The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-05 00:00:00

AN AMERICAN ON SLAVERY.

(FROM THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE.)
The American Bible Society has appointed some dis-
tinguished clergymen to attend the meeting of the
British and Foreign Bible Society in London, in May.
Imagine one of our eloquent divines upon the platform in
Exeter-Hall. The vast building is thronged. In glowing
terms he speaks of the word of God, the gift to all His
children. He speaks of the priceless treasure with which
it is fraught to every human soul. He urges its universal
diffusion through Europe, through Asia, through Africa.
Some tongue, eloquent through envy and malice, re-
sponds " Have you, an American, the effrontery to urge
us to send the Bible to the African ? Your eloquence is
wasted here, it is needed at home. Your own countrymen,
professing to be Christians, withhold the Bible from three
millions of souls. You not only refuse to give it to them,
but you declare they shall not have it. Say not that this
is the work of oppressive rulers to which the people are
compelled to submit at the bayonet's point. In your land
the people rule. Go home, then, to your own countrymen,
tell them their boasted liberty and christianity are despised
in lands which they call despotic."
It is in vain that our clerical friend attempts a defence.
Indignation deafens every ear, and the clamour of an au-
dience, loving to reproach Republican America, drowns
his voice. This is the reception that awaits every American
in England. " Who cares," some one valiantly exclaims.
Undeserved obloquy the bold heart can bear ; but merited
contempt crushes the spirit. And who are they who are
thus degrading America, and sinking her in the abyss of
reproach and shame ? They are thirty thousand men, who
insist upon it, that they will have their lands tilled, their
linen washed, and their boots blacked without pay. Their
fathers did it before them, and therefore they will do the
same. And the deep disgrace tarnishes the fair fame of a
noble, liberty-loving, high-minded Nation, twenty-three
millions strong. It is intolerable. We do well to be angry.

POSTAGE OF BOOKS TO Ngw SOUTII WALES.—Printed
books may now be sent to Australia at the rate of 6d. the
half-pound, under the ttst3al regulations, pre-paid by
gimps,

ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN FROM
AUSTRALIA.

The delay in the appearance of the Great Britain steam-
ship in the Mersey has for more than a fortnight been
the theme of general conversation in Liverpool, and the
source of many heartfelt regrets. All who have taken an
interest in the character and reputation of that fine vessel
-and that means almost everybody in this community-
felt that her non-appearance was a calamity to the port.
In news-room, on 'Change, in the workshop, and the
street, the inquiries respecting her whereabouts were in-
cessant. Her run to and from New York was so success-
ful, that, when she sailed in August last, it was believed
she would have made the trip to Australia in less
time than it had ever been performed, and the thousands
which lined the quays to witness her departure afforded
the best proof of the deep interest with which she
was regarded. And, though that anticipatiois has
not been realised, the interest felt in the Great Britain
seems in no wise to hare abated ; and when, on Saturday
morning, a telegraphic message arrived with the intelli-
gence that she was off Holyhead, the news ran through
the town like wildfire. The approaching vessel became
the theme of every conversation, and nearly every one
seemed inclined to believe that some reason must exist,
why the fastest screw-steamer that ever crossed the At-
lantic had been so unsuccessful in her first voyage to the
southern hemisphere. In the forenoon a tug-steamer
proceeded down the river, and brought off the mails. As
the afternoon advanced, thousands of anxious spectators
lined the shore ; and, animated as the sight usually
is on the landing-stage and the pier-head, the eager
throngs who crowded both were such as we only wit-
ness on very extraordinary occasions. When, about
four o'clock, the noble vessel was seen entering the
Mersey, the utmost enthusiasm prevailed among the
assembled thousands, whose private speculations on the
steamer, her gold-laden passengers, and her protracted
journey it was highly interesting to note. From the state
of the tide, the Great Britain had to wait for several
hours at the bar for water. Her mails and despatches
were, however, sent on, without delay, in a steam-tug,
and arrived at the post-office shortly after three o'clock.
When the Great Britain arrived off Crosby Lightship, she
met the royal mail steamer America, hence for Boston.
Salutes were fired from each steamer, and the passengers
and crews of both vessels assembled on deck, and gave
several rounds of hearty cheers. On it becoming known
throughout the town that the Great Britain had been sig-
nalized, thousands of persons wended their way to the
pierheads in order to secure places from which to obtain a
view of her massive proportions as she steamed up the
river. The scene that presented itself when the Great
Britain rounded the Rock Lighthouse almost beggars
description ; the pierheads, &c., as far as the eye could
reach, being literally packed with human beings. Salute
after salute, and cheer after cheer, rent the air, as she
slowly steamed up the river. When she turned round for
the purpose of proceeding to dock, the rush along the
streets leading to the Wellington Dock was terrific ; but,
on the arrival of the multitude there, they were doomed
to disappointment, as there was not sufficient water to
allow her to enter. She again turned round, and proceeded
up the river to the Sloyne. When passing the U.S. steamer
Pacific, the ensign of that vessel was dipped, and a salute
fired • the compliment being acknowledged and returned
by the Great Britain.
The Great Britain brought a very large mail. It con.
sisted of 19,500 letters, and upwards of 25,000 newspapers.
She has brought 260 passengers, and gold dust of the
value of between £500,000 and £600,000 sterling on
freight. There is also a large amount of gold dust in the
hands of passengers, several of whom have nuggets of very
large size and great value in their possession. The pas-
sengers, without an exception, express themselves perfectly
satisfied with the arrangements made for their comfort in
every department. There was one birth and one death on
the passage. The death occurred on the 4th of February,
the name of the person being Mr. Matthew Heath, of
Truro, Cornwall. The birth took place on the 25th of
March, the lady who had thus added to the number of
souls on board being the wife of Mr. William Cross Zuilli,
a passenger from Melbourne.
The Great Britain sailed from Sydney on her homeward
passage on the 20th December, and arrived at Melbourne
on the 25th. After taking on board a large amount of gold
dust, a great proportion of her passengers, and some cargo,
she proceeded to Hobson's Bay to await a favourable
opportunity for sailing, and finally left the Australian
shores on the 6th of January. During her run towards
the Cape she experienced moderate and light winds. On
the 6th of February she anchored in Algoa Bay, and
remained upwards-of two:days. At eight p.m., on the Bth,
she left Algoa Bay, and, on the 10th, anchored in Simon's
Bay. There being but a small supply of coal at Simon's
Bay, and very poor facilities for placing it on board vessels,
her stay there was necessarily long, the whole detention
being upwards of eight days. On the 19th she arrived in
Table Bay. and after embarking the mails, passengers, &c.,
again proceeded to sea at four a.m. on the 20th February.
In consequence of the very light and unfavourable winds
experienced, the sails were of little or nn use, and her
steam power alone had mainly to be relied upon. In less
than a month the coals again ran short, and she had to
bear up for the island of St. Michael, where she arrived on
the 19th of March. Here what fuel could be procured
was taken on board; together with a large quantity of
oranges on freight.. She left St. Michael on the night of
the 21st, and on the 28th put into Vigo, in Spain. After
a detention of two,days she finally started for this port on
the 20th, and arrived off the Bell Buoy at noon on
Saturday, being the quickest passage ever made from Vigo
to this port.
From the above it will be seen that the whole voyage
has been performed under very disadvantageous and try-
ing circumstances-that of an insufficient supply of fuel
throughout. On no occasion, during the passage, could
the whole of her steam power be made available : but,
notwithstanding this.cirennictnn,e. she often, with qteani
power Moue, logged upwards of 200 miles in the twenty-
four hours. The time occupied in making the passage
from Hobson's- Bay, Melbourne, including detentions, to
the Mersey, is eighty-six days ; and, deducting deten-
tions, seventy-two days. The distance sailed over in that
time, according to her log, was 14,688 miles, which gives
an average speed of 204• miles per day. If! a sufficient
supply of fuel could be depended upon at the ports of
call, there is not the least doubt but that the Great Bri-
tain could regularly make the:passage between Liverpool
and Melbourne, or vice versa, under 60 days. The com-
mander and officers were highly complimented by the pas-
sengers previous to their leaving the ship. The Great
Britain spoke very few vessels on the passage. On the
sth January she saw the American ship, Harriet Scott
enter Hobson's Bay ; on the 22d she passed the Lanark;
of Boston ;. and on the 23d the Russian ship, Vesta. On
the 10th Februry she passed a ship a ship flying Marryatt's
signals, No. 7,618, second distinguishing pennant.
We believe it is the intention of Messrs. Gibbs, Bright,
and Co. to again dispatch the Great Britain to Australia
as soon as possible.
The following is an abstract of her log :-
Jan. 4.-Wind W.S.W. Fresh gales.
„ 5.-Wind S.S.W. Spoke American ship Harriett Scott.
Thick weather..
„ 6.-Wind E.S.E. 120 miles. Strong winds.
„ 7.-Wind E. 203 miles. Light winds.
„ S.S.W. 220 miles. Light winds.
9.-Wind S.W. 178 miles. Fresh and strong winds.
10.-Wind S.W.S. 180 miles. Moderate.
„ 11.-Wind N.E. 192 miles. Light air.
„ 12.-Wind N.N.W. 237 miles. Fresh and strong winds
„ 13.-Wind W. 158 miles. Light and fresh winds.
„ 14.-Wind S.S.W. 215 miles. Moderate.
JP 15.-Wind S. 208 miles. Light winds.
16.-Wind S.E. 201 miles. Light winds.
„ 17.-Wind E.S.E. 193 miles. Light winds.
~. 18.-Wind E.S.E. 185 miles. Light winds.
• 19.-Wind S.S.W. 198 miles. Light winds.
20.-Wind S.E. 210 miles. Light winds.
„ 21.-Wind S.E. 191 miles. Light winds.
„ 22.-Wind E. 216 miles. Spoke Lanark, of Boston.
Light winds.
23.-Wind S.E., 200 miles. Spoke Vesta, Russian.
Moderate.
24.-Wind E.S.E. 203 miles. Light winds.
„ 23.-Wind E. 203 miles. Light winds.
„ 25.-Wind N.E. 192 miles. Light winds.
„ 27.-Wind N.N.W. 211 miles. Light winds.
, 28.-Wind W. 204 miles. Light winds.
• 29.-Wind S.E. 187 miles. Light winds.
30.-Wind E.S.E. 207 miles. Light winds.
31.-Wind N.N.E. 206 miles. Light winds.
Feb. 1.-Wind N.W. 193 miles. Light winds.
, 2.-Wind S.S.E. 197 miles. Light winds.
3.-Wind N. 210 miles. Light winds.
'„ 4.-Wind S.W.S. 206 miles. Moderate.
„ 5.-Wind N.N.W. 169 miles. Light airs.
„ 6.-Wind S.W. 167 miles. Cameto anchor at Algoa Bay.
„ 8.-Wind W.N.W. 8 p.m. left Algoa Bay.
„ 9.-Wind W. 113 miles.
„ 10.-Wind S.E. 170 miles. Spoke No. 7,618,26 disting.
pennant, midn't. Anchored in Simon's Bay.
„ 19.-Wind Calm. Arrived in Table Bay.
„ 20,-Wind S.S.E. G 6 miles. Strong winds.
„ 21.-Wind S.S.E. 247 miles. Moderate.
„ 25.-Wind S.S.E. 248 miles. Moderate and fresh.
„ 23.-Wind S.S.E. 241 miles. Fresh breeze.
„ 24.-Wind S. by E. 207 miles. Moderate and light winds.
„ 25.-Wind S.E. 232 miles. Strong and fresh winds.
„ 26, -Wind S.E.E. 221 miles. Fresh, winds.
„ 27.-Wind S.S.B. 227 miles. Light airs.
„ 28.-Wind S.S.E. 217 miles. Air moderate.
Mar. 1.-Wind S.S.W. 218 miles. Light airs.
S.S.W. 217 miles. Light airs.
3.-Wind S.W. 210 miles. Light airs.
4.-Wind W.S.W. 214 miles. Light airs and hot wea
ther.
„ a.- Wind W.N.W. 197 imies. Light airs.
6.-Wind W.N.W. 182 miles. Moderate wind.
7.-Wind N. 174 miles. Moderate.
• 8.-Wind N.N.E. 164 miles. Moderate.
, 9.-Wind N.E. 173 miles. Moderate.
10.-Wind N.E. 206 miles. Fresh breezes.
„ 11.-Wind N.E. by E. 192 miles. Fresh and strong
breezes.
„ 12.-Wind N.E. by E, 184 miles. Moderate and light.
„ 13.-Wind N.E. by E. 202 miles. Moderate and light.
„ 14.-Wind E.N.E. 193 miles. Light winds.
„ 15.-Wind E. 193 miles. Light winds.
„ 16.-Wind W.N.W. 180 miles. Variable winds.
„ 17.-Wind N.W. 190 miles. Variable winds.
18.-Wind S.W. 181 miles. Variable winds.
„ 19.-Wind E.N.E. Variable winds.

20. )
/ Lying at anchor in the Bay of St. Michael's.
22.—Wind S. 100 miles. Strong winds.
23.—Wind S.S.E. 217 miles. Fresh and moderate winds.
24.—Wind E. 203 miles. Fresh and moderate winds.
„ 25.—Wind N.E. by N. 163 miles. Light winds and fresh
gales.
26.—Wind N.E. by E. 137 miles. Fresh gales and
squally.
27.—Wind E.N.E. 205 miles. Strong winds.

„ 28. } Lying off the town of Vigo, in Spain.
309.—Wind W. 53 miles. Light and moderate winds, and
squally.
31.—Wind S.S.W. 230 miles. Strong gale and squally.
April I.—Wind W.N.W. 247 miles. Fresh breezes.
2.—Wind W.N.W. Channel at noon. Stopped at Bell
buoy for water. Strong breezes.