The following were the prices at the Railway
Share Market at the close :--Caledonian, 551 55.1.
Eastern Counties 10 101. East Lancashire, 72 74,
Great Northern, 91 911. Ditto A, 751 761. Great
Western, 55 559. London and North Western, 1001
1009. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 241
251. Midland Stock, 681 691. North British, 34
311. South Eastern and Dover, 62 621. York,
Newcastle, and Berwick, 731741. York and North
Midland, 49 491.

The Gazette contains a copy of the Royal warrant for
creating the new naval and military decoration, to be
designated the " Victoria Cross." The rules under
which it shall be conferred are also set forth. The
decoration will consist of a Maltese cross of bronze, with
the Royal crest in the centre, and underneath this in.
scription, "rot Valour."

OUNG MEN'S CEIRISTIAN AssoctATloN.--The ninth of
the series of lectures advertised in connection with this
association, was delivered last night in Hope-hall, Hope-
street. The lecturer was the Rev. Dr. Raffles, and the
subject of his discourse " St. Peter's and the Vatican."
The chair was occupied by Christopher Bushell, Esq., and
the attendance, notwithstanding the inclemency of the
night, was most numerous. At the outset of his discourse,
the rev. lecturer declared that it was not his intention to
treat his subject controversially, or theologically, but
graphically—not to discuss, but describe. His purpose was
to take his hearers to St. Peter's and the Vatican, that they
might see them as they are, the things which they contain,
the scenes and ceremonies which they present, and in short
to obtain such information respecting them as should enable
all to attach distinct and accurate ideas to them, when
either in books, or in conversation, or discources they
might be brought before them. He then entered at once
into the midst of his subject, and having taken his audience
with him into the heart of Rome, through the " Flamincan-
gate" and down the " Corso," introduced them to all the
frivolities of the Carnival. Passing on, after he had shown
the maskers in the wildness of their last revel, and about to
mount the " stool of penanca" during the Lenten time,
he entered St. Peter's, and after describing the impression
which the majestic building first produces on the mind,
proceeded to analyse its beauties, and stupendous propor-
tions, in detail. Leaving St. Peter's, and the magnificent
panorama to be seen from ;its spreading roo, with
regret, the rev. lecturer led his hearers into the Vatican,
and ascending its chief staircase—the Scala Regia —entered
its galleries, filled with the noblest triumphs of art. Tile
their
world-renowned
Apollo"
and
beauties,
ao c o o n'
were long lingered about, and
though
a"
thrice-told tale,"
was so fresh and glowing that the assembly, warmed into
enthusiasm,and attested their appreciation of it!by rapturous
applause. The rev. gentleman concluded his discourse,
interesting and instructive in the highest degree, by a
description of the ceremonies of the " Holy Week.",

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

SECOND EDITION,

THE GERMAN LEGION

A despatch from Trieste dated yesterday men-

ti9ns that according to news received from Con-

stantinople of the date of the 28th ult., the German

Legion was proceeding to Asia, and that other

troops were accompanying them.

-4-

THE FRENCH FUNDS

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EYENINC/

The transactions in the Funds closed on the

AT

ALLEGED POISONING
MANCHESTER.

ADJOURNED INQUEST, AND RESULT OF TI10;

ANALYSIS.

(PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

The adjourned inquest on the body of John Monaghan,'
supposed to have been poisoned by acetate of lead in whisk'',
administered by his son James Monaghan, and two accom-
plices, viz., Edward Dunn, an insurance agent, and a mall
named George Barry, took place this afternoon before the
city coroner, Mr. Herford.

Mr. Bradlaugh appeared in support of the case for the
prosecution, on the part of the Diadem Insurance Conl"
pany, and Mr. Ferneley, barrister, on behalf of the accused.
Dr. Frankland, professor of chemistry at Owens Col-
lege, Manchester, was the first witness examined. Ile
stated, at some length, the result of the analysis which be
had made of the intestines of the deceased. It was to the
effect that, in the stomach he had found traces of zinc'
and in the liver traces of copper and lead. In the kidneys
he also found zinc. Ile was not prepared to say that
death had been caused by poison. He would not say that
acetate of lead had not been administered to the deceased
in whisky. It might have been administered, and passed
off, and yet have poisoned the deceased,

iS
Mr. Hatton, surgeon, Was examined, and gave it as h
opinion that the deceased died from dysentery.
At this stage of the proceedings, the coroner said he
desired to adjourn the case, in consequence of the prisonell
having to be brought before the magistrates on the PO
charge to-morrow. It was then adjourned till to-m0n...0
fortnight.

We learn that at the adjourned investigation before the
magistrates to-morrow, evidence will be brought forward
to prove the actual administering of poison to the
deceased, and also that further disclosures will be Dade
by Mr. Hallam.