The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-01-04 00:00:00

TO OUR READERS.

THE commencement of another year affords us an
opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of
addressing our Readers, on the position which we
mutually occupy, the progress we have made, and
the prospect which opens to our view. It is well
for mankind that there should be resting-places in
our journey through life, that we may occasionally
pause in our onward career, and, reflecting on the
experiences of the past, be better prepared for the
journey that is still before us. We should other-
wise derive but little advantage from the history
even of our own times, but proceed in a ceaseless
round of never-ending toil, the progress of which
would be as unprofitable as it would be impercepti-
ble; but, availing ourselves of the transition from
1852 to 1853, we may learn to amend what has
been amiss, and, bracing ourselves with good reso-
lutions, apply to the task before us with renewed
energy and undiminished hope.
It has been so much the custom to speak of the
year just closed as most eventful, that the observa-
tion is become more trite than ordinarily true.
Still it will not be denied that 1852 witnessed some
most important changes in public affairs, both at
home and abroad, the results of which have still to
be realised. The change from a Liberal to a Con-
servative Government, the successful career of the
latter, and its final defeat before the close of the
year, was an occurrence of no trifling import ; nor
can the immense emigration to the Antipodes,
excited by the thirst for gold, be without important
consequences. The year was also marked by the
loss of England's mightiest defender, and by pre.
parations against a possible war after the land had
had rest for nearly forty years. There was also the
restoration of a BUONAPARTE Emperor in France,
after a similar interval; and the election of a Pre-
sident in America, showing an unexampled ascen-
dancy of the democratic principle. All these events,
with an evident apprehension of a coming struggle
for the maintenance of the Reformed Faith against
foes within and without, mark the year just closed
as one suggestive of great changes in embryo,
which cannot fail to excite the reflection of intelli-
gent minds. In order, however, that the memory
may be refreshed with the various circumstances
which were familiar at the time of their occurrence,
we subjoin, in a form as succinct as possible, a

the future, in order to lure back, if possible, the Radi-
cals, who had become disgusted with hope deferred,
they were no longer to be amused with promises, and
seemed resolved to leave their former idol to his inevi-
table doom of extinction. The statement of the Na-
tional Revenue, which was published on the 6th, was by
no means indicative of the promised prosperity, as it
showed a decrease on the year of £527,047, and a de-
crease on the quarter alone of no less than £713,547.
Our French neighbours were amused by the pageantry
and ceremonial of the installation of Louis NAPOLEON
as President of the French Republic, the result of the
coup d'etat of the 2d of December, and the last step
but one to the gratification of his ambition. The 4th
of this month witnessed the destruction of the steam-
ship Amazon by fire, shortly after her departure from

Southampton, and very few lives were saved of the num-
bers that were on board of her. On the 20th, a mon-

ster meeting was held to protest against the endowment
of the Romish College at Maynooth, and the example
was pretty generally followed thronghout the kingdom.
Towards the close of the month a depot was established
at Birkeuhead, for the reception and embarkation of
those emigrants who were sent out under the auspices
of the Government.

ology of weather almanacks
is said to come in like a lion, commenced with active
preparations in Liverpool for the election, which it was
thought would not be far distant. Those who had any-
thing to lose were tired of the theoretical politics of Mr.
CARDWELL, and it was detet mined that the first com-
mercial town should set a good example, by returning two
Conservative representatives. The re-elections of the
new Ministers, who had vacated their seats, were carried
almost without opposition. On the 27th, a requisition
was presented to Messrs. C. TURNER and F. MACKEN-
ZIE, to which the signatures of about 3,500 of the elec-
tors of Liverpool were attached, and was readily responded
to.—lntelligence was received by the Overland Mail from
India, of the breaking out of the Burmese war, and from
the Cape of the probable termination of the war with
the Keftlrs.—On the 6th, a mutiny broke out on board the
New York packet-ship Queen of the AX"..t, while lying
in the Mersey, which at one time threatened seri-
ous consequences, but was eventually subdued.—The
legislative career of the DERBY Administration com-
menced most favourably for the country. Several bills
were brought in for the reform of the Court of Chan-
cery, and procedure at common law.—On the 29th, the
Militia Bill was brought in for the augmentation of the
national defences, and, notwithstanding the determined
opposition of the Chesham•place conspirators, it was
ultimately passed into a law with very trifling alterations.
Another important measure was the disfranchisement of
the borough of St. Alban's, for systematic corruption.

APRIL.—On the Ist of this month a great Con-
servative meeting was held at the Amphitheatre,
in this town, and the numbers and enthusiasm
displayed left no doubt as to the issue of the
struggle at the election. Liverpool was determined to
emancipate herself from political thraldom, and justify
her claim to being the most intelligent, as well as the
most important constituency in the kingdom.—The
melancholy news was received of the disastrous wreck
of H.M. steam-ship Birkenhead, which took place on
the 26th of February, off the coast of Africa, when con-
veying
troops for the Kaffir war ; and out of 638 human
beings on board, only 184 were saved.—The statement
of the national revenue, published on the 6th, showed
a decrease on the year of £707,558, while an increase of
£102,540 on the quarter testified to the increasing con-
fidence in a Conservative Ministry.—Further accounts
were received of more gold discoveries in Australia, and
a fresh impetus thereby given to emigration.—Captain
GREIG was elected superintendent of the Liverpool
police on the retirement of Mr. DOWLING.—On the
19th the Court of Exchequer gave judgment in the case
of Mr. SALOMONS for sitting and voting in the House
of Commons without having taken the requisite oaths,
and fined him £5OO. A select committee was appointed
to consider the terms upon which the renewal of the
East India Company's charter should be granted.—On
the 22d, a soiree of the learned societies in Liverpool
was held at the house of the Royal Institution.—On
the 26th, the second reading of the Militia Bill was
carried in the House of Commons by 317 to 167, being
a majority of 150 in favour of ministers.

MAY.—On the Ist of this month the great Duke of WEL-
LINGTON completed his 83rd year, and on the same day
the mammoth steam-ship Great Britain took her de-
parture from this port for New York, being her first
long voyage after her restoration from the disaster in
Dundrum Bay. On the 3d the Royal Assent was given
to the Liverpool Library and Museum Bill. On the 9th
and 10th a grand military review was held, in Paris, by
Louts NAPOLEON, who seemed ambitiousof parading the
chief reliance of his Government before the public eye.
On the 10th the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed
to supply the seats vacated by the disfranchisement of
Sudbury and St. Albans, by dividing South Lancashire
and the West Riding of Yorkshire, and giving two ad-
ditional representatives to each county ; it was, how-
ever, opposed by Mr. GLADSTONE, and defeated by a
small majority. The public were much shocked at this
time by the reports of several dreadful colliery accidents,
at one of which, in SouthWales,above a hundred persons
lost their lives. Some excitement was created by doubts
as to the sovereignty of the Lobos Islands, near Peru,
from which an additional supply of guano was much
needed. They were subsequently shown to belong to
Peru, and this has since been acted upon. On the 20th
a duel was fought between the Hon. G. SMYTHE and
Col. ROMILLY, the members for Canterbury, arising
out of a stupid dispute, and their folly was subsequently
rebuked by excluding them from Parliament at the
General Election. Towards the close of the month the
Overland Mail brought the intelligence of the capture
of Rangoon, which was effected on the 24th of April
with very trifling loss.
JUNE.—This pleasant month, which is usually associated
with the delights of summer, was commenced with ac-
tive preparations for the anticipated Election. Ward
meetings were held almost daily, and the most lively
enthusiasm was evinced for the success of the Conserva-
tive candidates, Messrs. TURNER and MAcitusziE.
On the Ist a singular accident occurred at the new
Corn Exchange, which was in course of erection, by the
sudden sinking of the floor when crowded with persons,
who were, however, but slightly injured, but two work-
men underneath were killed. On the same day the sub-
marine telegraph was laidbetween Greatßritain and Ire-
land, and the Union so far rendered more a reality; but a
subsequent accident prevented its being worked. On
the 7th the Government Militia Bill passed the House
of Commons, after enduring a persevering and factious
opposition. On the Bth a court of justice in Tuscany
sentenced an Italian and his wife named Medial to the
galleys for a considerable period, their sole offence be-
ing the reading of the Holy Scriptures. A country
under the baleful domination of Rome could not brook
that their miscalled Christianity should be tested by
Revelation. FEARGUS O'CONNOR, then M.P. for
Nottingham, and an excellent specimen of the people's
choice under a system of universal suffrage, showed
symptoms of insanity, and behaved so strangely in the
House of Commons, that he was committed to the cus-
tody of the Serjeant-at-Arms. On the 22d the cele-
brated trial commenced before the Court of Queen's
Bench, in which the converted Romanist,Dr. ACHILLI,
sued Mr. NEWMAN, a Romish pervert, for defamation,
and after three days' hearing, in which a terrible expo-
. fure was made of the profligacy of Romish slots, thy