The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

even in the things above noted, reflect lustre on each
other. But JOSEPH HUME'S heart is cold and worthless.
What business has he, forsooth, of all men living, if his
feelings be real and not sham, as I have almost inti-
mated,—what business has he to eke out the income-tax
—add to it,—aid Chancellors of the Exchequer in burden-
ing poor people, already with fewer dinners than seven a
week ? Does that prince of accountants and political
economists, WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE, require a hint
from the dull dormitory of JOSEPH HUME'S mud-mind ?
I trove me nay. Yet JOSEPH has hanging over the
heads of thousands and tens of thousands of such people a
(till now) unheard of tax :—the CHANCELLOR OP THE
XCIIEQITER is not likely to lose sight of it, seeing it comes
tr9m a Reformer. Ugh ! JOE proposes that when a man
with a wife, it may be,—for it is all one to the father of
Reform,—and half-a-dozen children,—and it is wonderful
to see what an aid to population poverty is.—HIMIE pro-
poses that such a husband and father, if he earn 235. and
the fraction of a penny a week WO per annum), shall be
liable to an income-tax. He proposed the monster-thought !
His reason for it ? Here it is, in JoE's own words almost,
indeed altogether :—those who had urged on the govern-
ment to go to war, at public meetings and elsewhere,
should be called on to pay their fair proportion of taxation.
What d'ye think of that, working men of England, who
have £6O a year, wage or salary ? It hangs over your
heads like the sword of antiquity. Chancellors of the
Exchequer resemble the eldest BONAPARTE—Nip,—who
said that no enemy was too insignificant to be despised.
So Mr. GLADSTONE thinks every little helps ;—he would
gladly have taken JOSEPH'S proposition ; but Mr. GLAD-
STONE thought it "too bad," more especially as the impo-
sition of the income-tax on sums from £l5O to £lOO had
only produced L'250,000 ; and Mr. Hurt's proposition, he
was afraid, "would not at all produce a similar sum." No
suggestion, however insignificant, if it bring grist to the
CHANCELLOR'S mill, is to be despised. Mr. GLADSTONE
took good care to tell JOSEPH to keep his proposition over
for a while,—till he saw how the present measure worked.
And JOSEPH answered and said, verily I shall do so.
One of the plague-spots of the vast metropolis—West-end
especially—is about to he remedied, removed. Gaming! Let
us take a ride in a night cab to Bury-street, St. James's,
the Haymarket, and streets ramifying, the " Silver Hells"
of Castle-street. Woe's me ; that poor, silly act, brought
in two or three years ago, and afterwards hurrah'd to the
sound of the dry bones in the dice box, which provided
that conviction should only follow gamblers being caught
in the act, or gambling instruments being found on the
premises. The act was laughed at ; the gamblers, know-
ing fellows, and the still more knowing ones who kept
the " bank," saw at glance they could easily circumvent
the warrant of the "beak," held by his most vigilant
officer. Iron-bound doors—examples for the ordnance
office—managed the one, and that science which relates to
fluids in motion, and more especially to the conveying of
water through pipes, did the other. A West-end plumber,
for £5O, puts up a tank, joked about in these sinks as Il
Taneredi ; it is arranged for a pipe, two inches in
diameter, with a bend here, and a bend there, just to
give impetus, and running bang into the common sewer.
A ton of water, in the moment of alarm, is let down ver-
tically,—adieu implements. Though they have been
going on to a great extent lately, it is curious to con-
sider the effect of the pitiful enactment last passed. In
a dozen of the " hells " referred to, old familiar faces
meet each other nightly over the green baize,—friend—
prostitution of the sacred word !—preys upon friend; few
strangers worth plucking turn up ; now ca then a
"pigeon," it is true, but seldom. The same parties meet,
night after night, to fleece each other, and each as poor as
t'other. The very porter has been played with, and, in a
recent case, he cleared out the parties, and lent them cab-
hire. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S bill proposed, and
brought in on Thursday evening, is good ; it will surely
put down these gaining establishments. There are thou-
sands of gaming places—" more to be feared than they."
What follows, too commonly, the table d'hote 1 Cards—
plunder. Two, three, five, ten, twenty pounds lost and
won ! The master-tradesman, the clerk, by this " friendly
hand," and a drop of gin, finds his quietus in the Thames!
This was the case the other morning.
Wednesday is a quiet day in the region of the Houses of
Parliament; the Earl of CARLISLE, when Lord MORPETH,
used to

Throw up his cap,
And shout joy ! joy !"
on its return. The late illustrious Relics carried his love
of the day still further, by never coming down to the
house at all, under any consideration, on that day, which
ever after became a dies non. The placid air (I do not
mean atmospheric) of the place does one good to have a
stroll, taking care you do not slide and tumble each glassy
step you take. Wednesday last formed an exception to
the rule. I was forcibly, and sadly too, reminded of Lord
BYRON'S famous first and last speech in the House of
Peers, when he stood up in support of the poor of Not-
tingham, touching the knitting-frame breaking-boys, of
five-and-forty years ago. Sir HENRY HALFORD, a kind-
hearted man, aware of one great grievance under which
groan the hard-working and harder paid makers of Not-
tingham hose, moved for a measure in their favour. Who
has not heard the jarring, sharp, and unmusical sound of
the stocking-maker's loom—chick —chick —char ? For
all your improvements in science, exhibition prizes, &c.,
these noisy looms cost as much now as they did when they
first were patented—say from £l9 to £22 for the better
order. Scarce one stocking-weaver out of a hundred can
call one of these looms his own. Sharp fellows, for the
most part, they say, butlers and other gentlemen's ser-
vants—a class who well know safe and profitable invest-
ments—purchase the machines, and let them out to the
poor worker of hose at a rent of 65., 75., aye, and Bs. a
week ! Is not this monstrous ? One year's rent of the
loom pays for it out and out. Here area the evils of the
truck system, without even the masteilgetting anything
by it. A man with half an eye could see that this enor-
mity demanded attention. No. Sir WILLIAM CLAY, the
Tower Hamlet baronet, opposed the measure, on the
ground that it " interfered with the labour market"—in-
terfered in a serious manner with the laws which regulated
labour as between master and servant ; a subject which
BROUGHAM, with all his age, experience, and forensic
lore, always approaches with jealous care. Sir,l9lLu.or
CLAY'S opposition is baseless ; the question is not between
master and servant—the truck system and middle-men
are the subjects ; and let us hope that Sir H. HALFORD'S
bill will be ultimately carried. The second reading was
by a majority of 47.
Half-a-dozen dramas, such as they are, have been pro-
duced during the week at the chief theatres ; all of them
artificial in plot, incident, language, and almost every
accessory necessary to the "legitimate." Yet they have
all been successful; nay, more, an adaptation produced on
Saturday night by Mr. C. KEAN., that great stickler for
legitimacy and stage virtue, I am informed, was received
with the utmost favour, though unmitigated vice—male
and female—was rampant it in. The theatres are all
crowded,—at least those of them that I visit;—standing
room all that can be had, unless seats are previously se-
cured. The winter season closed at Drury-lane on Satur-
day, with a bow from BROOKE and another from the lessee.
Some Chinese varlets make their appearance this evening,
preceded by opera. The impresario of the Italians has
issued his hot-pressed programme ;—the same artistes as
before, with LABLACHB—a great addition. Gatsi bids
farewell in July. It was stated that the season would
begin with " Il Barbiere," LABLICHE as Bartolo ; "Wil-
liam Tell" has been substituted with a grand cast,—a
change which no lover of music or musical scholar can
approve.

REJECTION OF THE SUMMONS
OF THE WESTERN POWERS.

A telegraphic dispatch, dated Berlin, March 24, states that
on the pevious night an English courier passedthrough that
capital, bearing to his government the refusal of Russia
to accede to the summons of the Western Powers. The
messenger bearing the summons arrived at St. Petersburgh
on the 13th inst. It was immediately communicated to
the Russian Cabinet; and, on the 19th, Count Nesselrode
signified to the British Consul that his Imperial master
had no reply to make to the message of England and
France.

The Hon. E. W. Blackwood, messenger from St. Peters-
burgh, arrived at Dover on Saturday afternoon, and im-
mediately started for London. He reached the Foreign
Office at half-past ten o'clock at night. He is the bearer
of dispatches to our government, which were immediately
sent to the residence of Lord Clarendon. Mr. Blackwood
left St. Petersburgh on the 19th inst., having deferred his
departure till the last moment indicated in his instruc-
tions. It is understood that the Emperor would return
no answer to the Sovereigns of England and France.
The last authentic dispatches from Bucharest mention
great stir in the Russian armies. Some reinforcements
had arrived, and it was known that the Czar had desired
the capture of Kalafat at any risk and cost of money or life.

THE AMEHICAN MAlLs.—The steam-ship Andes, which
had been appointed to take the present turn of the Cunard
line of steamers from New York and Boston, had not
arrived previous to our going to press. Should she arrive
any time to-day, we will publish the news brought by her
in a Second Edition.

WE would recommend those who want to purchase
country residences to read Mr. Williams's advertisement.
MR. ALBERT SMITH is
in be stated to writing a new
novel, the action of which is to pass the varied localities
of London, Wolverhampton, and Ulverstone. The story
is said to be very dramatic, and to bear out the old adage
"that truth is stronger than fiction."
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH WALES.--A line of
steamers is about to run between Cardiff and Liverpool ;
a large shed is now in course of erection at the docks for
the reception of cargoes to be brought by these ships.—
North Wales Chronicle.

Docx COMMITTEE.—The election of a member of the
Dock Committee in the room of Mr. Francis Shand, who
vacated his office as a representative of the ratepayers on
being elected an alderman, took place yesterday, when
John P. Palmer, Esq., deputy chairman of the Shipowners'
Association, was elected without opposition.
THE MARCO POLO, which sailed from here on the 9th
of November for Melbourne, arrived out on the 28th of
January. Later accounts state that on the 30th of January
she got on shore, and was not expected to be got off.
SERVANTS' WAGES.—In the County Court, yesterday,
the Rev. Dr. M`Neile was summoned by his late cook, for
the non-payment of 75., a month's wages, in lieu of
warning. The rev. gentleman said it was an understand-
ing with the plaintiff when she was engaged that she was
to have no visitors, except by leave of her master or
mistress, and that they made no objections at reasonable
times. On Sunday, while they were absent at church,
she admitted a " cousin," and on being remonstrated with
for her breach of regulations, she took fire as though she
had been brought up at Spit-head, and boldly defied the
authority of her master, who would not have pressed the
objection had she made any attempt at civility. The
judge gave a verdict for the defendant, and this produced
another volley from the plaintiff, who was locked up
until Jlic could cool down.

COMMERCIAL 4 MONETARY NEWS,

MONDA.Y NIGHT.
IT would seem that the apprehension which
exists as to the impending war with Russia, is as
mischievous in its effect as the most dreaded
realisation of it ; and, indeed, it is the opinion of
many that the suspense under which the commer-
cial world is now labouring would be considerably
relieved even by the commencement of actual
hostilities. From clay to day the funds have been
declining in value ; but this fall must not be alto-
gether attributed to expectations of war. A larger
quantity of stock than usual has been thrown upon
the market, owing to the anxiety of many large
holders to be in funds for anticipated demands
upon them, and the downward tendency has been
assisted by the operations of speculators for a fall.
The returns of the Bank of England, on Friday,
showed another decrease in bullion to the extent
of £573,846 ; but this may be considered rather
favourable than otherwise, as, owing to the demands
for the continent and the receipt of few remittances,
the decrease might have been expected to be larger.
It is rather an evidence that there is no drain for
specie except for known objects, and, therefore, a
favourable reaction, when something more definite
is known as to political combinations, may reason-
ably be anticipated. Money for commercial pur-
poses has ruled from 54 to 6 per cent. for good
bills, and the bankers here now charge 6 per cent.
on overdrawn accounts • but the Bank of England
has made no official change in the minimum rate
of discount. There have been reports of some few
failures, but not to any great extent, and, not-
withstanding the feverish state of the public mind
gives credence to many idle rumours respecting
warlike movements, the confidence of capitalists'
in commercial security may be considered in a more
satisfactory state than might have been expected.
The operation of warlike expectations upon the
several markets have been various, telling appa-
rently with the slightest effect upon colonial pro-
duce in most general consumption. It is true that
commercial transactions have been, in a great mea-
sure paralysed; but the slight alteration which has
taken place in the market value of Sugar, Tea,
Rice, and similar articles, must have the effect of
ensuring that confidence in mercantile stability
which is indispensable to the maintenance of public
credit. Russian produce has, however, as might
have been expected, considerably advanced in value,
Hemp having advanced about £2B per ton since
the beginning of the month. Tallow and Palm Oil
are also dearer.

In the cotton manufacturing districts trade has
been very dull, but not more so than might have
been expected, considering the great disinclination
to do more than for immediate consumption, and
prices have in consequence slightly declined. The
relative high price of the raw material has also
operated to restrict manufacture, but the declining
prices of Corn render the prospects for the future
by no means discouraging. In the Wool, Hosiery,
and Lace trades similar inactivity prevails, all
parties evidently waiting until political events take
a more decisive turn.

The Corn trade has suffered a still further de-
cline, not only through the United Kingdom, but
on the continent, with no immediate prospect of
a reaction. The arrivals recently have been very
large, owing, in some degree, to the manner in
which Wheat has been hurried away from Odessa,
previous to the time when exportation was prohi-
bited. There have also been large arrivals from
the United States, and further large supplies may
be expected from Canada on the opening of the
navigation of the river St. Lawrence. The de-
cline, however, may partly be attributed to parcels
having been forced on the market, in order to
realise advances, and as the Russian ports are now
closed against further exports, there are some
who entertain the opinion that should holders not
be compelled to give way from monetary pressure,
prices may yet rally between now and the middle
of May, when the markets will be most affected by
the weather and the appearance of the growing
crops, as, notwithstanding the extent of foreign
importations, the dependence for the largest supply
must be upon home produce.
From a return just presented to Parliament, it
appears that the total numbers of British registered
vessels, employed in coasting and foreign trade, has
increased from 1849 to 1853, as follows :—Sailing
vessels from 17,807, of the tonnage, 2,988,021,
employing 144,165 men, to 17,567, of the tonnage,
3,511,827, employing 155,006 men. Steam-vessels,
from 414, of the tonnage, 108,321, employing
8,446 men, to 639, of the tonnage, 218,260,
employing 17,519 men. It appears, therefore, that
in the five years the average size of sailing vessels
has increased from 167 to 200 tons, and of the
steam-vessels from 261 to 341 tons.

The following tables from a parliamentary return
just published, show the comparative trade of
Great Britain with Russia and Turkey, and that
while we take considerable amounts of Russian
produce, the Russians are but indifferent customers
for our manufactures; the Turks, on the other
hand, being customers to the full amount of our
imports from thence :

SALES. IMPORTS. STOCK
,---A....--7, e.-----. A.----, ~.........
Mar 24
DESCRIPTION., PRlcss. Week Prey]. Week 1
yTeha;sr.
- I ending ously ending n'
Mar. 24 this yr. Mar. 24
--- --
Sea Island llo} 530 460 4930
Stained 6 7 10 480 1 983 126727
-
Boweds 4 tla 7310,1 88900 339980
Mobile 4/1 6,i 4070' 35840 1 ~,0
5642 -v-493
New Orleans.! 34 8 12500 208040 I
Pernams, &c. 6 84 1060 9270 .... 7627 19630
Bahia, &c 6 6} 730 6370 .... 5507! 8570
Maranham
Demerara, &c •• 150 .... 1241 220
Egyptian sa 10 1010 29190 1336 8820, 62900
Com.W.l.&c. .... 1480 .... 1007, 3700
Surat
Madras
Bengal — .... 880 100 840iI
3550
-- -- -- ---H
32180 467850 12983 479468 656510

WooL.—We have had another quiet week in the
Wool market, and, in the almost total absence of
transactions, prices are nominally the same. Public
sales will commence here to-morrow, and will con-
tinue until Saturday, when about 5,500 bales East
India, and 6,000 bales Turkey, Egyptian, Peruvian,
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and other sorts will be offered ;
it is not expected the result of these sales will give
any encouragement to importers, though a pretty
large attendance is expected. The imports for the
week are very limited, 173 bales, viz., 105 Buenos
Ayres, and 68 Irish.
PaoDucE.—The markets during the week have
been flat, with, however, but little alteration in

prices. Sugar dull, and prices slightly in favour of
buyers. In Rice, a further decline. Tea very dull.
For Palm Oil, an improved demand at £2 per ton
advance. Tallow dearer, Petersburg Y.C. having
advanced from 655. to 675. 6d. American, 655. per
cwt. To-Day, the Sugar market continued dull, the
sales comprising 1500 bags Bengal, at 31s. 6d. for
dry brown, 355. 6d. for middling Dates, and 395.
for white Benares, also 50 hhds. 50 brls. Porto
Rico at 365. 9d. to 395., and 200 brls. Venezuela
at 365. 6d. per cwt. There is nothing to report in
Molasses, Rum, or Coffee. We have to notice the
sale (which took place on Saturday) of 1500 chests
of common Congou Tea at h id. per lb. ; to-day
there has been very little doing, and prices are
nominal for most kinds. The Carolina Rice offered
to-day was not sold, nor has anything transpired in
East India. A small lot of Saltpetre is reported at
365. 6d. per cwt., 2+ per cent. refraction, and 16
chests Lac Dye at 9d. to 10d. per lb. 3000 bales
Jute, to arrive, have been sold, but the exact price
has not transpired, also 100 bales Sunn Hemp, of
indifferent quality, at £24, and 55 bales Aloe Fibre
at £2O per ton.

-
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—On Saturday afternoon last,
an occurrence of this painful nature took place at the
house of Henry Price, police-constable, 18, Tarlton-street,
Everton. Elizabeth Price, aged 28, daughter of the above,
had been much depressed in spirits for the last three
months ; and on Saturday last Mrs. Price, who went to
the market at ten o'clock, leaving her daughter at home,
returned about half-past one, when she was surprised to
find the doors fast. She contrived to gain admittance by
the parlour window, and immediately proceeded up stairs,
when she found her unfortunate daughter suspended by a
silk handkerchief, fastened at the top of the front bedroom
door. What renders the event still more lamentable is
the fact that deceased was under a matrimonial engage-
ment, which was fixed for Easter Sunday. She had been
a teacher in a Sunday-school, and was much respected.
ST. MICHAEL'S BURYING GROUND.—An adjourned
meeting of the grave-owners and other parishioners was
held last night, at the school-room, in Cornwallis-street,
the Rev. H. Carpenter, in the chair. The Chairman
stated that no answer had yet been received from Lord
Palmerston, but it was a fortnight before the Rev. W. F.
Taylor received a reply from him to a similar application
respecting St. John's Churchyard, and that being a
favourable one, they had no right to anticipate a refusal to
•cat •
their application. By the act, all cemeteries established
under an act of parliament, were exempt from its operation,
and they had this ground of exemption. He (the Chair-
man,) would, however, write again to Lord Palmerston,
pressing for a reply, and should it be favourable, the
parishioners would have notice by placard, but if it should
be such as to require further consideration, they should be
called together again. He might state that as there ex-
isted no legal impediment, burials would take place as
hitherto. The meeting concurred in the propriety of this
arrangement, and adjourned sine die.
ROBBERY OF WEARING APPARBL.—Two sisters, named
Ann and Elizabeth Reece, were charged on Thursday, at
the Birkenhead Police-court, with stealing a large quantity
of wearing apparel the property of Miss Eliza Jones, of
Bridge-street. Ann was a servant of the prosecutrix, and
was frequently visited by her sister. Several articles of
wearing apparel were missed from the house, but no
suspicion fell upon the servant until after she had left her
situation. The lodgings of the prisoners, in Back St. Ann-
street, were then searched, when the whble of the stolen
property was found concealed in two boxes. Ann excul-
pated her sister, who was, in consequence, discharged,
and she was committed to trial.

DARING ROBBERY AT EVERTON.-011 Sunday evening
a young lady residing, in Earle-street, Everton, was
startled by finding a man in the bed-room. He dis-
appeared by the window, and a search showed that
a burglarious entry had been effected by means of a
ladder reared outside. All the upper rooms had been
ransacked, and a sum of upwards of £lOO in money is
missing.
DINNER AND PRESENTATION.—Last night, Mr. Alex.
Speirs, manager of the Vauxhall Foundry: was entertained
to dinner in Feeny's New Merchants' Dining Rooms,when
he was presented with a handsome service of silver plate,
consisting of a massive silver teapot, a coffee-pot, a sugar-
basin, and a cream ewer, in testimony of the estimation in
which he is held as manager of the above-named foundry.
Upwards of 150 of the various employes% in that establish-
ment, and a few of their friends, assembled on the occasion.
The chair was occupied by Mr. George Somers, foreman
of the fitters and turners, who was supported on the right
by Mr. Speirs, the guest of the evening, on the left by Mr.
Duncan, of the Corporation Waterworks. The grace was
sung by Messrs. Lawrence, Graham, G. Wheeler, and W.
Lloyd ; and, on the cloth being removed, the same gentle-
men sung " Non nobis domini." The chairman then gave
in succession, as toasts, " The Queen," drunk with all the
honours, after which, the National Anthem was sung.
" Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal Family was
drunk with much applause; "The Emperor of the French;"
Glee—" The Bright Sword of Liberty." The next toast
was " Success to the Naval and Military Forces of Eng-
land and France." The Chairman then, in a neat address,
in which he alluded to the good feeling which had always
sdbsisted between the workmen of the Vauxhall Foundry
and their late manager, with which that gentleman had
been connected for the last 26 years, presented him with
the very handsome testimonial of esteem which they wished
his acceptance of. The salver bore the following inscription
" Presented by the workmen of Messrs. George Forrester
and Co., Vauxhall Foundry, Liverpool, to Alexander Swirs,
Esquire, Mat ager, as a testimonial of respect on his leaving
the above place, March, 1851." In acknowledging the cora-
plimentMr. Speirsalluded to the reminiscences which crowd
upon the mind of one who had been so long connected with
so important an establishment as that he was quitting. The
duty and the responsibility of a foreman, he remarked,
caused his position to be one of great delicacy and diffi-
culty, as he was open, on the one hand, to suspicion of
overleniency to the men, and, on the other, of too rigid an
exaction of duty from them to the employer. He had
endeavoured to steer his way as evenly between these
difficulties as he could, and the reception he had met with
that night showed he had not been altogether mistaken in
his efforts. The anxiety he had experienced for the last
few years was very great indeed ; and he was glad
to think that the new appointment he was about to
enter on would not be so environed by difficulties.
The evening was spent with a great flow of genial good
humour and much social harmony, which was enhanced
by the singing of numerous glees, duets, and solos, by the
musical gentlemen already named. The viands, wines,
and liquors were supplied by Mr. Feeney, in his usual
style of tasteful abundance. The plate, which was above
£6O in value, was manufactured by our townsman, Mr.
Joseph Mayer, and was characterised by the good taste
for which his establishment is proverbial.

WILLIAM THOMPSON, aged twenty-one, has been con-
demned to death at the Norfolk Assizes by the Chief
Baron, for the murder of Lorenz Beha, on the 18th of
November, at Tittleshall.
The LORD MA Ton gave a grand banquet on Saturday
to her Majesty's ministers, the Foreign ministers, and a
distinguished party. Lord John Russell, Lord Palmer-
ston, and Sir James Graham were not present, the former
on account of illness, and the latter two from fear of it.
THE ST. FERGUS 'Mum:mt.—The new-trial of Dr.
Smith for the murder of M`Donald is fixed for Wednesday,
the 12th April.
A LINE OP STEAMBES has been advertised to run from
Hull to the Prussian port of Pillau, in the Baltic, taking
goods for Memel, &c., with the view of carrying on the
trade between England and Russia. It is to consist of a
screw propeller of about 700 tons.
FAILURES.—The suspension of Messrs. P. Monteanx
and Co., foreign exchange dealers, with establishments in
Paris and London, has been announced. The total liabi-
lities of the joint houses are stated at £lOO,OOO, of which
£40,000 will fall in London. The failure of Messrs. Ben-
jamin Elkin and Sons, a very old and respectable mercan-
tile firm, chiefly engaged in the West Indies and Australia
trade, has been announced. Their liabilities amount to
£140,000.
CHRIST'S HOSPITAL—The election of a president of this
hospital, in the room of the late Alderman Thompson,
took place on Thursday, and was regarded with unusual
interest, in consequence of the Lord Mayor and Corpora-
tion having claimed the office as belonging of right to the
Lord Mayor of the time being. In opposition to this claim,
which is said to have no legal foundation, though sanc-
tioned by custom, an influential body of donation governors
put the Duke of Cambridge in nomination. At the close
of the ballot the numbers were—for his Royal Highness,
216; for the Lord Mayor (Sidney), 87; majority for the
Duke of Cambridge, 129. His Royal Highness subse-
quently attended the coart, and was formally installed in
the office of president.

AT THE gORPOLK ASSIZES, on Friday, Mr. Peter Ash-
croft, superintendent of the permanent way, or resident
engineer, of the Eastern Counties Railway, and John
Latham, one of his inspectors, were charged with the man-
slaughter of Thomas Ellison, who, with the Rev. Joseph
Bell, and four others, was killed by .a collision on the above
line during the heavy fall of snow in January. A verdict
of not guilty was returned.
SUICIDE OP A LAW STUDENT.—On Saturday an inquest
was held at the Prince George, Regent's-park, London, on
Mr. George Crump, aged twenty-one. The deceased, who
was keeping his terms, was regular in his habits, and
passed several hours a day in study. He returned home
in his usual good spirits, and, while in the course of ge-
neral conversation with his cousin, he suddenly took a
phial from his pocket, exclaiming, " I've something so
nice here !" and immediately drank off the contents, which
proved to be laudanum. A medical man was sent for, but
the deceased survived only a short period. Verdict, in-
sanity.

CHARACTERISTIC OP TIIE SCOTCH.--Two active Aber-
donians, who arrived at Oban for the emigrant ship Themis
finding that the ship would take six weeks to repair, heard
of a granite quarry in operation at M`Niven's Isle. They
started, and found employment at 30s. per week. They
will clear £0 apiece while the vessel is repairing.
LETTERS TO AUSTRALIA.—The terms of the new agree-
ment entered into
.between the directors of the General
Screw Steam Shipping Company and the Post-office autho-
rities are on the basis of an equal distribution of the charge
upon all letters despatched by the government. One
moiety of the postage will be paid to the company, who
and the homeward mails in sixty-seven
are bound to deliver the outward mails at Melbourne in
days. The da3rfirs'st steamer to be despatched will be the
Queen of the South, which will leave Southampton on the
4th of April, and the service will be continued every al-
ternate month.
LAUNCII.—On Wednesday, a barque, named the Oribe,
220 tons N.m., and 270 oar., was launched from the
building-yard of Messrs. Hall, at Footdee, Aberdeen.
The Oribe is owned at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope,
and is built expressly for the trade of that colony.
COAL ON THE PACIFIC.—Mr. Benham, of San Francisco,
who has been in Washington Territory examining the
coal mines, reports that inßellingliam Bay, there is a mine
of sixteen feet in depth with a dip of forty-five degrees.
The vein is of solid coal, with the exception of two small
strata of clay. The bed of the coal is forty feet above
high water mark. One hundred tons of this coal, placed
in the San Francisco market, commanded within one
dollar of the highest market price. The mine is situated
within a quarter of a mile of deep water, and one and a
half day's sail of the outward mouth of the Otraitaa

REFORM IR NEWFo4NDLAITD .—Despatches have been
forwarded to Newfoundland, conceding the demands for
responsible government, and informing the colonists that
the island will be put upon the same footing as Prince
Edward's Island and Nova Scotia.
QUESTION FOR LAWYERS.—Snooks wants to know if
when "distance lends enchantment to the view," and the
view refuses to return it, is there any legal remedy ?

THOROUGH COMMERCIAL PR/NC/PLES.--The Phila-
delphia Bulletin, noticing Walker's expedition in con-
nexion with the subject of Russo-American privateering,
has few doubts upon the subject, and pithily says—" There
are men who would go into partnership with Satan, if he
would only secure them a profit of cent. par cent. !"
A VESSEL was sent to sea the other day from Yarmouth
entirely manned by master mariners ; the rise of wages
and the attractions of the navy having so reduced the
number of common seamen.
TRAVELLING IN RUSSIA. is rendered almost impossible
by reason of the enormous tax imposed upon the indivi-
dual desiring to move about. In the first place, it is with
the greatest difficulty that a permission to travel, or leave
of absence for two years, is obtained even by a noble ; and
then it is only granted upon payment of a sum amounting
to 80 pounds a-head for each member of the family.
Guist is announced to appear at the Royal Italian
Opera this season.
THE ADMIRALTY have adopted private signals in their
communications by electric telegraph, in order to ensure
secrecy for their orders to the dockyards.
COLONIAL PosTAGE.—The intended reduction of postage

between this country and the colonies to a uniform rate of
6d. on letters not weighing more than half an ounce is
now about to come into operation with respect to all those
colonies the postal direction of which rests with the Post-
master-General, and in respect to such other colonies as
had notified their concurrence in the arrangement in time
to be included in this first measure. On the 23rd instant
the reduction took place with regard to the following
colonies : —viz.,Canada, Prince Edward's Island, Bermuda,
British West Indies (Barbadoes and Turk's Island ex-
cepted), British Guiana, Bahamas, Belize, Malta, and Gib-
raltar ; and on the Ist of May the same reduction will be
made in the postage on letters between this country and
Ceylon, Hong Kong, St: Helena, and the Gold Coast. De-
tailed information, with a statement of exceptional cases,
will be given in the usual notices exhibited at post-offices.
VICTORY AND REWARD.—" A decent country woman,"
said an English divine, "came to me one market day, and
begged to speak with me. She told me with an air of
secrecy that her husband behaved unkindly to her, and
that knowing me to be a wise man, I could tell her what
would cure him. ' The remedy is simple,' said I; ' always
treat your husband with a smile. The woman thanked me,
dropped a curtsey, and went away. A few months after
she came again, bringing a couple of fine fowls. She told
me with great satisfaction that I had cured her husband;
and she begged my acceptance of the fowls in return.
This was at once the victory of love and the reward of
patience."
THE OLDEST WOMAN IN TUE WORLD.—The Charles-
ton Standard thinks that Mrs. Singleton, now living in
the Williamsburg district, in that state, is the oldest
woman in the world. She is now in the 131st year of her
age. Her mental faculties are still unimpaired, and she
retains all her senses except her sight, of which she was
deprived, at the advanced age of 99 years, by an attack of
measles. Her bodily energy has exhibited no diminution
for many years, she being still able to walk briskly about
the room. She has outlived all her children, her oldest
descendant living being a grand-daughter over 60 years
old. The first grand-daughter of this grand-daughter, if
now living, would be over 16 years of age.
THE NEW YORK GREAT EXHIBITION.—A correspon-
dent of the Cologne Gazette has furnished the following
report : —" The New York World Exhibition has closed—
an abortion from beginning to end, a failure as far as the
advancement of national industry is concerned, quite un-
worthy of the national patronage, and only valuable as a
lesson for the future. Although the 800 pictures exhi-
bited occupied as much space as the Louvre Gallery of
Paris, yet not fifty amongst them were worth the frame
they were in. In December last the jury met, whereby
men of intelligence were mixed up with those who were
devoid even of every rudimentary knowledge. Thus, even
the honesty of some of the juries was suspected ; in other
cases it seemed mere chance which had guided their
awards. Thus, it is said, that the list of the prizeholders
affords but an insufficient sample of the capabilities of
American arts and manufactures.

A MONSTER STEAMER. Active preparations are
now in the course of progress at the yard of Messrs. Scott
Russell's, at Millwall, for laying down the immense iron
steam-ship, for the Eastern Navigation Company, the
peculiar construction of which is exciting vast interest
among ship-builders. In consequence of there not being
sufficient length in the yard for her ways, it became
necessary to add the adjoining yard of Messrs. Napier's to
Messrs. Scott Russell's works, and many hundred piles
have been driven in preparatory to laying down the keel,
which is to take place in the course of the present month.
The dimensions will be nearly as follows :----Tonnage,
10,000 tons, or builder's measurement, 22,000 tons; ex-
treme length, '7OO feet ; extreme breadth, 83 feet; depth
of hold, 58 feet, with screw and paddle engines of the
aggregate nominal horse power, 2,800-horse ; stowage for
coals, 10,000 tons ; for cargo, 5,000 tons ; 500 first-class
cabins, with ample space for troops and lower class pas-
sengers. Her entire construction will be similar to the
tube of the Britannia-bridge, a kind of double ship, with
a space of 2 feet 8 inches between of a cellular formation.
She is to have 14 watertight compartments, most of them
40 feet apart. With these, it is said, she will carry out
sufficient fuel for a voyage to Calcutta or Australia and
back to England, and avoid the delay of lengthened stop-
pages and coaling which other steam-ships are subject to.
The ship is designed by Mr. Brunal, the Great Western.
Railway Company's engineer, and who, it will be remem-
bered, designed the Great Britain. It is expected by that
gentleman that she will accomplish the voyage between
England and India, by the Cape, in thirty or thirty-
three days less time than the distance is at present done
by sea-going steamers. She is to be completed in eighteen
months.

EXTRAORDINARY FORGERY.—Dn. GA.RDINBR'S CA.SB.
This case is as remarkable as any recorded in the Causes
CelAres. A large sum had been appropriated by Congress,
under the treaty of peace with Mexico, to pay off the
claims of American citizens, who, at various times, had
suffered injury at the hands of the Mexican authorities.
A special commission was appointed to examine these
claims, and Dr. Gardiner came forward with documents
to prove that he had been the owner of a valuable mine
in the department of San Luis Potosi, and that the Mexi-
cans had broken up his mining establishment, causing
him a loss of some half-million of dollars. The commis-
sion awarded him, if not the whole, a larger sum, as we
believe, than was given to any other single claimant. He
got the money, paid his counsel a large part of it, and
with the rest was a rich man. Soon after this he went to
Europe, and while lie was there the suspicion became so
strongthat his whole claim was a fraud, that an injunction
was laid on a considerable portion of the money which he
had left in bank at Washington. He returned, and was
indicted about three years and a-half ago. He was first
tried under the indictment about a year since; but that
trial resulted in the disagreement of the jury. The evi-
dence against him was procured by commissions sent to
Mexico expressly for the purpose. It was conclusive ; the
papers on which his claim had been prosecuted before the
Indemnity Commissioners were proved to have been for
the most part forgeries of a gross character; and it was
shown that the mine he claimed to have lost had never
had an existence. Still his case was managed with ability,
and the evidence he furnished on the trial was such as to
stagger and divide the jury on the question of his guilt.
We believe, however, that in the interim additional proofs
were obtained, which no longer left the possibility of a
doubt, and which not only resulted in the verdict ren-
dered, but in the infliction of the law's extremest penalty
by the court. The next stage in the drama was his suicide
—a terrible confession of the justness of his sentence, an
awful blow to the friends who had stood by him through
the prosecution.—New York Tribune.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

MONDAY EVENING, MlncE 27.

LONDON.—The Commercial Daily List says, that on
'Change the report that the Russians had crossed the
Danube, was confirmed ; Tallow, consequently, advanced
to 695. and 695. 6d. for P.Y.C. on the spot, and forward
delivery, 70s. Hemp, £75. Linseed, 70s. ; and Linseed
Oil, 41s. 6d. to 425. delivery; and 455. for forward. A
cargo of Havana Sugar sold at 265. for the Mediterranean.
Scotch Pig Iron, 755. Speltre, £23105. Saltpetre, 375. 6d.
to 38s.

A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office this
afternoon.

LORD PALMBUSTOIC'E3 HRALTIL—His Lordship is much
better to-day, and progressing towards convalescence.

THE BALTIC FLEET.

It is stated that Admiral Napier was refused an inter-
view with the King of Denmark.

WYBORG, MARCH 26, 12 A.M.—The fleet is passing
from Romsel. Three large ships are off this place, one
with Admiral Napier on board.
KIBL, SUNDA-Y.—The fleet, eighteen strong, entered
the Great Belt early on the 25th. Six English ships-of-
war are already off Kiel.

VIENNA, SUNDAY EvBNING.—The Journal Oest Cor-
respondenz announces that Prussia, feeling the urgent
necessity for a perfect understanding with Austria at such
a critical moment, sent 31. de Manteuffel to the Emperor,
who in return has sent Baron Hesse with an autograph
letter to the King of Prussia. It is not doubted that a
perfect understanding, relating to the future policy of the
two Powers on the Oriental question, will be established.

KNOWLE RACES.
BIRMINGHAM AND WARWICKSHIRE STEEPLE CHASE.
—California Gelding, Ist ; 10 ran.
KNOWLE STEEPLE CHASE.—ACC of Trumps, Ist.

BETTING AT TArTTERSALL'S.—Tars DAY.

BIRMINGHAM STEEPLE CHOSE.-3 to 1 against Trout,
offered; 7 to 2 against Tulip, taken ; 4 to 1 against Need-
wood, offered; 5 to 1 against Vain Hope; 5 to 1 against
Dearest Mac, taken and offered.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.-4 to 1 against Defiance ;
taken. 10 to 1 against Bracken. 9to 1 against Red Lion.
8 to 1 against Swiftsure; taken. 10 to 1 against Mr.
Sykes. 10 to 1 against Lamproelei ; taken. 12 to 1 against
Veteran. 12 to 1 against Marc Antony. 10 to 1 against
Chief Justice ; taken. 15 to 1 against Diometed. 30 to 1
against Little Jem. 15 to 1 against Pancake. 20 to 1
against Angerford ; taken freely. 20 to 1 against John
Bull ; taken. 25 to 1 against Ptolemy ; taken.
CHESTER Cur.-100 to 0 against Newminster ; taken
83 to 1 against Swiftsure. 50 to 1 against Horatio.
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-0 to 1 against Jonatliar
Martin; taken. 20 to 1 against Lamprocles ; taken.

HOUSE OF LORDS—MosDAT, Kum( 27.

Owing to the important announcement of a message
from the Crown, concerning the rupture with Russia,
there was a numerous attendance.

RUPTURE WITH RUSSIA.

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.

The Earl of ABERDEEN brought up the Message from
the Crown, and delivered it into the hands of the Clerk,
at the table.

The Clerk carried it to the
LORD CHANCELLOR, who read it as follows :
" VICTORIA, REGINA..

" Her Majesty thinks it proper to acquaint the House
of Lords, that the negotiations in which her Majesty, in
concert with her allies, have for some time been engaged
with His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, have
terminated, and Her Majesty feels bound to afford active
assistance to her ally, the Sultan, against unprovoked
aggression. Her Majesty has given directions for laying
before the House of Lords copies of such papers, in addi-
tion to those already communicated to Parliament, as will
afford the fullest information with regard to the subject
of those negotiations. It is a consolation to Her Majesty
to reflect that to endeavours had been wanting, on her
part, to preserve to her subjects the blessings of peace.
Her Majesty's just expectations have been disappointed,
and Her Majesty relies, with confidence, upon the zeal and
devotion of the House of Lords, and on the exertions
of her brave and loyal subjects, to support her in the
determination to employ the power and resources of the
nation to protect the dominions of the Sultan against the
encroachments of Russia." (Cheers.)
The Earl of CLARENDON gave notice that on Friday he
should move an answer to Her Majesty's message.

The Earl of DEBBY presumed that the noble Earl would
then take the opportunity of stating fully the precise
objects which we had in view in entering on this war;
also, if there was any convention or other engagement
with France, or the Porte, establishing a sort of protec-
torate over the Christian subjects of the Porte.
Earl GREY hoped the answer to the royal message
would be so drawn out that their Lordships might unani-
mously agree to it.
The subject then dropped.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT

In reply to the Earl of DERBY, the Earl of ABERDZEN
said the subject of settlement and removal of Irish paupers
was necessarily connected with the measure now under
the consideration of the other House ; but he was not pre-
pared to say when this part of the subject would be dealt
with.

The select committee on the Common Law Procedure
Bill was appointed..
The Valuation (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill was read
a third time and passed.
The House adjourned at fifteen minutes past six.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-111oNDAY, 111Ascu 27.
There was a very large attendance of members.
BULL DOCKS.
This bill was read a third time, and passed.
LIVERPOOL IMPROVEMENT BILL.

Onthemotion for the third reading of the Liverpool Sani-
tory Acts Amendment Bill, Mr. Bouvsnis objected to
the clause which empowered two justices, upon the report
of the medical officer of health, to fix the number of
inhabitants that should be permitted to dwell in any house,
and which further imposed a penalty of £5 per day for
every day on which the number so fixed should be ex-
ceeded; it was an interference of private rights, and would
form a most inconvenient precedent.

Mr. LIDDELL defended the clause as absolutely neces-
sary on sanitary grounds, and wished it might be adopted
as a precedent, being sure that it was a very desirable
power for the sake of public security against the evils of
overcrowding.
The house divided—For the clause, 59 ; against it, 119;
majority, 60. The clause was consequently lost.—The
bill was read a third time and passed. _

After a brief discussion upon the South Sea Bill, in
which several amendments were moved and afterwards
withdrawn,

RUPTURE WITH RUSSIA.

THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE.

Lord J. RUSSELL rose to state that a message had been
sent down from the Crown to the House, which, having
been handed to the Speaker, he moved that it be read.
The SPEAKER then, amidst profound silence, read the
Royal Message. It began by expressing Her Majesty's
regret at being obliged to announce that the negotiations
in which this vouutry, In concert with her allies, Inul been
so long engaged with the Emperor of Russia had termi-
nated, and that she had consequently felt bound by treaty
to render her active assistance and support to her ally,
the Sultan, against the unprovoked aggression of Russia.
Her Majesty had given directions that copies of all such
negotiations, in addition to those already delivered, be
laid before the house, as might afford information with
regard to the subject of these negotiations. It was a con-
solation to Her Majesty to reflect that no endeavour had
been wanting, on her part, to preserve to her subjects the
blessings of peace. Her Majesty's just expectations had
been disappointed; but Her Majesty relied, with confi-
dence, on the zealous devotion of her faithful Commons,
and the exertions of her brave and loyal subjects, to
employ all the power and resources of the nation to pro-
tect the Sultan from the encroachments of Russia.

Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the gracious message
of Her MAjesty be taken into consideration on Friday.

LAW OP SETTLEMENT.

On the order of the day for the second reading of the
Settlement and Removal Bill,
Mr. PAcKE moved the postponement of the bill until
the 26th of April, on the ground of the alterations intro-
duced into the bill since it was first brought forward.
Mr. WALPOLE supported the motion for delay until the
Government were prepared to bring in the contemplated
measure respecting Irish and Scotch paupers.
Mr. BAINES strongly opposed the proposition for delay,
and contended that the bills were perfectly distinct, and
that no good reason existed for postponing the considera-
tion of the measure. He therefore called upon the House
to proceed with the bill on its own merits, as applicable
to England and Wales, and without reference to the bill
respecting Ireland, which was about to be introduced.
Mr. It. PALMER thought that the opinions and votes of
many hon. members might depend on the nature of the
bill relative to Irish paupers.

Mr. HERBERT took a similar view as to the necessity of
not legislating on the subject of settlement until the Irish
bill was before the house.

Mr. NAPIER spoke in favour of adjournment.

Lord PA.LMERSTON said that Her Majesty's ministers
had not sufficient time to mature the Bill relative to Ire-
land, but that he considered a gross injustice would be
done, if, when they abolish the power of compulsory
removal in this country, they did not also apply the prin-
ciple to Irish paupers. He strongly urged the necessity
of proceeding with the bill, and should, therefore, press
the second reading.

Sir JOHN TROLLOPE and the Marquis of Gus:or sup-
ported the motion for adjournment; and Sir G. GREY
opposed it.
Colonel Dlrszrn did not think Ministers were acting
up to their pledge given to the Irish members, and com-
plained strongly of the course taken by Government.
Mr. E. DENISON considered it most impolitic to mix
up the question of Irish removals with the present mea-
sure, inasmuch as it perilled the passing of the latter.

Mr. MA.GursE remarked that if the Irish members
helped the Government to carry the second reading, they
could not put the screw on Government to insure justice
to Ireland.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the intention of government
on the question of applying the principles of the bill to
Ireland had been plainly stated on a former evening, but
government had thought that the necessary provisions
would not be introduced into the bill, and that more
information was required before they legislated in refer-
ence to Irish and Scotch paupers.

The house divided—For adjournment of the debate,
209; against it, 183; majority against government, 26.
The debate was then adjourned till the 25th of April.
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

On the second reading of the Controverted Elections
Bill being read,

Mr. LIDDELL objected to several portions of the bill,
more especially that relating to the appointment of asses-
sors to the election committees of banisters of ten years
standing, with a view to decide disputed points of the law,
and stated at some length what parts of the bill would be
rendered unnecessary by the instructions. He intended
to move when it went into committee, namely, " to pro-
vide for the trial of all cases submitted to the Parlia-
mentary Committee before the Court of Law."
The bill was then read a second time.
After a motion of adjournment by Colonel SIBTRORPE
had been negatived,
The Bribery Prevention Bill was read a second time.

MINISTERS' MONEY.

The house then went into committee on the Ministers,'
Money (Ireland) Bill.
Mr, FA.GAZI moved an amendment, to the effect that