The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

repress it. Several annoying occurrences have taken place
at Havana, or in the vicinity of the Island of Cuba, between
our citizens and the Spanish authorities. Considering the
proximity of that island to our shores—lying, as it does, in
the track of trade between some of our principal cities—
and the suspicious 'vigilance with which foreign intercourse,
particularly that with the United States, is there guarded,
a repetition of such occurrences may well be apprehended.
As no diplomatic intercourse is allowed between our Consul
at Havana and the Captain General of Cuba, ready expla-
nations cannot be made, or prompt redress afforded, where
injury has resulted. All complaint on the part of our
citizens, under the present arrangement, must be, in the
first place, presented to this government, and then referred
to Spain. Spain again refers it to her loc.al authori-
ties in Cuba for investigation, and postpones an answer
till she has heard from those authorities. To avoid these
irritating and vexatious delays, a proposition has been
made to provide a direct appeal for redress to the Captain
General by our Consul, in behalf of our injured fellow-
citizens. Hitherto, the government of Spain has declined
to enter into any such arrangement. This course on her
part is deeply regretted ; for, without some arrangements
of this kind, the good understanding between the two
countries may be exposed to occasional interruption. Our
Minister at Madrid is instructed to renew the proposition,
and to press it again upon the consideration of her Catholic
Majesty's Government.
In 1852, an expedition was sent to Japalr under the
command of Commodore Perry, for the purpose of opening
commercial intercourse with that island. Intelligence has
been received of his arrival there, and of his having made
known to the Emperor of Japan the object of his visit;
but it is not yet ascertained how far the Emperor will be
disposed to abandon his restrictive policy, and open that
populous country to a commercial intercourse with the
United States.
Considering the vast regions of this continent, and the
number of States which would be made accessible by the
free navigation of the river Amazon, particular attention
has been given to this subject. Brazil, through whose
territories it passes into the ocean, has hitherto persisted
in a policy so restrictive, in regard to the use of this river,
as to obstruct, and nearly exclude, foreign commercial
intercourse with the States which lie upon its tributaries
and upper branches. Our minister to that country is
instructed to obtain a relaxation of that policy, and to use
his efforts to induce the Brazilian government to open to
common use, under proper safeguards, this great natural
highway for international trade. * * * I am happy
to inform you that the republic of Paraguay and the
Argentine Confederation, have yielded to the liberal policy
still resisted by Brazil, in regard to the navigable rivers
within their respective territories. Treaties embracing
this subject among others have been negotiated with these
governments, which will be submitted to the senate at the
present session.
A new branch of commerce, important to the agricul-
tural interests of the United States, has, within a few
years past, been opened with Peru. Notwithstanding the
inexhaustible deposits of guano upon the islands of that
country, considerable difficulties are experienced in obtain-
ing the requisite supply. Measures have been taken to
remove these difficulties, and to secure a more abundant
importation of the article. Unfortunately there has been
a serious collision between our citizens, who have resorted
to Chinca islands for it, and the Peruvian authorities
stationed there. Redress for the outrages committed by
the latter was promptly demanded by our minister at
Lima. The subject is now under consideration, and there
is reason to believe that Peru is disposed to offer adequate
indemnity to the aggrieved parties.
The revenue of the country, levied almost insensibly to
the tax-payer, goes on from year to year, increasing beyond
either the interests or the prospective wants of the
Government.
At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852,
there remained in the treasury a balance of fourteen
million, six hundred and thirty-two thousand, one hundred
and thirty-six dollars. The public revenue, for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1853, amounted to fifty-eight mil-
lion nine hundred and thirty-one thousand, eight hundred
and sixty-five dollars from customs, and to two million,
four hundred and five thousand, seven hundred and eight
dollars from public lands and other miscellaneous sources,
amounting together to sixty-one million, three hundred
and thirty-seven thousand, five hundred and seventy-four
dollars; while the public expenditures for the same period,
exclusive of payments on account of the public debt,
amounted to forty-three million, five hundred and fifty-
four thousand, two hundred and sixty-two dollars —leaving
a balance of thirty-two million, four hundred and twenty-
five thousand, four hundred and forty-seven dollars of
receipts above expenditures.
This fact, of increasing surplus in the Treasury, became
the subject of anxious consideration at a very early period
of my administration, and the path of duty in regard to
it seemed to me obvious and clear—namely, first, to apply
the surplus revenue to the discharge of the public debt, so
far as it could judiciously be done; and, secondly, to
devise means for the gradual reduction of the revenue to
the standard of the public exigencies.
Of these objects the first has been in the course of ac-
complishment in a manner and to a degree highly satis-
factory. The amount of the public debt of all classes was,
on the 4th of March, 1853, sixty-nine millions one
hundred and ninety thousand and thirty-seven dollars ;
payments on account of which have been made, since that
period, to the amount of twelve millions seven hundred
and three thousand three hundred and twenty-nine
dollars—leaving unpaid, and in the continuous course of
liquidation, the sum of fifty-six millions four hundred and
eighty-six thousand seven hundred and eight dollars.
Among the objects meriting your attention will be
important recommendations from the Secretaries of War
and Navy. lam fully satisfied that the navy of the
United States is not in a condition of strength and effi-
ciency commensurate with the magnitude of your com-
mercial and other interests ; and commend to your
especial attention the suggestions on this subject made by
the Secretary of the Navy. I respectfully submit that
the army, which, under our system, must always be re-
garded with the highest interest, as a nucleus around
which the volunteer forces of the nation gather in the
hour of danger, requires augmentation or modification, to
adapt it to the present extended limits and frontier re-
lations of the country, and the conditions of the Indian
tribes in the interior of the continent ; the necessity of
which will appear in the communications of the secretaries
of War and the Interior

The Message concludes by briefly alluding to the death
of Vice-President King.
At New Orleans, on the sth, there were 214 deaths
from cholera.

The yellow fever was raging at Louisiana.
Advices from Mexico announce that 200 armed men from
San Francisco had landed at La Paz, Lower California,
taken possession of the town and imprisoned the governor.
United States troops were to be sent against them.
From Havana we have accounts to the Ist instant. The
arrival of the new Captain-General was hourly expected.
The Captain-General of Cuba has just issued an important
circular to the several Captains of Partidos (sections of
country), of a character whieh indicates a new alarm of
invasion from the United States. The circular sets out
with affirming that the superior authority has been surely
informed that the traitors are projecting a fresh invasion
of the island, with considerable force ; and, at the same
time, the supreme authority is convinced of the necessity
of repressing the revolutionary tendencies of the native
inhabitants with the strong hand, &c. It is, therefore,
ordered that, "in the case of an invasion, the said cap-
tains shall have authority to call upon those persons,
who are suspected of partiality to the Americans and to
freedom, to cause them to offer their persons and property
for the Spanish service." The forthcoming crop of sugar,
it was stated, would be a shorrone, dry weather and the
cholera having caused the death of the negroes, and
affected the canes injuriously.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, DEC. 6,

MONEY AND STOCKS.—The stock market in the early
part of the week had been buoyant, but towards the close
it was scarcely so active. The market for foreign ex-
change is reported as less active than had been anticipated
for the Canada. The business was chiefly at 1098 for
prime bankers' names, and from this there was a conces-
sion of on nearly all considerable transactions. The
rates for money remained without alteration, and the
leading stockbrokers were well supplied. A New York
paper says : " The increased discounts of the past week by
the banks, while both their specie and individual deposits
fell off slightly, is an indication that the country bank
balances are again improving."
COTTON.—(From W. P. Wright's Circular of Dec. 6.)
There has been great disappointment here during the past
week, that no improvement took place in Liverpool on
receipt of our frost accounts of 25th October, and prices
have daily shown a slight concession on the part of sellers,
until at the close a reduction of about lc. per lb. has been
established, and to which the quotations annexed conform.
The sales since the 29th ult. to last evening have been—
for export, 4,437 bales; home consumption, 3,623; specu-
lation, 2,550; in transitu, 170. Total, 10,780 bales.
Holders have been free sellers, yielding very reluctantly,
however, to any reduction in price. The late receipts of
Cotton here from Savannah and Charleston consist of
good middling and above ; the stock now on the market
of these grades is better than for some months past ;
middling qualities, on the contrary, are difficult to obtain
in even running lots, while the lower grades are in abund-
ance, and comparatively neglected. The export during
the past week has been, to Liverpool, 4,908 bales ; Havre,
787 Bremen, 72 ; Antwerp, 69 ; Total, 5,836 bales.
The following is a statement of the movement in cotton
since the Ist of September last, as compared with the
previous three years :

1853 1852 1851 1850.
Receipts at the ports 499,000 864,000 560,000 520,000
Exports to Great Britain 131,000 305,000 177,000 193,000
„ France 27,000 41,000 73,000 73,000
, other for. p'ts 33,000 46,000 27,000 42.000
Total exports 191,000 392,000 277,000 307.000
Stock on hand
Of which, during the past week, included in the above.
1853. 1852. 1851. 1850.
Receipts at the ports 78,000 113,000 83,000 56,000
Exports to Great Britain 19,000 54,000 27,000 15,000
I, France 10,000 6,000 12,000 5,000
„ other for. ports, 3,000 3,000 4,000 4,000
Total exports

From which it will be seen that the decrease in re-
ceipts now amounts to 365,000 bales ; the decrease in
exports to Great Britain, 174,000 ; France, 14,000 ; other
foreign ports, 13,000. Total decrease in exports, 201,000
bales.

BREADSTUFFS—FIour has improved very little either
in demand or value. The day's business consists of 8,000
bbls. State, Western, and Southern, at a general rise of
6}c. per bbl. in price. Wheat is held with greater firm-
ness, yet is not in much request at unchanged rates.
Among the day's sales were reported a parcel of choice
Genessee white, supposed at $1 80c. ; some Michigan ditto
at $1 72c.; and 8,400 bushels Western red, part at $1
53c. A lot of Southern red was said to have been pur-
chased at $1 56c. Rye is rather inactive at $l. Barley
and oats are essentially unchanged. Corn is seemingly
depressed. The day's movements do not exceed 18,000
bushels, Western and Southern at 79c. to 82c., the latter
price having been realised only for small quantities of choice
yellow, needed by the home trade.

PnovlsroNs.-L'Pork has continued to favor owners,
under the influence of the light stock here and the prevalence
of a very animated inquiry. The day's transactions reach
1,200 brls. Western at $l3 311 c. to $l3 50c. for
mess, and $ll for prime, per brl.—both kinds evincing
an upward tenor towards the close. Cut meat and dressed
hogs manifest no essential alteration. Lard is a little
more sought after, but does not seem any higher.