The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-01-30 00:00:00

POLITICAL MISCELLANY.

The address in the Lords will be moved by Lord Bruce,
and seconded by Lord Bateman.

Lord Lewisham, son of Earl Dartmouth, walks over for
South Staffordshire.

Lord Palmerston has attached Mr. Wolff, son of the
Rev. Dr. Wolff, to the regular staff of clerks employed at
the Foreign-office, that gentleman having previously been
an assistant of the head clerk.
ALL IN THE FAMILY.—Lord J. Russell has conferred
on his father-in-law's brother, the Hon. John Elliott, the
post of Secretary to the Board of Control, recently va-
cated by Mr. Wyse.

Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton has retired from the ap-
proaching contest for the representation of Leominster.
The candidates are Mr. Fredk. Peel (conservative). son of
Sir R. Peel, and Mr. Phillimore (radical).

The Queen of Spain has, it appears, addressed the Ro-
man Catholic Governments of Europe, calling for a con-
ference to take into consideration the present circumstan-
ces of the Papacy, with a view, of course, of restoring by
force, if necessary, the temporal sovereignty of the Pope.

THE NAVY ESTIMATES.—It is understood these esti-
mates for 1849, already in course of preparation for par-
liament, will be on a considerably reduced scale, so as to
save a million on that branch of the public expenditure,
as compared with the last Year.

The Indus left Southamp)on on Saturday, with the India
mails from Alexandria. AMong the passengers was Dr.
Bowring, late M.P., for Bolton, who has been appointed
her Majesty's Consul in China. Mr. Hume, M.P., and a
number of distinguished political and literary friends of
the doctor took leave of him on board the Indus.

A writer in the Times, under the signature of "Emeri-
tus," says, " The total amount expended directly for the
pay and maintenance of the whole force in the army,
ordnance, and navy, is £6,936,496; the amount paid indi-
rectly, for extras and subsidiary expenses, is £10,448,873.
The actual forces cost us seven millions, the et ceteras ten
millions and a-half !"

Amongst other indications of approaching parliamen-
tary warfare, is the announcement that Mr. Bernal
Osborne, now one of the members for Middlesex, is
going to attempt to bring in a bill for the abolition of
church-rates. This question used to be the parliamentary
" card " of Sir John Easthope, at one time a chief pro-
prietor of the Morning Chronicle.
A severe contest is expected for Cardigan Boroughs.
Three candidates are in the field, the Hon. Mr. Vaughan,
brother to the Earl of Lisburne; Mr. John S. Harford,
of Bristol, who was defeated in 1841 by the late member ;
and Mr. Pryse, who has been invited by the Aberystwith
voters. Mr. 'Williams, the late member for Coventry, is
also spoken of as likely to come forward.
MEETING OF IRISH MEMBERS.—The meeting sum-
moned by Mr. H. Grattan, M.P., was held in Dublin, on
Tuesday, but was most indifferently attended, onlya dozen
gentlemen having answered to the call. After discussing
the question, whether, with such a paucity of members,
they should proceed to business, a conversation arose on
the subject of the poor law. The honourable gentlemen
were unanimous in condemning the poor law in its present
form, but generally approved of its principle. The exact
mode of effecting amendments was, however, a matter of
controversy. Ultimately, the meeting was adjourned, and
the second meeting was as great a failure as the original
one. There is no union of opinion between them.
We are informed that the contemplated reduction in
the army will be to the amount of ten tho,2sand men.
The proposed diminution will take place chiefly in that
portion of our forces which is now on home service.—
Morning Chronicle. The Times of Saturday gives the
following additional information on this subject :
" The working strength of the dockyards is to be consi-
derably reduced ; the shipwrights to 3500, and the other
branches of skilled labour in a corresponding degree. In