The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

GREAT FIRES IN NEW YORK.

Two terrible conflagrations, attended by immense losses
of property, occurred in the city of New York, at an early
hour on the 17th ult. No fire that has occurred in the
city, since the great disastlfr of 1845, has resulted in so
great a destruction of property, or has thrown so many of
the labouring population of the city out of home and em-
ployment. The occurrence of two conflagrations at the
same time, in the dead of night, and at points far removed
from each other, suggests the probability of incendiarism ;
a supposition which gains strength by the narration of
concurring circumstances.
The first fire which was discovered broke out at half-
past two o'clock, in the piano-leg and action manufactory
of Mr. A. E. Brooks, No. 206 East Twenty-third-street,
and quickly communicated to the extensive and valuable
block of buildings, known as the Empire Iron Works,
owned by Messrs. Sloane and Leggett, extending through
the entire block bounded by Twenty-third and Twenty-
fourth streets, and thence spreading to other buildings on
Twenty-fourth-street. The destruction was complete,
nothing being left standing except the tall chimneys of
the foundry. The loss by this fire will reach the heavy
amount of three hundred thousand dollars; upon which
there is an insurance of about one hundred and eighty
thousand dollars. Upwards of one thousand mechanics
are thrown out of employment by this calamity.
The alarm had scarcely been struck for this fire, on the
east river side of the city, when another was sounded for
the fifth district, situated in the extreme westerly portion
of the island. The alarm was found to proceed from the
block of buildings bounded by Washington, Troy, and
Jane streets. The flames here, too, spread with alarming
rapidity, and soon defied the utmost exertions of the fire-
men, whose efforts were greatly retarded by a strong wind
from the north-east, and a cold, drizzling rain, which
continued during the night. The wind increased to a
gale towards morning, and assisted the spread of the
flames at both fires. The reflection upon the sky from
the two fires thus proceeding simultaneously at two
opposite points, and nearly in a direct line, produced a
vivid illumination in all the upper portion of the city.
There was apparently a belt of flame reaching quite
across the island, which, reflected against the background
of rain-clouds, caused great apprehension that the fire was
even more extensive and disastrous than it proved to be.
The light was so intensely bright, that small print might
easily have been read at the distance of two miles from
the scene of the fire.
The loss by the fire in the Ninth Ward was nearly equal
in amount to that of the Empire Works and its adjacent
buildings. Neither could have been much less than
$300,000.
The aggregate loss by the two fires may be stated in
round numbers at six, or possibly seven hundred thou-
sand. The insurances effected upon the property de-
stroyed, as nearly as can be ascertained, reach the amount
of about three hundred thousand dollars.
The number of mechanics deprived of emplOyment by
the Ninth Ward disaster will probably be from eight
hundred to one thousand; thus making an aggregate of
about two thousand mechanics thrown out of employ.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22.

MONEY AND STOCKS.—The transactions at the Stock
Board were large in the leading fancies. The market at
the second board was buoyant, and closed with firmness.
A sale of government 6s, 1867, was made at 1231, and of
1862 at 118 k. The market is firmer for sterling. Some
drawers are asking 1091. Francs, 5.15 to 5.131. The
day's business at the sub-treasury was as follows :—Re-
ceived, $119,133 ; paid, $122,612 ; balance, $5,690,731.
The Herald stated that defalcations to a very large amount
had occurred in several of the Wall-street banks. The
statement, however, is a fabrication without a particle of
truth for its basis. Exchange on London is firm, with an
advancing tendency. Bankers have sold'at 91 to 91 91
per cent. On Paris, the rate continues at 5.12}.
COTTON.—(From W. P. Wright's Circular of Nov.
22).—My last circular was dated 16th instant, since which
we are in receipt of Liverpool advices to 6th November,
per Arabia. During the past week, we have had a steady
demand, and the sales have been large in view of our very
limited *tack of 'amoid and desirable qualities. Home

consumers have operated to a liberal extent, and pay full
prices for such grades as they require. Holders have met
the demand freely, and nearly all the recent import has
been either sold to arrive, or immediately on being landed.
The supply of cotton ranging from middling to fair is
extremely scarce, and is likely to continue so for some
weeks. We have only a very small supply of Mobile, and
scarcely aqg New Orleans cotton on the market, for which
an inquiry daily exists, and which would bring a fraction
over the quotations, if of good staple, and free from leaf.
The total sales since 15th instant to last evening have been
8,236 bales, namely : 1,675 for export ; 4,346 for home
use ; 1,575 on speculation ; and 640 in transitu. Prices
show a slight improvement and an upward tendency. The
export during the week has been—to Liverpool, 4,495
bales ; Havre, 37 ; Rotterdam, 64. Total, 4,596 bales.
Receipts at the ports do not keep pace with those of
last year, and are now behind those of any year since
1847. Nor is it at all likely the deficiency, as compared
with last year, already amounting to 283,000 bales, can be
made up (if at all) for many months. During the past
week 70,000 bales have been received against 100,000 bales
in the corresponding week last year, which was the first
of eighteen consecutive weeks when the receipts were over
100,000 bales per week, the average being 117,600 bales
per week. The export to Great Britain is already 120,000
bales behind the corresponding period last year, and
it is now almost certain that not more than 100,000 bales
of our export, commencing Ist September, can reach Great
Britain prior to Ist January next, against about 250,000
bales last year. In view, therefore, of the dull state of
the market in Liverpool, consequent on political affairs,
high prices for food, dear money, and strikes in the manu-
facturing districts, it is a fortunate circumstance for the
holders of cotton in Liverpool, and the owners of what is on
the way, that this deficiency in receipts and exports exists.
CROP.—We have no account of frost having visited the
great cotton growing region of the South-west, or any of
those localities which, in my last circular. I noticed. as
having been so far exempt from its effects. From New
Orleans we learn that the weather continued fine for
picking. In the region tributary to Apalachicola the
crops will be large. From the Atlantic States complaints
are general of the damage by the frosts of 24th of October,
and varions estimates are indulged in as to the probable
quantity short in that section. The probable amount of
the next crop is variously estimated at from 2,700,000 to
3,000,000 bales, the preponderance being in favour of the
latter, while some few adhere to a higher estimate.
The following is a statement of the movement in cotton
since the Ist September last, as compared with the pre-
vious three years :

1853 1852 1851 1850.
Receipts at the ports 352,000 635,000 410,000 3841000
Exports to Great Britain 99,000 219,000 133,000 159,000
„ France lO,OOO 26,000 53.000 54,000
„ other for. p'ts 25,000 33,000 16,000 33,000
Total exports 134,000 278,000 202,000 246.000
Stock on hand
Of which, during the past week, included in the above.
1853. 1852. 1851. 1850.
Receipts at the ports 70,000 109,000 48,c00 56,000
Exports to Great Britain 14,000 59,000 25,000 19,000

France 6:000 4,000 13:000
„ other for. ports, 3,000 7,000 3,000 3,000
Total exports
From which it will be seen that the decrease in receipts
now amounts to 283,000 bales : the decrease in exports to
Great Britain, 120,000 ; France, 16,000 ; other foreign
ports, 8,000. Total decrease in exports, 144,000 bales,
BREADSTIINFEL—FIour was in brisk request ; the trans-
actions included 18,000 barrels :—sour at $6 14 cents to
$6 371 cents ; superfine, No. 2, at $6 371 cents to $6 621
cents ; ordinary to choice State, at $6 811 cents to $7 ;
mixed to fancy Western, at $6 871 cents to $7 061 cents ;
common to good Ohio, at $6 931 cents to $7 121 cents;
and other brands at proportionate prices. Wheat was
moderately inquired for ; the sales embraced 11,000 bshls.
prime Michigan white, at $1 73 cents to $1 74 cents; 4000
Ohio ditto, on private terms ; 6000 very good Southern
ditto, at $1 67 cents ; 17,400 inferior to prime Canadian
white, in bond, at $1 60 cents to $1 74 cents; 6000
Southern red and mixed, at $1 54 cents to $1 57i cents ;
and 3000 Western red, at $1 50 cents. Corn was rather
less valuable ; the operations comprised 30,000 bushels, at
78 cents to 79 cents for unsound ; 79 cents to 801 cents
for mixed Western; and 81 cents to 811 cents for flat and
round yellow. _ _

PROVISIONS.—Pork strongly favoured buyers. The
sales embraced 400 barrels Western, at $l4 60 cents for
mess, and $ll 75 cents for prime per barrel. Only 180
barrels Lard changed hands, at 10 cents to 10i cents per
barrel. The movements in Beef comprised 500 barrels;
at. former quotations. Other articles were as last
noticed.

NAVAL STORES.— Crude Turpentine was rather quiet,
at $4 75 Cents per 280 lbs. There were 450 barrels Spi-
rits Turpentine taken at 66 cents per gallon. Rosin
varied little.

FREIGUTS.—Rates to Liverpool were unchanged. 15,000
to 20,000 bushels corn were engaged at 12td. to 12kd ;
and 2,000 to 3,000 bbls. flour, at 3s 6d. Cotton was at
7-32 d. to -Id. asked. To London, 3,000 bbls. flour were
engaged at 4e. 9d. To Havre, 5,000 to 6,000 bbls. flour
were engaged at 95c. Wheat was at 25c. A vessel was
engaged to load for Antwerp with flour and grain, on pri-
vate terms. To California, rates were steady, at 50c. to
60c. per foot, both by full and loading clippers.
LEAD.—Holders claimed $6 372. to $6 60 for foreign,
and $6 75 for Galena, per 100 lbs. Stock light, and in-
quiry limited.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18rn.—Receipts of cotton for the
week, 38,000 bales. Total at this place, 227,000 bales, against
477,000 same time as last year, being a deficit at this port
alone of 250,000 ; and at all the ports, as made up by our
table to-night, 295,000. Sales for the week, 36,000 bales.
Middling, 9c to 91c. Stock on hand, 150,000 bales.
Freight to Liverpool id. per lb.
MOBILE, Nov. 19Tn.—Receipts for the week, 4,000 bales.
Same week last year, 16,000. Middling, Sic to Sic.
Freight to Liverpool, id. ; to Havre, 1 9-16 c. per lb.
SAVANNAH.—No report having come to hand, we are
unable to give the particulars of transactions in this mar-
ket for the week.

CHARLESTON.—Receipts for the week ending November
16th, 7,684 bales Up. and 101 S. I. Exports to Liverpool,
2,470 bales Up.
" During the first three days the purchasing was pretty
fair, at a full range of prices. On Tuesday, after the Bal-
tic's news, quite an excitement existed, and holders
realized an advance on former rates : the large transactions
of this day absorbed most of the stock offering, and the
business on Wednesday was consequently very light, the
market closing firmly, and well up to quotations, which
are -lc. to c. higher than last week. Total sales 7,100
bales. Freight to Liverpool, 9-16 d."

THE MANAGEMENT OF SEACOMBE

FERRY.

PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT.

LIST NIGHT, a public meeting of the contractors and
others interested in the accommodation and safety of the
traffic of the Seacombe Ferry was held at Seacombe Hotel,
" to take into consideration the inefficient manner in which
the ferry is now conducted." There was a very numerous
and respectable attendance, amongst those present being
Mr. Penny, the agent of Mr. Smith, the owner of the
ferry, and a strong and evident interest appeared to be
manifested by all the inhabitants on the subject.
Mr. BUCHANAN, who was appointed chairman, ex-
plained that the meeting had been called through no ill-
will to the proprietor of the boats, but from a desire felt
by all the residents of the neighbourhood that there
should be punctuality and efficiency in the management
of the ferry. At a preliminary meeting, on Wednesday
last, a series of resolutions had been drawn up, which he
supposed that some gentlemen were prepared to submit
to the meeeting. They were :
I. That the ferry at Seacombe, when conducted with punc-
tuality and efficiency, is one of the best, if not the very best,
of the ferries on the Cheshire side.

2. That, in a circular addressed to the contractors, and
dated so far back as the 21st February. last, the proprietor of
the ferry expressed his hope that Cie inconvenience to which
the public were then subject would shortly he removed, and
such arrangements made us would secure its efficient working.
3. That the working of the ferry since that period has not
been efficient, but such as to call forth the strong disappro-
bation of the meeting; and that the contractors, owners, and
occupiers of property, and all others using the ferry, are
seriously injured thereby.
4. That an immediate remedy for this state of affairs is now
demanded, and that we hereby call upon the proprietor to
carry out his intention as expressed in the said circular,
and to supply boats of a sufficient and efficient character, and
keep them permanently on the station.
The CHAIRMAN said that there was a limit to all en-
durance, and they had borne; it till it had ceased to be
.a virtue. ,
Mr. SEARIGUT proposed, and Mr. FORD seconded the
first resolution, which was carried neat. con.
Mr. GARDNER then moved the second resolution. He
said that the ferry was very far frombeing in an efficient state,
and night after night there was nothing but disappoint-
ments. He thought it was due to themselves that they
should express their feelings on the subject. At present
many gentlemen were obliged to go from Seacombe to
Egremont or Woodside, and that was a state of things he
felt which could not be tolerated.—(Applause.)
Mr. HOLME seconded the motion.

A GENTLEMAN who was present said that he had come
across that evening, and they were exactly twenty-nine
minutes on the passage. (Laughter.) The reason that
the engineer had given was, that it was impossible to get
up the steam. Had it been later in the evening, and the
steam a degeee less than it was, he supposed that they should
have drifted out to sea, and he did not think that there
Avas the provision of rockets made to fire as a signal of
distress. (Laughter and applause.)
Mr. PENNY then rose, and requested leave to address
the assembly. He admitted the inconveniences arising
in the working of the ferry, and said that none were
more painfully aware of the fact than himself. The
meeting were aware of the circumstances by which the ferry
had come into his hands from Messrs. Parry, and that
the approaches to it had been raised by the dock works.
Mr. Penny then stated the attempts that had been made
to let the ferry into competent hands, but all the agree-
ments for which had broken through, In the month of
March, the Wallasey commissioners had entered into
negociations with him, which were still pending, and he
had not been able to get from them an answer either
of acceptance, rejection, or modification of the pro-
posed terms. In January Mr. Smith had a voluntary
offer, differing very slightly from that made to the com-
missioners, and from a very competent party, but he (Mr.
Penny) had not been able to accept it, in consequence of
the negotiations ; and he wished to state frankly that he
had himself neither time nor inclination to work the ferry,
and he would indeed be glad to allow any one who would do
do so E2oa week as profit. If the inhabitants wished that the
negociations with the local board should be determined, he
was authorised to say that Mr. Smith would ask to be
released from that obligation, and would let the ferry to
the best bidder. (Applause.)
In answer to Mr. LEWIN,
Mr. PENNY explained that, of course, he only offered
the douceur of £2O a week for working the ferry pending
the arrangements with the commissioners.
Mr. Lzwor said they might not be concluded for twelve-
manths. The majority. of the board were for relieving
Mr. Smith at then. last meeting ; but Mr. Penny, as his
agent, had objected to it.
Mr. HYDE and the CHAIRMAN both thought that better
arrangements were imperatively called for, pending the
negotiation.

WILSON thought, that if so numerous and influen-
tial a meeting were to express an opinion whether the
commissioners should take the ferry or not, the question
would be settled in a week.
Mr. SZAILIGHT paid, the real point Wag aa to their

having good boats. He was a bit of a sailor, and had been
all over the world more than once, but he had never been
so frightened in his life as he had been in crossing in one
of the Seacombe packets—(laughter)--and he should
recommend those who had wives or families to send them
by Egremont or Woodside, else they might be struc
at night in the river for two or three hours. (Laughterk
and applause.) Some of them thought they were badly
off in the hands of the Parrys, but they were far worse
now. He thought the Britannia should be removed at once,
give them another good boat in addition to the Invincible,
and then let Mr. Smith fight the parish as he liked.
(Applause.)
Mr. JONES said the boats were so inefficient, that they
were not only a disgrace to them, but the nation at large.
(Laughter.)
Mr. BLACKBURN said he had often had to go by Egre
mont or Woodside. A comet passing in a wonderful curve
or parabola was nothing to that which the Seacombe boats
described. (Laughter and applause.) He hoped that there
would be some practical result from the meeting, and that
it would not pass away as what the Yankees would call a
mere " Indignation meeting."
Mr. THOMAS proposed that the meeting be adjourned far
six weeks, that the local board might in the meantime get the
opinion of the Attorney• General as to the legality of leasing.
the ferry ; but the proposed delay was met with a atorin of
indignation. . .

After some irregular discussion, A 4tb
Mr. HOLME then formally moved the 2nd, 3rd, an- -
resolutions.
Mr. MOCATTA proposed, as an amendment, that the meet-
ing
thought it the duty of the commissioners at once to
the ferry; and that a deputation of five gentlemen should
reportappointed to wait upon and urge them to a decision, and
to a future meeting
['his was seconded by a gentleman in the body of the raga,
and, on being put from the chair, was carried, after some op'
position from Mr. Lewin. with only two or three dissentients.
The following gentlemen were then appointed the dept'
tion :—Messrs. Buchanan, Holme, Searight, Jones, and 1‘10"
catta. A vote of thanks to the chairmtd closed
the pro-
ceedings;

INDIA-HousE.—The Directors of the East India COI'
pany have appointed James Grant Lumsden, Esq., Po"
visionally a member of Council at Bombay.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE•

MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 5.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRA-Pll
The steamer Ripon arrived at Southampton, at 10 45'
a.m., with the heavy portion of the East India and China
mails.

LONDON.—On the Stock Exchange, after business
hours, :Agriculturals further advanced, and close 474
484 ; Peel River, 6*; English and foreign Railwar
markets good; Consols 934 I; Caledonians 56 4.