The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

FRIDAY, MARCH 3.

Petitions were presented by Mr. STANLEY, from the
guardians of the poor of the Holyhead Union, Anglesey,
in favour of the Settlement Removal Bill, and union rating;
and also from the magistrates of the city of Chester, in
favour of a bill for reformatory schools for juvenile
delinquency.
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.—Mr. H. T. LIDDELL
gave notice that, on the second reading of the Corrupt
Practices at Elections Bill, he should move an amendment
to the effect that controverted elections should for the
future be referred to tribunals composed of others than
members of that house.
NAVIGATION OP THE MENAI STRAITS.—Mr. 0. STAN-
LEY asked if the attention of the Admiralty had been
called to the erection of stone weirs for the purpose of
making oyster beds within the tidal stream of the Menai
Straits, thereby causing obstruction to the free navigation
of the Straits ; and if any naval officer had been sent
down to report upon the same.—Sir J. GRAHAM said, the
attention of the Admiralty had been called to the alleged
construction of stone weirs. A survey had been made by
a naval officer, and the report had been received by the
Admiralty; and, if moved for, it should be laid on the
table of the house.
FIRE INSURANCES.—CoIoneI SIBTHORP gave notice
that, in consequence of the delay in the production of
certain returns, he was most reluctantly obliged to defer
his motion with respect to the duties on fire insurances.
WITHDRAWAL OF THE REFORM BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved the reading of the order of
the day for the second reading of the bill for improving
the representation of England and Wales, with a view to
its postponement. He said that this bill was read a first
time on the 13th of February, and was fixed for second
reading on the 13th of March. In naming the latter day
he had reserved to himself the right of further postponing
the measure, should he think proper to do so. Subse-
quently Sir E. Dering had placed an amendment on the
paper to the effect that the circumstances of the country
were not favourable to the consideration of a subject of
such importance. It became necessary for ministers in
consequence to consider the course to be pursued, taking
into consideration the state of public business, and the
state also of our foreign relations. With respect to public
business, it was true that the supplies had been very
readily voted, but the ways and means of raising those
supplies had yet to be brought under consideration. He
proceeded to say that a messenger had been sent to the
Emperor of Russia from England and France respecting
the occupation of the Principalities, which, if continued
beyond a certain named day, would be considered equiva-
lent to a declaration of war. If Russia should be disin-
clined to acquiesce, and twenty-five days must be allowed
for the answer, it would be the duty of the ministers to
bring down a message from Her Majesty declaring that
all relations of amity with Russia were at an end. He
hoped the position of affairs at the day he was about to
name would be more favourable to the consideration
he
of
the subject than the present time, and in the interim
would introduce the bills for improving the state of the
representation in Scotland and Ireland. He concluded by
naming the first Thursday after Easter (the 27th of April)
for the second reading, but without absolutely pledging
himself that it should come on upon that day-
Sir J. SHELLEY expressed his disappointment and regret
at the announcement. The whole affair appeared to be a
great sham, by which the reformers of England were to
be bamboozled.
A lengthened discussion ensued, in the course of which
Mr. DISRAELI reminded the noble lord of the readiness
of the party lie acted with to facilitate the voting of sup-
ply, and said the reasons assigned for the negociations
with Russia were not so satisfactory as he could have
wished. He contended that he (Lord J. Russell) was not
justified in introducing a measure upon a fair calculation
of time that would be occupied by the consideration of the
supplies and ways and means, and a better course would
have been to refrain from bringing it forward until he
he saw whether he had a fair prospect of carrying it
through parliament. Was it right, he asked, that a mi-
nister of this country should be constantly laying siege to
the constitution ? He went on to taunt the noble lord
with his frequent attempts to introduce great changes.
frequent failure, and depicted what
and with his equally
prosecution of the war, which might
might happen in the
and when the supporters
these
mpathy,
fail always to excite

of the noble lord might be those who were condemned to
annihilation by his own reform bill. He described the
four great principles on which ministers proposed to carry
on their government; viz., free trade, which was not ex-
tended—peace, which has resulted in a state of war—pub-
lie education, on which a great legislative measure was to
have been given, but which has never made its appear-
ance—and, lastly, parliamentary reform, which was now
postponed. He concluded with a sarcastic sketch of the
proceedings of the administration since its formation, and
sat down amidst loud cheers from the opposition.
Lord J. RUSSELL made a brief reply to Mr. Disraeli,
whose criticism, he observed, though ingenious, had little
or no bearing upon the question.
SPIEITS.—On the order for going into a Committee of
Supply, Mr. P. O'BRIEN moved that, prior to any future
contract for the supply of spirits for the use of her Ma-
jesty's navy being made, tenders for the supply of home-
made spirits be admitted. After a short debate the
motion was negatived by 93 to 40.
THE ARMY.—The house went into Committee of
Supply, and a supplemental vote of £500,000 and 15,000
men for the army was agreed to.
The commissariat estimates were also agreed to.
THE COASTING TRADE.—In reply to a question from
Sir C. Tyler, Sir J. GRAHAM said that ministers had not
any intention at present to advise her Majesty to give
effect to the reciprocity clause in the Navigation Laws
Amendment Act.—Mr. BENTINCK expressed his appre-
hension that the consequences of the passing of the
present bill would be the transference of the coasting
trade to foreigners, and the destruction of our own real
nursery for seamen. The clauses were agreed to.
The Commons Enclosure Bill was read a second time.
The report on the Coasting Trade Bill was brought up
and received.
The house adjourned at 10 o'clock.

SHIPPING AND MERCANTILE
_MISCELLANY.

GOLD AT THE BRAES 0' BALQUHIDDEE.—It has been
positively stated within these few days, that six ounces of
pure gold have been picked up at a place called " Letters,"
in the parish of Balquhidder.—North British Mail.
THE NORTH AMERICAN FISHERIES.—Mr. Sabine, of
Framingham, who has been writing a long document on
the subject of fisheries, has sent an estimate to the
Gloucester Telegraph of the cod, mackerel, and herring
fisheries of the American seas. The number of American
vessels engaged in the business is 3,160; British, 3,775;
French, 580. The capital invested is—American,
$8,880,015; British, $8,900,175; French, $1,225,000;
while the value of the annual products is—American,
$4,018,030 ; British, $8,690,000 ; French, $1,840,000.
Mr. Sabine adds :—" It will be seen that while the 'capital
invested' in the British possessions is the same as in the
United States, the ' value of the annual produce' is more
than double. I should have . guessed at a result some-
thing like this before entering into a calculation, item by
item, for the figures agree with my personal observation
for a series of years. So much for the cheaper colonial
vessels, so much for boats instead of vessels, so much for
proximity to and ownership of fishing grounds, and the
exclusive use of the narrow straits and the shore and boat
fisheries."—Boston Post.
NEW AMERICAN TARIFF.—We have been favoured
with a copy of the Treasury projet of the new tariff, now
before the committee of ways and means in the U.S.
House of Representatives. It subjects all imports to a
duty of twenty-five per cent. ad valorem, except spirituous
liquors of different kinds, which are to pay 100 per cent.,
and except also certain specified articles (a pretty long list
withal), which are to be exempt from duty. In the latter
class are included most raw materials used in manufac-
turing, and also dye stuffs of every description, solely used
in composing dye. It abolishes all bounties and drawbacks
on salted or pickled fish. But none of its provisions are
designed to go into operation until the Ist of Jaunary
next. Goods in warehouse at that date will be entitled to
the benefit of the new'rates of duty.—New York Paper.
A BRIEF AND MODEST LETTER.--Captain Stouffer's
letter to the owners of the Antarctic, at New York, is the
briefest and most modest statement of a meritorious action
that we remember ever to have read :—" Liverpool, Jan.
24.—1 beg to inform you of the arrival of the Antarctic
in the river on the 23d instant, where lam compelled to
remain until the 28th, owing to the tides. On the 3d
instant, in lat. 39 40, ion. 612, fell in with steam-ship San
Francisco, and took from her the captain, purser; two offi-
cers, three lieutenants, and about 190 U.S. government
troops, which detained me about 54 hours.—Your obedient
servant, GEO. C. STOUFFER, ship Antarctic.—To Messrs.
Zerega and Co."—New York Journal of Commerce.
LAUNCH OP THE NUBIA.—On Tuesday, about half-past
twelve o'clock, a screw steamer of 2,200 tons register, and
300 feet long, was launched from the building-yard f Mr.
John Laird, North Birkenhead. The vessel is said to be
the largest ever built on the Mersey. Her vast propor-
tions, when out of water, were the wonderment of every
beholder, and the fact of so large a vessel leaving the
stocks, drew thousands of well-dressed persons. The
steamer, which was named the " Nubia" by Mrs. Bailey,
is intended for the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Naviga-
tion Company. Her lines fore and aft are fine, and from
her length of floor there is no doubt but she will carry a
large cargo, as well as prove a- quick. sailer. The vessels
in the docks adjoining presented a very gay appearance on
the occasion, having every spar dressed with flags and
streamers. Several rounds of cannon were fired in honour
of the new craft.

WRECK OF THE ORLEANS.—We learn by the Mona's
Herald of Wednesday that the ship Orleans, 930 tons
register, Captain Charles Thomas, which left this port
on Sunday week, for New Orleans, went ashore on the
Calf of Man the same night. She left the Mersey about
eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and pursued her voyage
favourably until midnight, when she struck, whilst in
the act of wearing, on the rocks of the Calf Island, with
considerable force, remained fixed for about fifteen minutes,
and then sank in deep water. The captain and crew,
numbering twenty-six hands, were saved ; twenty-one
escaped uninjured, by means of the jib-boom, to the
rocks of the island, and four men and a boy launched
the jolly-boat, and, after drifting about all night, reached
Port Erin in the morning. It is supposed, however, that
several stowaways who were secreted in the hold of the
ship have perished, as the hatches were battened down.
Those of the crew who escaped by the jib-boom proceeded
to the lighthouses on the Calf of Man, where they were
treated in an exceedingly kind and humane manner by
the light-keepers. The vessel remained submerged until
the salt comprising' her cargo was dissolved, when she
rose, bottom upwards, and was drifted away by the tide.
During the night, and up to the time the vessel struck,
the weather was extremely hazy, and the watch was
unable to distinguish the brilliant lights of the Calf Island;
indeed, so dense was the fog, that the lights of the upper
lighthouse could not be discerned from the lower one, a
distance of only 187 yards. The ship was observed on
Monday afternoon bottom up, about five miles to the
west of. the Calf of Man, and on Tuesday morning she
was distinctly seen about seven miles off' Castletown bay.
The Mona's Queen steamer, Captain Greer, proceeded on
Tuesday afternoon to the wreck. The steamer towed her
into the north part of Douglas Bay, where she lies on the
ground, in eight fathoms water;, her stern only showing
above water. It is expected that her spars, chains, and
cordage will be recovered, and that the vessel will all be
removed further in shore. Her poop deck is gone, and
she has had her bow stove in.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, and DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

On the 16th ult., at St. Petersburgh, the Grand Duchess
Alexandra Josephovna, wife of the. Grand Duke Constan-
tine Nicolaiewitch, son of the Emperor of Russia, of a
daughter.
On the 23rd ult., in Rodney-street, Mrs. J. T. Manifold,
of a daughter.
On the 25th ult., the wife of Mr. James Cooke, of a son.
On the 25th ult., the wife of Mr. Godfrey Higgings, of
a son.
On the 26th ult., at Haughton-hall, Cheshire, the wife
of Carstairs Jones, Esq., of a daughter.
On the 26th ult., in Warwick-street, Park-road, the
wife of Mr. John Jeffes, chemist, of a son.
On the 27th ult., the wife of Mr. Henry Moon, of Tyne-
mouth-street, Everton, of a son.
On the 27th ult., at Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham,
the wife of Mr. John Pritchard, of a daughter.
On the 27th ult., the wife of Robert H. Frank, Esq., of
Aigburth, of a son.
On the 28th ult., Mrs. William Llewellyn, of London-
road, of a daughter.
On the Ist inst., at Grange-mount, Claughton, Mrs.
Johnson, of a daughter.
On the 2nd inst., at Catherine-street, Mrs. J. G. Bull,
of a daughter.
On the 2nd inst., at Sea-bank, Liscard, Cheshire, Mrs.
T. B. Hughes, of a daughter.
On the 2nd inst., at Seacombe, the wife of Mr. Thomas
Leighton, of a son.
On the 2nd inst., at Parkgate, Mrs. Thomas Taylor, of
a daughter.
On the 3rd inst., at Eaglefield-terrace, Kingsland, Lon-
don, Mrs. Michael Barnett, of a son.
On the 6th inst., at Ermine-street, Everton, the wife of
Mr. Allan Williamson, of a daughter.