The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-12-28 00:00:00

more of the stat©s may neglect to provide with punctuality
the means of redeeming their engagements. Even such
States, should there be any, considering the great rapidity
with which their resources arc developing themselves, will
not fail to have the means, at no very distant day, to redeem

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE WEST INDIA MAIL QUESTION

their obligations to the uttermost farthing ; nor will I doubt
but that in view of that honourable conduct which has ever-
more governed the States, and the People of the Union, they
will each and all resort to every legitimate expedient, before
they will forego a faithful compliance with their obligations.
The progress made in the fortifications designed for the
protection of the principal cities, roadsteads, and inland
frontier, during the year, together with their actual condition,
would be reported by the secretary of state. They would be

We have pleasure in giving insertion to toe tollowing la-
ter of " A Manchester Merchant," upon the \Vest India
Mail question, which is important, as affording additional
evidence of the propriety of a suggestion thrown out by us in
our article of Friday last, which our correspondent appears not
to have seen when he addressed us. In advocating the selec-

tion of Liverpool as the port of arrival and departure of the
West India mails, we have ever guarded ourselves from any
expression which could lead to the supposition that our ad-
vocacy was actuated by considerations of merely local inte-
rest. Upon this question, the claim of Liverpool is that, as
well, of the entire manufacturing districts of the North of

disposal of the secretary would allow. The President parti-
cularly calls attention to the line of military posts from
Council Bluffs to some point in the Pacific Ocean, within the
limits of the States. He considers that this will give protec-
tion to the fur trade, and enable them to cultivate friendly
relations with savage tribes, and protect the frontier settle-
ments in the west.

England ; it is that, too, of the whole of Scotland, which is
deeply interested in the commerce and in the property of
our West India colonies, and of the western world generally ;
and it is of urgent importance, therefore, that, in any appeal
which may be made to the legislature during the approaching
session, (and the question, be it remembered, has never as
yet been legislatively settled,) the effort should be a com-
bined and simultaneous one. The port of Liverpool has
already, to some extent, been heard upon the question, in
committee. But let Manchester—let the entire manufactu-
ring districts which are interested as well as Liverpool—be
heard also, even if the claim to be so heard involve the ne-
cessity of a third committee being appointed ; for until that
course is taken it cannot be said that British justice has
been done to them by the legislature.
We shall not attempt to add anything to the able argu-
ments of our correspondent ; but shall only suggest to him,
and to others who hold similar views, the importance of agi-
tating the question in their own local press. Although the
columns of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD shall always be open
to the advocacy of a subject in which we take so deep an
interest, yet we are satisfied that, for the purpose of stirring
the public of Manchester to exertion, the press of Manches-
ter is the best and most efficient organ.

The condition of the navy would be laid before congress.
Every effort would be made to add to its efficiency ; and its
support is strongly urged.
" Inducements (says the President) of the weightiest cha-
racter exist for the adoption of this course of policy. Our
extended and otherwise exposed maritime frontier, calls for
protection, to the furnishing of which an efficient naval force
is indispensable. We look to no foreign conquests, nor do we
propose to enter into competition with any other nation for
supremacy on the ocean—but it is due not only to the honor
but to the security of the people of the United States, that
no nation should be permitted to invade our waters at plea-
sure, and subject our towns and villages to conflagration or
pillage."
He, however, recommends economy in all expenditure not
absolutely necessary.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—You have complained, and I think with reason, of
the apathy, on the part of the corporation and merchants of
Liverpool, which has allowed the West India mail packets
to be despatched from the port of Southampton instead of
from Liverpool,—the centre of the correspondence and com-
mercial transactions between the manufacturing districts and
that part of the globe. But if you have ground to complain,
how much more has Manchester, whose merchants and ma-
nufacturers are so deeply interested in the choice of a near
port of arrival and departure for these mails, a right to ex-
claim against the entire immobility of her authorities with
respect to this important question ?
The manufacturers and merchants of Manchester carry on
a large and increasing commerce in the markets for which
these mails are established as the mode of communication;
and yet I am not aware that our liberal authorities, with all
their desire for something to employ themselves upon, have
ever taken a step to assert our claims to be considered in the
selection of a port. You have shown, I think conclusively.
that Liverpool possesses superior advantages of a nautical
nature, as well as otherwise, over any of the proposed chan-
nel ports ; and I cannot but think that if the authorities and
the mercantile interests of yonr town and of Manchester

The post-office department is next alluded to ; but nothing
of interest in this country is developed.
The message notices the exercise of a privilege by the Pre-
sident, from usage alone, of removing incumbents from of-
fice, in order to substitute others in favour with the domi-
nant party. He (the President) had himself exercised this
phwer only in cases of unfaithfulness or inability, or in those
in which it appeared necessary, in order to discountenance
the spirit of partizanship in the holders of office which
withdraws them from the steady and impartial discharge of
their official duties, exerts an undue influence over elections,
and degrades the character of the government itself. He
trusted this system would be abrogated, and would lend his

constitutional authority for that purpose.
The President concludes by recommending to congress the
interests of Washington district, for which ti

.aey were the

public buildings, recommends that they
towards the expense of an efficient polioe

approaching session of parliament, it is not yet too late to
procure a reversal of the decision, which appears to have
been come to, in favour of Southampton, and to bring this
important line to Liverpool,—the only station, in my opi-
nion, where it can be productive of the full benefit which it
is calculated to confer upon the commerce of the country.
Parhaps you will allow me the necessary space to lay be-
fore your readers the mode in which the working of these
mails out of Southampton will affect the exporters of manu-
factured goods from this district. We do not calculate that
any great quantity of merchandise will ever be transmitted
by steam conveyance to any of the markets which these
packets will visit. Still, however, to some extent, they will
be used for the despatch of such goods, of a light descrip-
tion, as may be urgently in request, and upon which there-
fore the exporter can afford to pay advanced rates offreight.
Even in these cases, however, it is very doubtful whether
any description of goods will ever be able to cover the tre-
mendous additional expense of land carriage to so distant a
port as Southampton; and, for the transit of goods, there-
fore, these mails, if continued at this or any other channel
port, must be almost totally unavailable to us.
In addition to the increased cost, however, the loss of time,
in the conveyance of goods for so great a distance inward, is
an insuperab' r -^.e tl: f a packet

STATE OF TRADE

(From the New York Morning Herald of the Sth Dec.)
ASIIES.—Pots and Pearls have both submitted to a de.
dine ; the former were yesterday sold at 5 dots. 75, and the
latter at 5 dols. 50, and were quite dull at these rates.—COT-
TON remains at our last average prices, and about 500 bales
were sold yesterday, principally for shipping. FLOUR.—The
market is without animation, and will doubtless so continue
until the arrival of the steamer at Boston, the news by which
is anxiously expected. We quote Genesee at 6 dols. 25,
firm ; Troy 6 dols. 25 a 6 dols. 37 ; Ohio 6 dols. IS a 6 dols.
25 ; Michigan 6 dols. 12 a 6 clots. 25 ; Southern. nominal.—
GRAlN.—Wheat and Rye are both scarce, and the latter
readily commands SO cents. Yesterday 1000 bushels Jer-
sey corn sold at 70 cents. Oats are dull at 49 a5O cents.

The remainder of the Message is chiefly occupied with
the developement of the views of the President upon the
Currency question, and some other matters which are at too
great a length to be analized at this late hour.

TAKING IT COOLLY.—Commodore Napier was sitting in
an arm-chair by the wheel, and although several gallant officers
on board began to look a little astonished at the thickly-com-
ing missiles, the sturdy commodore did not so much as turn
his head ; but in a calm voice, and motioning with his hand,
said to the steersman—" Port a little—port—that will do ;"
and thus the ship's head being slightly altered, the enemy's
range was so far confounded.—Hunter's Expedition lo Syria.
CALVIN'S PERSONAL APl's ARANCE.—A letter preserevd
in the archaeological collections of Grehus gives us a graphic
picture of Calvin's personal appearance. "He resembles
an old hermit of the Thebaid, emaciated by vigils and fast-
ing, his cheeks colourless as that of a corpse; but his bril-
liant eyes glow with an unearthly fire. His figure is slightly
bowed ; the bones seem bursting
.through his skin ; but his
gait is steady, and his step firm.'
- - -

.fie objection. _or suppost se case o LOW
at that port, say a week before the sailing of the
outward bound mail, and containing advices to a merchant
here of any particular class of goods being urgently wanted
by his correspondent in the West Indian or South American
markets. Were Liverpool the port of departure such goods
would undoubtedly be forwarded in time for despatch per
steamer, as it is well known is frequently the case with orders
brought from the United States by the American liners,
where the goods are prepared in less time than this, and, for
the sake of dispatch, are forwarded by packets at fall rates
in preference to the transient ships, which would take them
at half the freights. The time, however, occupied by the in-
land carriage to Southampton would, independent of increased
expense, be sufficient to deter merchants in most cases from
even the attempt to avail themselves of the steam conveyances
to any of those markets.

arriving

STARVATION IN FRANCE.—The Journal de la Somme
states, that an agricultural labourer fell from weakness, caused
by hunger, on the high road near Porte Noyon, on Monday
last. It appeared on examination, that the unfortunate in-
dividual had existed for several days on grass and cabbage-
stalks. Some charitable persons who were informed of this
occurrence, hastened to procure him some bread and wine,
which he devoured with avidity. " Thus," observes this
journal, " in the year 1841, in a rich country like France,
persons are to be found to die of hunger." It might be
added, in a country too, where there are no corn-laws.
FORGERIES AT THE CUSTOM-HOUSE, BRISTOL, DEC. 17.
—Much anxiety has been felt by the commercial world here
in consequence of a gentleman holding a high situation in the
Custom-house having absconded, and who, it is alleged, has
committed forgeries to the amount of about £l,OOO or £9,000 ;
about £7,000 of forged acceptances having been already ascer-
tained, one or two of which, it is said, are held by the branch
of the Bank of England. The individual is very highly con-
nected, and the acceptances, it is said, purport to be those of
a distinguished and gallant officer of high rank in the army.

You will, I trust, excuse me for trespassing upon your
valuable columns with these hasty remarks. My object is
principally to call the attention of the merchants of Liverpool
to the importance of this question to the interests of my fel-
low townsmen, in the hope that some effort will be made by
Liverpool and Manchester jointly to procure the reversal of
the sentence of exclusion from the benefits of rapid intercourse
with the valuable markets of the western world, which has,
only temporarily I trust, been passed against us. May I
suggest through your columns a meeting of the parties inte-
rested in both towns, and the adoption of a joint memorial to
goverunzent ? 'We have had gatherings of late upon subjects
of much less practical importance and feasibility ; and I can-
not think that the voice of such a meeting as I propose could
fail to be listened to with consideration by any government,
much less by the present.-1 remain, Sir, &c., &c..
A MANCHESTER MERCHANT.
Manchester, 21. th Dee., 1841.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

Sin,—Permit me, through the medium of your journal, to
direct the attention of the benevolent gentlemen, who may
take upon themselves the superintendence of .provisioning
the Soup Kitchens about to be opened for the poor of this
town, to an advertisement of a sale by auction on Thursday
next, the 20th instant, by Messrs. Roston, Arnold, and
Leete, of three tons of what is therein called " Portable Rus-
sian Soup," imported by Messrs. H. and J. Harnby and Co.
As the properties of this article and its uses abroad may
not be generally known to the public, I trust to be excused, by
the parties abovenamed, in volunteering the following re-
marks : . .

Music or NATURE IN NORWAY.—StiII as everything is
to the eye, sometimes for a hundred miles together along
these deep sea-valleys, there is rarely silence. The ear is
kept awake by a thousand voices. In the summer there are
cataracts leaping from ledge to ledge of the rocks, and there is
the bleating of the kids that browse there, and the flap of the
great eagle's wings as it dashes abroad from its eyrie, and the
cries of whole clouds of sea-birds which inhabit the islets ;
and all these sounds are mingled and multiplied by the strong
echoes till they become a din as loud as that of a city. Even
at night, when the flocks are in the fold, and the birds at
roost, and the echoes themselves seem to be asleep, there
is occasionally a sweet music heard, too soft for even the
listening ear to catch by day. Every breath of summer wind
that steals through the pine forests wakes this music as it
goes. The stiff spiny leaves of the fir and pine vibrate with
the breeze, like the string of a musical instrument, so that
every breath of the night wind in a Norwegian forest wakens a
myriad of tiny harps, and this gentle and mournful music may
be heard in gushes the whole night through. This music, of
course, ceases when each tree becomes laden with snow ;
but yet there is sound in the midst of the longest winter
night. There is the rumble of some avalanche, as, after a
drifting storm, a mass of snow, too heavy to keep its place,
slides and tumbles from the mountain peak. There is also
now and then a loud crack of the ice in the nearest glacier ;
and, as many declare, there is a crackling to be heard by
those who listen when the northern lights are shooting and
blazing across the sky. Nor is this all. Wherever there is
a nook between the rocks and the shore, where a man may
build a house, and clear a field or two; wherever there is a
platform beside the eataract where the sawyer may plant his
mill, and make a path for it to join some road, there is a hu-
man habitation, and the sounds that belong to it. Thence in --
winter nights, come music and laughter, and the tread of dan- We insert the following printed circular, issued by Edwin
cers, and the hum of many voices. The Norwegians are a Eddison, Esq., the town clerk of Leeds, calling a public
social and hospitable people ; and they hold their gay meet- meeting in Leeds, for the purpose of an enquiry into the
ings, in defiance of their arctic climate, through every sea- practicability of freeing that great manufacturing district from
son of the year.—Miss Martineau's Feats of the Fiord. the nuisance of smoke. We really think the example well
LAKES OF LLANDERIS.—The two lakes of Llanberis are worth imitation in our own town, and at least would suggest
of considerable extent, and are connected by the river Seiont, that our public authorities should depute some one from our
which passes through them. The upper one, sometimes Improvement Committee to attend the meeting, and report
called Llyn Peris, is about a mile in length and half a mile in officially at the Town-hall.
breadth ; the other Llyn Padern, named after the founder of (Circular.)
the ruined castle hard by, is much longer, but not so wide. " Leeds, 16th December, 1841.
They are of great depth, descending in some parts one hun- " PREVENTION OF SMOKE.
dred and forty yards, and are reported formerly to have had " Sir—Having for some years been exceedingly anxious to
abundance of red and golden char, and other fish; but these prevent the great nuisance in Leeds, arising from the smoke
tenants of the waters have nearly disappeared, and to the of large furnaces, especially those of steam engines and dye-
angler the pools now afford little sport, from the injurious houses, I at the last quarter sessions of the peace for the
effect produced on them by the neighbouring copper works. borough of Leeds, indicted three of the worst, which I se-
These lakes have not the picturesque character belonging to lected by lot, and the grand jury found true bills against
Bala. Gwynant, and many other Welsh pools, from the ab- them all. But, although I think many of the smoke-makers
Bence of the trees that adorn their banks ; but the boldness have been very reprehensible for the indifference they have
and grandeur of the mountains on either side, which consist shown to the comfort, health and cleanliness of their fellow
of bald, weather-beaten, eccentric rocks, create a scene un- townsmen, there are others who have shown an earnest zeal,
matched for vastness and sublimity throughout the island. almost regardless of expense, to do what they can to remedy
On a projecting eminence, at the foot of the other lake, stand the evil. I am, therefore, very desirous of adopting some
the mouldering ruins of Dolbadern Tower, one of the few course by which I can convince them, (for lam fully con-
structures the remains of which are still left in the narrow vinced myself, by personal examination,) that smoke can be
passes of the hills. Dolbadern was the central fortress corn- burnt or prevented, and that too with a great saving of fuel.
manding the mountain passes into Anglesea, and strength- " I have therefore resolved to call a meeting, at the large
ened the defences which the Snowdonian region afforded in room in the Music Hall, in Leeds, on Wednesdya, the 12th
the valiant and desperate struggles for national liberty. It January next, at twelve o'clock at noon ; and on the two
is built in a circular form with hard laminated stone and slate, preceding days the room will be at liberty for patentees or
strongly cemented with mortar ; and from its structure seems other inventors, in priority of application, to exhibit models,
to justify the theory of Mr. Rowland as to the early eastern plans, sections, or diagrams.
origin of all British fortresses. The inner diameter measures " I have no connection, engagement, or undertaking on this
twenty-six feet, its height is between eighty and ninety, and subject, either with the smoke makers or smoke preventers,
the thickness of its walls nearly eight. It appears to have nor do I intend to have any, except so far as it may be re-
had three stories, besides the vaulted basement used as a quisite for me to come to a fair investigation of the inventions
dungeon ; and the broken steps by which I ascended showed of the former and the just objections of the latter ; nor am I
that the communication was by a spiral staircase. That it responsible to any person, committee, or public body, for the
stood many an attack, the tumulus of loose stones at the foot course lam taking.
of the lower lake, and other remains of ancient fortifications, "Itis of great importance to health and comfort that more
offer a sufficient proof.—From Roscoe's North Wales, new attention should be paid to the prevention of smoke than
edilion. has hitherto been; but it is also important, that as parlia-
ment may take up the question and introduce a law for sum-
DREADFUL COAL-PIT ACCIDENT.—At a coal-pit belong-
ing to Messrs. Job and Page Taylor, at Darlaston, a frightful miry convictions, we should prevent restrictions that may
accident occurred on Tuesday morning last. Three men and De injurious to trade and manufactures.
William Beckett, Esq. M.P., for Leeds, will take the
a boy were descending to their work, when the skip on which
chair ; he will give each inventor an opportunity of very
they were standing, before their heads were lower than the
mouth of the pit, got detached from the rope, and they fell a shortly explaining his apparatus ; and afterwards, questions
depth of more than 30 yards. They were all pitiably niuti- may be asked in explanation : but it is not proposed to allow
fated. Henry Itch, who has left a wife and six children, was the inventors to question each other in public, because it
killed on the spot • and two others, Henry Sedley and George might lead to personal remarks.
Whitehouse, without families, have died since. Richard " After these are done, I expect a resolution to be pro-
Whitehouse,
the boy, is in a dangerous state, with both his legs posed, and which I hope will be carried, to the effect that
broken.—Staffordshire Examiner. smoke may be burnt or prevented with a saving of fuel : but
whether such a resolution be carried or not, I shall have the
CHRISTENING OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.—On Tires- satisfaction of thinking that I have done my best to give to
day, the 25th of January, the infant Prince of Wales will be all a fair opportunity for discussion.
received into the communion of the church, and pronounced " I shall feel obliged by an answer within one week from
as a member of the Christian faith ;in other words, the bap- this date, in order that 1 may know what room to provide for
tism of that august scion of royalty—the future sovereign of models, &c., as three patentees have already agreed to come
millions incalculable at present, of millions yet unborn—will and exhibit.
take place, and the hearts of the British people gladdened " I propose to send this circular to those only who have it
with the joyful ceremony. This announcement may be de- some way or other been before the public on the subject.
pended upon as authentic, and we feel the deepest gratifica- " I am, Sir, yours very obediently,
tion. as well as great honour, at having the means of making " EDWIN EDDISON.
it. Further observations we shall leave to the appropriate " P.S.—Please to address—' Edwin Eddison, Town-clerk
period.—Observer.
CHARACTERISTICS OF WELLINGTON.—An- Israelite of
Dover wrote the other day to the Duke of Wellington, re-
questing his grace to discharge a debt of 14s due from the
Marquis of Douro, as he would be glad of the monish. The
noble duke's answer was written on the other side of the note,
in the following strain :—" F. M. the Duke of Wellington is
not the Marquis of Douro., neither does he collect Mr. It's
Debts." The answer was so truly characteristic of this ex-
traordinary man, that Mr. R. has refused a considerable sum
of money for the autograph.—Kent paper.
SHUTTING OF THE GATES.—The 153 d anniversary of
that glorious event which so mainly contributed to place
the House of Brunswick on the British throne, was celebra-
ted in this city on Saturday last, with every demonstration
of loyalty and respect. The ceremonial of it by the Appren-
tice Boys was the same as was observed upon every previous
occasion of the commemoration ; and never was there a
stronger or more earnest feeling of attachment to those pre-
cious blessings--civil and religious—purchased with the
hearts' blood of our ancestors, that was manifested by the
Loyal Leather Aprons upon this last anniversary. That
proud and unbending spirit of loyalty which scorned to bow
before the bigot James ll.' when he approached our Walls
in regal state a century and a half ago, has descended an un-
diminished legacy to many of their sons ; and that indomi-
table spirit of patriotism that hurled the bold defiance, " No
Surrender," in the face of the enemies of the land, beat with
healthful vigour in the breast of our uncompromising
Apprentice Boys.—Londonderry Sentinel.

It is used in the kitchens of the wealthy in Russia without
exception, and probably in greater proportions by our own
countrymen than by the natives themselves, generally along
with flesh meat newly slaughtered, which imparts to the soup
a freshness of flavour. Of itself, being a pure concentrated-
animal gelative, it has little taste, but when diffused through
vegetable substances such as barley, rice, and such like, it is
most soothing to the stomach as well as palatable ; and com-
bining what is supposed to be a main principle of nourish-
ment to the human body, it is well worthy of the attention
of the gentlemen above alluded to, who are about to minister
to the wants of the poor at this season of distress.
Your scientific friends will be best able to state the pro-
portions of gelative and extractive which is contained in a
given weight of the muscle of an ox, and as the article in ques-
tion is composed of those substances in a concentrated state,
its value for the purpose of making soup may be compared
with that of a given weight of beef.—l am, sir, very respect-
fully, your obedient servant, It. B.
26th Dec. 1841.

SMOKE NUISANCE

ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A PARISH CIIURCH.—An attempt
was made on Saturday last, to destroy the Parish Church of
Sutton-in-Ashtield, by fire. A ball of combustibles was
thrown through one of the windows, and had burnt itself
out before being able to ignite the old oak of which the pews
were composed. In all probability, had this combustible
matter come in contact with almost any other part of the
seating, the edifice would have been destroyed, together with
the tine organ, the munificent gift of a deceased inhabitant
of the place.
JERUSALEM.—THE NEW Bisitor.—The Popish paper,
L' Univers, states, we presume, rather what it wishes than
what it can prove when it says :—" We are assured from
authentic sources that the Sultan decidedly refuses to au-
thorise the building of a Protestant church at Jerusalem,
The Anglican bishop, therefore, on his arrival, will have no
opportunity of entering upon his spiritual labours ; but, as
a diplomatic agent at Jerusalem is perhaps more important
than as a missionary, the cabinet of St. James's will easily
console itself for the refusal of the Porte."
SCENE IN A YANKEE PRINTING OFFlCrinter's
Devil—More copy, Sir. Editor-1 told you not to bother
me again to-day. Go and steal any article from the Courier.
Please, Sir, I've the whole of it already, except three articles
which we stole from them last week, which they first stole
from the Chronicle, and which they have now stolen back
from us !