The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRAwcz.—The reception of the Prince de Chimay. by
the Emperor has attracted some notice. The mission of
the Prince was to deliver a private note to the King of the
Belgians. It seems natural to connect this act of confi-
dence with the question now agitating Europe, and specu-
lations are indulged as to the probability of an Envoy of
equal rank being sent by Louis Napoleon, with a friendly
response to the son-in-law4l Louis Philippe. •
SPAIN.—A telegraphic -despatch from Madrid, of the
bth instant states that on that day the Queen of Spain
gave birth to a daughterrand that both her Majesty and
the young princess were doing well. A telegraphiC de-
spatch from Madrid, of the Bth inst., announces the death
of the new-born princess after a day's illness. This is re-
markable, as previous official despatches spoke of the_child
- as being of particularly" healthy constitution.
PORTUGAL.—The Cortes were opened, in person, by the
King Regent, on the 2nd instant. Both houses have since
appointed-pure ministerial committees to draw up replies
to the speech from the throne. M. Julio Gomes has been
reinstated as President of the House of Deputies by the
votes of the whole House, and the King Regent's con-
firmation ; and all the vice-presidents, secretaries, &c.,
are favourable to the Administration. Prince Leopold of
Saxe Coburg Gotha arrived by the last packet on a visit
to his brother, the King Regent, and is expected to pro-
ceed to Cadiz and Saville in the course of a few weeks.
There is no kind of foundation for the reports indus-
triously spread as to the probability of a change of
government or reaction in this country, which has,
apparently, every chance of a 'season of tranquillity. It
is stated that the young king is about to marry his
Coburg cousin, the Princess Charlotte of Belgium.
ArsTnrA.—The rumours of an intention on the part 0;
the Emperor-to visit Warsaw are still current at Vienna.
The acceptance by the Porte of the proposals of the Four
Powers reached Vienna on the 11th, and a courier was
despatched the next day (Thursday) for St. Petersburg,
where he is expected to arrive on the 18th.

SWEDEN.—it communication from Stockholm of the
20th ult. states that a commission of officers and engineers
had just left the capital to visit the different parts of the
coast, and to put all the military points in a state of de-
fence. The country every day declares itself more and
more against Russian policy, and has decided on making
its neutrality respected by force of arms in the event of
such a measure being provoked.
GIBEALTAR.—By the City of London steamer, arrived
at Southampton, we have accounts to the 2d inst. The
Gibraltar Chronicle of the 28th nit. contains the par-
ticulars of a disastrous accident which occurred at Malaga
on the 23rd ult. The roof of the barracks in the Plaza
de la Merced gave way and sunk down to the ground
floor through second and first stories. Two companies
and all the musicians of the corps were quartered in the
building, all of whom were buried in the ruins. When
the correspondent wrote, twenty-four persons, dead or
severely wounded, had been taken out, and it was appre-
hended that most of the others had perished. At the
early hour at which the accident happened it was very
dark, and it rained as fast as it could. The greatest con-
fusion prevailed, and the loud lamentations of the victims'
families, who hastened to the spot, greatly increased the
horror of the calamitous scene.—The screw steam-ship
Danube, five days and two hours from Liverpool, arrived
at Gibraltar on the 28th ult., and proceeded to Trieste.
The steamers Gregois, Frankfort, and Taurus left on the
night of the 27th ult. The last steamer arrived on the
27th, in seven days from Liverpool, bound to Malta,
The screw-steamer Arno, five days and a half from Liver-
pool, arrived on the 29th ult., bound for Genoa. The
screw-steamer Genova left on the 28th ult., for Liverpool,
but put back in a damaged state, having run into and
sank the Spanish polacca brigantine Patriota, from Ferrol,
bound to Malaga, with a cargo of fish. The French war-
steamer Monteumza, four days from Toulon, arrived on
the 28th nit. Her Majesty's steamer Vesuvius was in
Gibraltar Bay when the City of London left.
RusslA.—lt appears that, among the frigates riding at
anchor, in the Turkish fleet destroyed by the Russians at
Sinope, was a vessel belonging to the Pacha of Egypt,
officered by three English engineers and two English
stokers; this frigate was captured, and the engineers and
stokers, together with a great number of the crew, were
made prisoners by the Russians. They were taken to
Sebastopol, and thence transported to Odessa. Although
the engineers wore the uniform of officers, they were
treated as common Russian sailors, being kept in strict
confinement, with the allowance of 8f copecks silver, or
3d. per diem. On their arrival at Odessa the Consul-
General represented the facts to the authorities there, and
required that the chief engineer, at least, should be
treated as an officer and a gentleman, but to all his remon-
strances the authorities turned a deaf ear, and it was said
that all the prisoners were to be marched eighty miles into
the interior on foot. The Consul-General has reported
this case to our Ambassador at St. Petersburg, whose
remonstrances have been most energetic, but have met
with as little respect as those of the Consul-General.
WEST West India mail arrived at South-
ampton on Sunday. Her dates are :—Jamaica-, Dec. 20th ;
Trinidad, 24th ; Barbados, 27th ; St. Thotnas's, 31st. She
has 47 emigrants, and on freight, .$99,027 gold dust,
$452,353 silver, and $197,724 specie and usual freight.
The Atlas, from Liverpool, with emigrants, had been
towed into St. Thomas's, entirely dismasted, and forty-
seven of the emigrants had died of cholera. Cholera still
raged at St. Thomas's. Nothing of political interest had
occurred at Jamaica. In the markets no sales of import-
ance had taken place. Corn cheaper. Freights wanted.
Exchange, 90 days, per cent. prem. ;60 days, 1 per cent.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICA.

By the British and North American Royal Mail steam-
ship America, Captain Lang, which arrived yesterday, we
have intelligence from New York to the 3d, and Boston
to the 4th instant.

The America has brought $145,433 specie on freight,
and 62 passengers.
PASSENGERS.—Mrs. Hodge, Mr. George Beattie, Mr.
James Acshe, Mr. Heron, Mrs. Jas. Patton, Mr. M'lntere,
Mr. Stephen, Mr. Pillsbury, Mr. Phiblerick, Mr. E. Mon-
seau, Mr. A. Tellier, Mr. L. Marchand and friend, Mr. A.
Duncan, Mr. James Douglas, Mr. A. Levesque, Mr. J.
Brunea, Mr. L. Bowan, Mr. Aglsvey and friend, Mr. F.
Lelands, Mr. Davies and friend; Mr. A. Kotte, Mr. Hobson
and lady, Mr. L. Lewis, Mr. H. Sevill, Mr. Thomas Shaw,
Mr. F. Claxton, Mr. J. Cord, Mr. John Durban, Mr. J. C.
Collins, Mr. G. M. Fairchild, Mr. I.C. Smith, Mr. Stevenson,
Mr. Watkins, Mr. Stewart, Mr. De Vries, R.N., Mr. Allro
and lady, Mr. Combs, Mr. Murray, Mr. John Kendy, Mr.
Hooper, Mr. Alsop, Mr. Hepburn, Mr. Longmeade, Mr.
Muir, Mr. Steirs, Mr. Munroe, Mr. Baird, Mr. Slater, Mr.
Rodgerson, Capt. Hindmarsh.
The steam-ship Africa, from Liverpool, with advices to
the 17th December, arrived out at New York on the 30th
of the same month.

The screw-steamer Alps, from this port, arrived out at
Boston on the morning of the 30th December, after a
passage of fifteen days and a half.

DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.
The American packet-ship Staffordshire, Captain Richard-
son, which left Liverpool for Boston on the 9th of Decem-
ber, was wrecked on Blonde Rock, south of Sea Island, on
the 30th ult. The first and second mates and seventeen
seamen reached Cape Sable. The third mate, boatswain,
and twelve others were picked up and landed at Shelburne,
N.S. Captain Richardson and the remainder, about one
hundred and eighty persons, went down in the wreck im-
mediately after striking. The Staffordshire was built by
M`Kay, in June, 1851, for Enoch Train and Co.'s line of
Liverpool and Boston packets. She was a noble ship of
1,817 tons, and one of the finest vessels of the line. The
loss to the underwriters will be heavy. The number of
passengers on board was 146, children included, all of
whom were lost.
The Staffordshire is said to be insured for between
$90,000 and $lOO,OOO, in Boston and New York. Her
cargo was very large, and is estimated to be worth over
$300,000. A large portion of it was on Canadian ac-
count, and was probably insured in England.
The new clipper-ship Lightning, for Messrs. J. Baines
and Co.'s Black Ball Line of Australian packets, was suc-
cessfully launched at Boston on the 31st ult. She regis-
ters 2,200 tons, and will be commanded by Captain Forbes,
late of the Marco Polo.
By the latest advices ffom Boston we have accounts of
the deplorable sufferings of mariners during a recent
storm in the east. A large number of vessels had been
either wrecked completely or else dismasted and driven
ashore. The most melancholy portion of this sad intelli-
gence is that a great number of lives were known to have
been lost, and it was believed that some vessels had gone
down with all on board.

The United States Senate had appointed a Special Com-
mittee for the purpose of enquiring into and reporting
upon the cause of the great mortality on board emigrant
vessels.

The general proceedings in Congress had not been of
an important character. In the House the greater part
of the time had been consumed in presenting bills grant-
ing land by the wholesale for railroad and other purposes.
The Committee on Ways and Means had reported bills
for the support of the army and navy, and for the trans-
portation of the mails in ocean steamers for the ensuing
fiscal year. A bill had been introduced by Mr. Bennett,
renewing his proposition made to the last Congress, to
grant lands to all the States for the construction of rail-
roads and the support of common schools.
The Captain-general of Cuba has issued a decree de-
claring his determination to suppress the slave trade, but
authorising, as a substitute, the introduction into the
island of free Indian labourers, Asiatics or Spaniards.
The winter had thoroughly set in throughout the States.
A letter, dated Halifax, 3rd instant, says, " A violent
gale prevailed here on the 22nd ult., and morning of the
23rd, sinking and destroying a number of vessels at the
wharves in the harbour. The loss is computed at £20,000.
On the 26th, arrived the steamer Merlin, from New York,
with loss of boats. Saw a large ship southwest of Sambro,
dismasted, her deck being even with the water."
_

At Venezuela yellow-fever prevailed with great fatality
among the shipping. The new crop of coffee was more
than usually abundant. Sales were made at 111 c. Hides,
14c. per lb.
The Lake Woollen Mills at Ellington had been des-
troyed by fire.
The California had arrived at New Orleans with advices
from San Francisco to the 6th and 1,167,000 dlrs, in specie
and freight. Mining accounts were favourable. The Utah
Indians were committing depredations on the southern
parts of the state. The market, since the sailing of the
last steamer, had been quite active, and purchases for the
interior quite heavy. Rates generally remained unchanged.
Rio Coffee was jobbing at 25c. All descriptions of eastern
lumber were dull, and prices were drooping. The steamer
Illinois, with the mails and treasure, had sailed for New
York on the evening of the 26th. She had 1,250,000 dirs.
in gold.
We have two weeks' later intelligence from New Mexioo
There was some excitement at Santa Fe in relation to
various lawless acts committed by citizens of Mexico, and
the people were calling loudly for the settlement of the
Messila Valley boundary. An affray had occured at Santa
Fe, during which a much respected citizen of the place had
been shot by a desperate fellow.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW Youx, Jix. 3.
STOCKS AND MONEY.—Stocks are firm, with a strong
tendency upwards ; New York Central 931; Michigan
Southern Bonds 97+ ; Nicaragua Transit Co. 28:; Resting
791; Erie 79k. Money is easy and in good denim/4,140i

to 12 per cent. Sterling Exchange is unchanged, at 91
to 9i per cent. premium.
CcrrToN.—The cotton market continues dull, and prices
have declined lc. to lc. on the quotation of this day week
for middlings and grades below middlings. The Africa's
advices have had no effect upon the market. Sales for the I
week ended Dec. 31, 6,596 bales, of which 1,355 were for
export, 556 on speculation, and 2,567 in transit.

RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON.
Exports to Total Exports Stock, and
Receipts. Gt. Britain. to For. ports. on ship b'
1653 796,374 227,417 326,760 424,493
1852 1,309,906 463,951 590.077 582,880
Increase —
_—

Ilecreae . 513,532 263,534 272,317 158,332
BREADSTUFFS.—FIour firm; sales, 13,000 barrels; com-
mon to straight State, $7,75 to $7,51.; common to good
Ohio, $7,75 to $7,81; Southern firm, sales, 1,100 barrels ;
mixed to good brands, $7,75 to $7,87. Wheat firm, sales,
2,000 bushels ; (lenessee, $2,5. Corn better, sales, 25,000
bushels ; mixed, old, 81c. to 82c. ; white and yellow, 76c.
to 78c. ; round yellow, new, 82c.
PROVISIONS. —Pork active; sales, 600 barrels; mess,
$l3 37 to $l3 50 old ; $l4 62 to $l4 75, new ; prime, $ll
12 to $ll 25, new ; Beef steady ; sales, 270 barrels ; country,"
$8 50 to 11; prime $5 to $5 75; repacked Chicago, $l3
50. Lard active ; sales, 450 barrels, at 9tc. to 110 c. Coffee
firm ; sales, 150 bags ; Rio 124 c. 1
FREIGHTS to Great Britain are very firm, and to Liver-
pool there is a further advance upon grain and flour,
namely, corn and wheat 11d. to 12d., in bulk, and for
flour 3s. 3d. to 3s. 9d., with a tendency to a further
increase.

CHARLESTON, Dec. 30th.—The sales of cotton to-day
were 1,400 bales, at Bic. to 101 c. The market is unsettled.

NEW Onmuais, DEC. 31. Rio Coffee has declined lc. ;
sales of the week, 8,000 bags, at Ik. to 11 -c. for new.
Flour advanced 26c. to day ; sales, 5,000 barrels Ohio, at
$7. Jan. 6 :—Cotton to-day is firm ; sales, 7,000 bales.
Four is dull at $6 75 to $7. White corn, 68c. Mess
pork, $l3 50c. Coffee dull. Freights, ic. on 3,000 bales
of cotton shipped to Boston.

Cifix.i..—The intelligence of the rebellion and distur-
bances by this mail is of a more interesting and exciting
nature than we have- been able to communicate for some
time pact, giving the progress of the rebels north, an
attack en Shanghai, and the re-capture of Amoy.- Our
advisee from Shanghai are to the 20th of November. The
reinforcements of the Imperial naval force, noticed in our
last, induced the imperialists to make a general attack on
the city with the combined forces on the 10th of November.
They succeeded in capturing two of the rebel fleet, pur-
chased from foreigners, and several junks, but were
vigorously repelled by the rebels on the land side and
with great loss. Being unsuccessful in their land attack,
and unable to capture the batteries on shore, the crews of
the Imperial junks landed up the river, and commenced
pillaging the neighbourhood and setting fire to the houses,
which led to the destruction of a considerable portion of
the south-eastern suburbs. Much valuable property and
treasure was seized and carried off, after which the force
retired, and since then no important attack has been made.
The insurgents in the city are said to be short of pro-
visions, and, as no sympathy is shown towards thein, some
crisis similar to that of Amoy may be anticipated; and,
if Shanghai be re-taken, fearful vengeance will be dealt
out to the people of the city.. Canton remains quiet, but
a large force has been sent to Tong-Koon, not far distant,
where vigorous resistance has been shown to the govern-
ment, which will have some difficulty in quelling the
disturbance. The accounts of the insurgents in the
south-west mention that the capital of I-lopih had been
re-taken by them, with great slaughter, and the district
disturbed, and that the rebels were investing the capital
of Oonam, which resisted their efforts before. The
accounts of the atrocities on the capture of Amoy, on the
11th of November, by the Imperial force, are of the most
appalling and horrid character. No doubt the principal
part of the rebel force was allowed to escape, the chief
being probably bribed, but those who were left behind
had no means of escape and were massacred.
SOUTH AMERICA..—By the steam-ship Lady Eglinton,
which arrived here on Friday, we have advices from Rio
Janeiro to the 10th ult. The Lady Eglinton passed the
Lusitania, belonging to the same line on the 16th Decem-
ber, going into Bahia, in twenty-two days from Liverpool,
and on the 20th, in lat. 5 S., long. 32 W., passed a large
brig-rigged screw steamer, supposed to be the Valdivia,
hence for Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso. From Monte Video
we learn that little of importance took place in political
affairs until the middle of November, when the Minister of
War, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, re-
signed, not being able to coincide with the other members
of the Government. In the interior the disaffected party
of Blancos had for some time been meditating disturb-
ances, and towards the middle of November they openly
took up arms against the Government in several parts of
the province. On the 25th November they seized upon
Colombo, and forced the authorities to fly to Buenos
Ayres in a whale boat. From Buenos Ayres we have no
change of importance to notice. Business was in a satis-
factory state, and the Government had sanctioned the new
tariff, which was to be brought into force January 1, by
which the import duties would undergo considerable mo-
dification, while those upon exports would be generally
increased. Exchange on London, 665. 6d. per doubloon.

FOREIGN MISCELLANY.

HIPPOPHAGT IN AusTnra.—ln consequence of a re-
port by the Committee of Public Health, the Austrian
Government has allowed butchers to sell horse meat to
the public in the markets.
A NEWSMAN'SDOG.—TheAIbany Knickerbocker gives
an account of a wonderful dog belonging to one of its car-
riers. The carrier, falling sick, sent out a boy to deliver
the papers, who, being unacquainted with the round, was
followed by the dog, which stopped at the door of every
subscriber, never missing one in a list of 600 ! At the
door of the subscribers who had not paid for a long time,
the dog was heard to howl !
Tax Tows or SINOPE is constructed, in great measure,
with the old materials furnished from the Greek city which
a colony of Milesians built upon the peninsula. Sinope
was the birthplace of Diogenes, and the capital of Mithri-
dates. Lucullus took possession of it B.C. 71. Its houses
and fortifications contain a multitude of antique fragments,
confusedly massed together. Greek and Pophlagonian
inscriptions, busts, and mutilated statues, are embedded in
the walls on every side. Travellers state that an entire
figure is built, head downwards, into the castle wall.
DIE AMERICANS are extending the principle of en-
couragement to native productions. At the Georgia State
fair, a premium was offered for " the best looking baby."
As a purse of £5O is offered for the best baby at the fair
of next year, an active competition may be expected.
A Crump TITLE.—The Prince of Canino, Charles
Lucien Bonaparte, has sold all his possessions in Rome
and Roncig,liono to the banker, Alessandro Torlonia, for
450,000 and one scudi. The prince, who is well known
as a man of exalted political opinions, has stipulated in
the con tract that the one dollar should indicate the value
of his title as Prince de Canino, which he now sells, to-
gether with his estates.— Cologne Gazette.
FRENCH Fasnioss.—The Emperor of the French is
more successful in coercing the husbands than in dictating
to the wives of Paris. It is well known that he has been
meddling with ladies' dresses, prescribing among other
things a grand " court mantle," which is very unpopular.
Husbands don't like it on account of the expense, and
wives shrink from the dancing-master's drill, without
which the wearers of the costume cannot hope to avoid
appearing ridiculous. The Empress alone has train-
bearers ; but other ladies must concentrate all the powers
of their mind upon their trains to escape a catastrophe.
At the reception on New Year's night there were not
more than two hundred ladies present out of eight hun-
dred invited.
TUE Foucxs ox THE DANUBE.—By the last news from
Turkey, (says the Augsburg Gazette,) the collective
force4s of Turkey on the right bank of the Danube amount
to 123,000 men, exclusive of the reserve at Shumla and
the environs, while those of Russia are far less in number.
General Liiders commands 32,000 men; his quarters are
at Brailow. Prince Gortschakoff commands the centre of
45,000 men ; his head-quarters are at Bucharest. General
Anrep, under whom are the Generals Fishbach and Dan-
nenberg, is at the head of the right wing, his quarters
being at Crajova. All these three armies, inclusive of the
reserves, do not exceed 110,000 men.
A FEMALE NAVVY.—The Courier de la Drdme tells a
story of a woman at Valence, who, her husband being ill
and unable to work, disguised herself as a man, and
worked five years as a navvy on the railways. Her hus-
band she described as her father, her children as her
brothers and sisters. Her industry as a navvy was such
as to induce the foreman to raise her wages 25 centimes
above the sum paid to the others. At length her disguise
was discovered, and the sympathy of the neighbours
speedily provided her with work more suitable to her sex.
GUNPOWDER.--A monument to the memory of the
monk, Berthold Schwartz, to whom is commonly at-
tributed the invention of gunpowder, has just been erected
at Freiburg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. The monu-
ment, which is executed by M. Knittler, is placed on a
fountain, built in the centre of the grand market-place.
It consists of a statue of Schwartz, who lived in the com-
mencement of the fourteenth century, in his monkish dress.
He holds in his right hand an open book, and is contem-
plating a mortar placed on a stand on his left.
ANTIQUE MaiteLEs.—A letter from Athens, of the 24th
ult., says :—" Every friend of the arts will learn with in-
terest that the red and green antique, those two cele-
brated kinds of marble of great antiquity, and the quarries
of which have been lost from time immemorial, have again
been discovered by the German sculptor Siegel, established
in this city. He has discovered the red antique on the
southern part of the chain of Taygete, and the green on
the northern side of the island of Tinos."
PETRIFIED MAN.—The body of the man found buried
six feet deep in Guano, on the island of Ichaboe, is exhibi-
ting in Baltimore. It petrified and turned to a solid
mass of stone, retaining all the minute outlines of a per-
fect specimen of humanity. It has been examined by
physicians and scientific men, and pronounced one of the
most marvellous objects ever witnessed.
OLD AGE.—There died at Moscow, on the 11th of Oct.,
a certain Peter Sosnowsky, aged 122 years, 1 month, and
25 days.—Journal de St. Petersbourg.
AMERICAN SLAVERY.—The following is from a speech
delivered in the American Congress by Mr. Gerritt Smith,
from the State of New York, a new member and a leading
Abolitionist. He began the debate by commenting on
the Kosta case, passing- from the consideration of Austrian
tyranny to what he called our own :—" But, sir, I said I
could not bestow unqualified praise upon our government
for its part in the Kosta affair. In one or two of those
passages of very rare rhetorical beauty which occur in
Secretary Marcy's letter to Mr. Hulsemann, he ventures
to insinuate the despotism of Austria. Now, sir, I will
not say that there was impudent hypocrisy in that in-
sinuation, but I will say that the insinuation was in bad
taste. I will add, that it was bad policy. In our diplo-
matic correspondence we should studiously avoid all
allusions to despotism, lest such allusions might suggest
to the reader comparisons between our country and other
countries that would be quite unfavourable to us. I
admit that Austria is an oppressor; but is it not equally
and more glaringly true that America is a far greater and
guiltier oppressor ? Indeed, Austrian despotism, com-
pared with our despotism, which classes millions of men,
women, and children, with cattle, is but as the little
finger to the loins.—No, sir, it will be high time for
America to complain of Austria for despotism when we
have set such an example before Austria as will tend to
shame her out of her despotism, rather than to justify
and confirm her in it. In this same letter Secretary
Marcy proceeds to number, among the justifications of
Captain Ingraham, the divine law to ' do unto others as
we would have others do unto us.' Now, I ask you, was
it not the very acme of presumption for America to quote,
in justification of herself, that divine command which she
surpasses all other nations in wickedly trampling under
foot ? Why, did Secretary Marcy suppose Mr. Hulse-
mann to be stone-blind ? Did he suppose Mr. Hulsemann
had lived in Washington so long, and had never yet seen
the buying and selling of men, women, and children,
which is going on here continually under the eye and the
authority of the American Government ? Did he, I ask,
suppose Mr. Hulsemann to be ignorant of the fact that
the American Government is the great slave-catcher for
American slaveholders ? Did he suppose him ignorant of
the fact that the great American 'slave-trade finds in the
American Government its great patron; and that this
slave-trade is carried on, not only under the general pro-
tection, but under the specific regulations, of Congress ?
Did he suppose him to be ignorant of the fact that many,
both at the north and south, claim that American slavery
is a national institution—made such, indeed, by the
American Constitution ? It is, at any rate, made such
by the enactments of Congress, the decisions of the judi-
ciary, and the acquiescence of the American people. How
deep, and broad, and glaring is the brand of hypocrisy
upon the brow of the American people ! Here stands
America, holding in one hand that blessed book which
declares that God ' has made of one blood all the nations
of men that dwell on the face of the earth,' and holding
in the other that emphatically American paper which
declares that ' all men are created equal ;' and at this time
her feet are planted on the necks of millions whom she
has doomed to all the horrors, and agonies, and pollutions
of slavery. Recollect, too, that America is the nation
that owes more than any other to liberty, and Christianity,
and knowledge, and that therefore she is bound to surpass
every other nation in the enlightening and blessed influ-
ences of her example. Other nations began their ex-
istence in unfavourable periods; they laid -their founda-
tions inignorance, and despotism, and superstition. But
knowledge, ,and liberty, and Christianity waited.upon the
,birth of.Ainerk* and breathed into her the breath .of life."

THE LIVERPOOL SCRIPTURE
READERS' SOCIETY.

THE annual meeting of this society was held on Thurs-
day evening, at the Collegiate Institution. The chair was
occupied by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. Amongst
other gentlemen on the platform were—the Revs. A.
Campbell, W. Pollock, J. Bardsley, H. Carpenter, H.
Jones, T. C. Cowan, H. Maslen, J. B. Lowe, G. Read, J.
Hassell, J. Evans, J. Lea, Hughes, J. Robinson, W.
Maynard, Hodgson, J. R. Conor, Vernon, J. Paine ;
Messrs. T. B. Horsfall, M.P., A. Hodson, C. Glazebrook,
T. D. Anderson, E. Jones, C. Gregson, E. Higgin, T.
Welland, G. Wagstaff.
The proceedings having been commenced with prayer,
The LORD BISHOP said it was a great gratification, not
only to himself, but to his friends around him, to see so
many there to show their goodwill to the Scripture Read-
ers' Society. With respect to the society itself, the estab-
lishment of it had been a source of great gratification to
him on many accounts. An effective staff of scripture
readers was the way, and the only way, by which they
could reach the toiling masses of the poor population,
who never came within the walls of a church. They did
not come to church, and even if they did, there was not
the room to hold them, though, he hoped, in time it would
be otherwise ; and, from the spirit that showed itself in
Liverpool, that there would be more new churches, and
that he would have the satisfaction of seeing those
churches filled with congregations of the poor as well as
the rich : but, in the meantime, it was a great satisfaction
to them to be able to carry the light and comfort of the
Gospel to the doors and dwellings of the poor, to their
own homes, and their own firesides. That related to the
general object and principles of the society ; but there was
also another subject of congratulation connected with it—
he meant the very liberal and prompt support which it
had met from the people of Liverpool generally. He knew
very well they had many other claims upon them, but he
knew also that they responded to every claim freely and
generously, if it could only be proved to them that they
had a good and a strong cause ; and he (the chairman)
thought there could not be a better or a stronger
cause than that. No doubt it was a good thing to
show their Christian sympathy to those at a distance,
and to those to whom they were strangers—to the poor
emigrant, who was leaving our shores to work his way in
a distant land, or to provide for the heathen spread over
all the dark corners of the earth. All those were good
things ; but it was surely also a good thing to show their
Christian sympathy to those nearer home, those living
alongside of them, and who were employed in their ser-
vice ; those by whose labour not only the general prosperity
of the town had been enlarged, but the private fortunes
of individuals amassed. Surely they must be considered
to have a very close claim on their Christian sympathy.
His lordship then referred to a statement which had been
put into his hand by the excellent superintendent of the
society, the Rev. Mr. Bardsley, from which it appeared
that the number of readers, which last year, was seventeen,
had been augmented to twenty-four. (Hear, hear.) There
were at that time 870 subscribers, and these had been
increased to I,oso—(applause)—an increase of 180; of these
250 were new subscribers. He hoped to see year by year
its numbers increasing as public confidence increased in
the management and superintendence of the society. The
income of the society from all sources for the last year
would be about £1,900, which would have been more agree-
able had it been made into round numbers, and come up
to £2,000. (Applause.) He had mentioned two subjects,
and there was a third which had given him great satisfac-
tion—that was the cordiality and harmony which existed
amongst the committee of the society, and he hoped they
would continue to work well together. He congratulated
them also on the success which had attended the efforts of
the readers in the work in which they had been engaged.
The Lord Bishop then spoke of many of the tried friends
of the cause in Liverpool, and alluded to the absence of the
venerable , Archdeacon Brooks, who was prevented from
attending owing to the severity of the weather. He also
referred to the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, who was absent in con-
sequence of a domestic affliction.
The Rev. WILLIAM POLLOCK then read the report.
It referred, in the first instance, to the success which
had attended the society in the object for which it
was established, and the benefits which it had been
the means of disseminating amongst the working classes
•of the population. There had been a large increase
in the funds, by which the operations of the society were
extended more widely than they had hitherto been. The
annual income was augmented about £3OO, and the total
receipts including subscriptions, church collections, &c.,
amounted to about £1,525 besides which there was a
balance of five hundred poundsi in the bank. An objection
had been taken to the name of ward meetings, and in con-
sequence the committee decided upon adopting some other
mode of making known the objects of the society. They
were more deeply impressed than ever with the importance
of the Scripture Readers' Society, and cordially recom-
mended it to the support and sympathy of their fellow-
townsmen. The teachers did not trench on the work
of the clergy, but did all in their power to assist them.
The number of visits paid during the year was 77,633,
besides which meetings were held, and sermons had also
been preached in connexion with the other proceedings.
Some of the readers had been engaged in learning the
Irish language, in order that they may the more effectu-
ally assist in giving instruction to the Irish population, of
which there is such a large class in this town.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL, in moving the adoption
of the report, had the pleasure to announce a donation of
£2O from the late Sir John Gladstone, through his
executors. (Applause). The purpose of the Scripture
Readers' Society is to help the clergy with the conscien-
tious and devoted assiduity of men willing to undertake
a moral guardianship over the poor, and ply them with
such attentions of Christian kindness as may be effectual
for humanising a semi-barbarous, bocaugo neglected, po-
pulation ; and it is a purpose deserving the co-operation
of every one who professes Christianity or professes
philanthropy. If we really believe in Christ, let us do
what Christ commands. Let us not be content to clothe
ourselves in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously
every day, and call ourselves his disciples, while we re-
fuse to contribute to one great object of his mission—the
preaching of the Gospel to the poor. In pressing, however,
the claims of the society, I am met with two objections,
which I feel bound to answer, in vindication of the society
and of my own consistency: It is said we are.meddling
with politics, and are carrying on an unchristian warfare
against the religion of our Roman Catholic brethren.
Now, if either of these accusations is true, I should not
wish to see your lordship in that chair; and, with respect
to the first, that we are meddling with politics, I say
distinctly, that if they who made the charge will prove it,
I for one will renounce all connexion with the society.
(Cheers). When I talk of proof, I mean, of course, not
vague assertion or doubtful disputation, but bond fide
proof, such as ought to satisfy a reasonable mind. But
in the absence of proof I utterly discredit the charge, and
believe that it has originated in the fact of our having
used the boundaries of the municipal wards as an
area, and the machinery of the municipal wards as
an instrument, for the collection of subscriptions. With
regard to the other accusation, that we, as a society
(of course I cannot answer for the independent seperate
action of its individual members,) are carrying on an un-
christian warfare against the religion of our Roman Ca-
tholic brethren, I say the same. If in our controversy
with the Church of Rome we are exceeding the limits. of
Christian duty or Christian charity, I will have nothing
to do with it. It is a course of action I never have sanc-
tioned, and never will sanction. As Protestants we claim
entire liberty of conscience ; and the same liberty we claim
for ourselves we must concede to others. We must not
persecute by sword or pen, by fire or faggot, or words
which are as drawn swords, making the tongue an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison. But here lam obliged to stop
I abjure unchristian warfare of every desceiption, but we
must defend the truth. (Cheers.) Our controversey is
with error of every kind, and we cannot omit Romish
error. (Applause.) I cannot say of the Romish contro-
versy as I said of politics, that we are not to meddle with
it at all. (Applause.) We can no more ignore the Romish
controversy than we can ignore the north-east wind when
it blows in our faces, or a man who meets us in the street
and tries to knock us down, (Laughter and cheers.) As
a minister of that great peace society—that evangelical al-
liance—called the Catholic Church, I am as unwilling as
I am unfit to engage in offensive warfare of any kind.
Self-defence is called a law of nature, and the defence of
our faith ought to be as dear to us as that of our honour
or our lives. As loyal subjects, as Christian men, and
Christian ministers, we must protest ; we cannot, in honour
and conscience, fail openly to protest against what the
greatest liberal statesman of the day has called an act of
" insolent and insidious agg7ssion. Still, however, we
are bound to do this in a Christian spirit, and in Christian
language, civilly and courteously, though without com-
promise, but still without betraying the sacred cause
which we are sworn to defend. The Bishop of Rome,
usurping the prerogative of our sovereign, has conferred
territorial titles upon his subjects. The chief of those
subjects, decorated also with a foreign title, has declared
to the world, in his famous pastoral, issued from the
Flatainian gate' at Rome, that this great Christian nation
had had no national Christianity for nearly 300 years,
till he, forsooth, was made Archbishop of Westminster,
and the nation thereby restored, like a wandering planet,
to its orbit round the sun of righteousness, the Pope of
Rome. Now, however peaceably inclined, I really cannot
stand this : I connot quite hold my tongue under this un-
christian imputation. I cannot refuse to go so far with
my highly talented and warlike friend, Dr. 111`Neile—
(Cheers)—as to tell this Roman dignitary, quite civilly,
but still resolutely, that although we cannot presume to
compete with him in his eminence as a foreign prince—
and, indeed, would not compete with him upon condition
of swearing allegiance to a foreign sovereign ;—yet that we
are quite as good priests of the Catholic Church as
he is. We need not tell him, as he tells us, that
he is out of the pale of salvation, and must be
damned, but will tell him that our priests' orders are as
valid as his ; that whatever virtue there may be in the
apostolical succession (I am not going to define what
that virtue is, but I suspect that my opinion on that sub-
ject, when properly, understood, might probably be found
to be not very different from Dr. BrlsTeile's) ; that what-
ever its virtue may be, we have it to the full in as plenary
a manner as he or any priest of the church of Rome ; and
that, in addition to the apostolical succession of episcopal
orders, we have what he has not—the succession of epos-
tolical doctrine, which is a much better thing. The society
is put upon its trial, and I am bound, for your satisfaction,
to demand the counts of the indictment, and to ascertain
what is the head and front of its offending. Have those
of our scripture readers whose iiittentign is specially
directed to the subject trespassed beyon the bounds of
Christian prudence or Christian duty in their dealings
with our Roman Catholic brethren ? If they have, they
have done so in direct contradiction to express orders ;
and I disbelieve their having done it. With regard to the
inquiring classes, referred to in the report, which are held
twice a week in the north and south ends of the town,
the conduct of them is entrusted—l may almost say re-
stricted—to the caution of our clerical superintendent,
a man high, and justly high, in our confidence for discre-
tion. He assures me that their proceedings are conducted
with the most perfect decorum and propriety, and that
they are, as their name imports, strictly inquiring classes
for the instruction of those who voluntarily seek for in-
struction upon all points, including the points of difference
I between the Church of England and the Church of Rome.
(Hear.) If this is an offence, why we must plead guilty;
but then I do not see how we can avoid committing it
without being faithless to our ordination vows. Dr.
Wiseman has invited us to a solemn controversy. He
said, -4c Let it be a Sec :contention teen us, with theo-