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

REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR.

JANUARY.—The year 1852 commenced with general dis-
satisfaction throughout the country at the position of
Lord JoRN RUSSELL'S Administration, and a convic-
tion that a speedy change was inevitable. It was clear
to every one that the effete policy of Whiggery had been
used up, the country was thoroughly tired of the family
party, the recent dismissal of Lord PALMERSTON bad
deprived them of the only valuable member they pos-
sessed, and, though a new Reform Bill was looming irl

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.

FEBRUARY.—The Session of Parliament was opened on
the 3d of this month, with a Speech from the Throne,
in which the unmeaning verbiage characteristic of Whig
concoctions was more than ordinarily conspicuous. On
the 9th, Lord J. RUSSELL introduced his new Reform
Bill, proposing some curious groupings of small bo-
roughs, and the reduction of the qualification limit to

£5 householders ; he was not, however, up to the tac-
tics of Mr. BAnNum in getting up an excitement before-
hand, and the measure dropped almost stillborn. On
the 20th, the proposition of the Ministry for the esta-
blishment of a Local Militia was opposed by Lord
PALMERSTON, who moved that the word general should
be substituted, and the Government were defeated by a
majority of 138 to 127. Upon this Lord JOHN RUSSELL
resigned, and on the 26th the Earl of DERBY announced
in Parliament that he had taken office. This was im.
mediately followed by a factious opposition, got up by

the ex-Premier, who called a meeting of malcontents at

his house in Chesham-place. Much indignatiou was
excited at the hasty recal of Sir H. SMITH from the
Governorship of the Cape of Good Hope, and the sub-
stitution of General CATHCART, by Earl GREY, the
Colonial Secretary ; and the threatened inquiry into the
subject precipitated, it is believed, the RUSSELL resig-
News from Australia of further discoveries in
the gold diggings increased the desire for emigration.
On the 10th, the Court of Queen's Bench pronounced
the decision confirming the dismissal of Mr. RAMSHAY
from the Judgeship of the Liverpool County Court. On
the 2d, an attempt was made to assassinate the Queen
of Spain, which led to the usual reaction of enthusiasm
in her favour.

nation

MARCH, which in the phraseology 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 defet 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. ATACKEN
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 Kaffirs.—On the Gth, a mutiny broke out on board the
New York packet-ship Queen of the West, 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

na'ional 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.

Nmtr.L.—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
eing the most intelligent, as well as the

hpr rift

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 soire'e 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
Lours NAPOLEON, who seemed ambitious of 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 South Wales, 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 MAcKENziE.
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 laid between Greatßritain and Ire-
land, and the Union so far rendered more a reality; but a
subse4uent 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, than 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-
:tire yeasmade of the profligacy of Roini.lh priots: th 9

jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff. On the 29th a riot

I took place at Stockport, owing to the fury of a number
i
1 of Irish Romanists, who displayed some of the fruits of

their priestly instruction. On the same day died HENRY
CLAY, one of the most eminent statesmen to whom
America has given birth.
JULY.—On the Ist of this month the long-expected pro-
rogation of Parliament took place. It was followed
immediately by a proclamation for its dissolution, and
the writs were issued for the election of a new Parlia-
ment. On the sth a terrific thunder. storm did consi-
derable damage almost all over England. On the 7th
the election for Liverpool took place, and resulted in a
complete triumph for the Conservative candidates and
the cause of the British Constitution, the numbers at
the close of the poll being—
Turner (C)...... 6493 Cardwell (R) 5247
Mackenzie (C) 6377 Ewart (R) 4910
It was the first decisive blow in favour of the DERBY
Administration, and had a beneficial effect on other
elections.—The statement of the National Revenue,
which was published on the 6th, showed a decrease on
the year of £467,523, but an increase on the quarter of
£l44,6Bl,—another gratifying proof of the revival of
trade under Conservative auspices.—On the 17th the
French President commenced his celebrated tour
through the provinces, in order to lay in a stock of
popularity for his meditated promotion to the more
permanent title of Emperor. It was a succession of
triumphal fetes, the object of which was afterwards
realised in the appeal to Universal Suffrage.—The close
of the month brought many ominous reports from
America, owing to the determination of the English to
prevent any encroachment on the British fisheries.
The alarm was, however, a mere electioneering dodge
on the part of Mr. WEBSTER, and ended as it began—
in smoke.

AUGUST.—This month is usually devoted to Races, Re-
gattas, and other modes of relaxation, during the warm
weather, from the fatigues of business, the only persons
actively employed being the agriculturists. who are en-
gaged in getting in the harvest. It is, therefore, ordi-
narily barren of incident for the historian.—On the 3rd
died the celebrated Comte D'OasAY, who, without
possessing any very great qualities except as a clever
artist, secured to himself an extended reputation of a
certain kind.—On the 9th HER MAJESTY, with her
Royal Consort, took her departure from England on a
visit to her uncle, the King of the Belgians, and re-
turned in about a week.—The verdict of an Irish jury

of " wilful murder " against a magistrate and some
soldiers, for defending themselves from a riotous attack
instigated by Romish priests, at Sixmile Bridge, testi-
fied how little such men were fit to be intrusted with
the privilege of trial by jury.—On the 20th the trial
took place, at the Liverpool Assize, of Ann and Sarah
Rimmer, on the charge of having attempted to poison
the daughter of one of the prisoners, and they were
capitally convicted ; but the accuser having since been
proved to have committed perjury, has thrown conside-
rable doubt on the justice of the sentence, though it has
not been reversed.—The 21st witnessed the departure
from Liverpool of the giant steam-ship Great Britain

for Australia, with a full complement of emigrants.
The intelligence from Australia at the close of the
month, with further discoveries of gold, increased the
mania for emigration to that region.

SEPTEMBER.—This month is looked forward to as the
commencement of Partridge-shooting, and many are
the hopes indulged in on taking the field. On the 14th,
England lost the foremost man of all the world, by the
death of the illustrious Duke of WELLINGTON, at a ripe
old age. He died at Walmer Castle, and was buried in
St. Paul's Cathedral, with all the pomp and magnifi-
cence which could be lavished by national gratitude for
his matchless services. On the 14th also, the Bishop of
Jerusalem paid a visit to Liverpool. The American
papers were filled with reports of the exciting contest
which was going on for the election of President of the
United States. The emigrant ship Bhurtpore was
wreched off Wexford, on the coast of Ireland, and about
four hundred of the crew and passengers were saved.
The accounts which were published of the Liverpool
Dock Trustees showed an income of £216,686 ss. Bd.
The increase in the number of ships was from 4,746, in
1800, to 21,473, in 1852, and of tonnage from 450,060
tons, in 1800, to 3,912,506, in 1852. On the 27th, the
Royal Park Theatre, in Parliament-street, was opened,
and has since enjoyed a very successful career.

OCTOBER.—On the 7th of this month the Earl of DERBY
visited Liverpool, and was hospitably entertained by the
Mayor, Taos. LITTLEDALE, Esq., at the Town Hall.
The statement of the National Revenue, which was
published on the 11th, showed a decrease on the year of
£437,397, and an increase on the quarter of £28,929.
On the 13th, HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, 011 her
return from Scotland, paid a visit to the city of Chester,
and passed on to Bangor to view the Britannia Bridge,
over the Menai Straits. On the same day, at a meeting
of the trustees,' a contract was signed for the long-
desired completion of the Birkenhead Docks. The
comprehensive plan for the improvement of the town of
Liverpool, by the present Mayor, S. HOLME, Esq., was
brought before the Town Council, and met with general
approval, but its execution was ultimately postponed for
want of funds. The registration, by the Revising Bar-
risters, in South Lancashire and Cheshire, resulted in
a considerable gain to the Conservative cause, by the
wholesale disfranchisement of Radical faggot voters.
On the 16th, LOUIS NAPOLEON returned from his tour,
and was received in Paris with triumphal demonstra-
tions by his partisans. He had, very prudently, ba-
nished or imprisoned all the opposition. In America,
the agitation was going on for the election of President
of the United States, and here there was an agitation
little less exciting for the election of Liverpool Town
Councillors. On the 18th, the Liverpool Free Library
and Museum was opened, in Duke-street, by the Wor-
shipful the Mayor, and has since been so well attended
as to create a desire for a more spacious building. On
the 23d, a public meeting took place in the Town Hall,
when it was unanimously resolved to raise a fund for
the erection of a monument to the late Duke of WEL-
LINGTON, and the subscription has since reached nearly
£6OOO. On the 24th, died DANIEL WEBSTER, the
greatest of America's surviving statesmen. At the close
of the month there was considerable excitement in mo-
netary and political circles, owing to the determination
of the Turkish Government to decline the Loan which
had been contracted for, and return the first instalment
which had been paid.

NOVEMBER.—On the Ist, according to municipal law,
the election for Town Councillors took place, with varied
results in the several wards.—AßD-EL-KADER, the
Arab chief, having been released from prison, through
the clemency of Lours NAPOLEON, visited Paris, and
was for a time the lion of that gay capital.—The steam-
ship Melbourne, which left with emigrants for Austra-
lia, put into Lisbon in distress, and afforded another
proof of the inferiority of government-built vessels,
when compared with those constructed by private en-
terprise.—On the 2d, a Free-trade gathering took place
at Manchester, and proved as vapid as the policy of its
promoters.—On the 4th, the new Parliament assembled,
and proceeded to the re-election of Mr. SHAW
LEFEVRE as Speaker ; the first week was occupied in
in swearing in the members ; and on the 11th, the ses-
sion was formally opened with a speech from the throne,
which was one of the most intelligible that had been
delivered for a long time.—On the Bth, the formal step
for gratifying the ambition of Lours NAPOLEON was
commenced by a senatus consullum, which recommended
an appeal to the people on the question of his being
declared Emperor. This was done, and the number of
votes were announced to be—ayes, 7,864,189 ; noes,
253,145.—0 n the 9th, the Town Council of Liverpool
unanimously elected SAMUEL HOLME, Esq., Mayor for
the ensuing year; and the same morning witnessed
the extraordinary occurrence of the shock of an earth-
quake, which was distinctly felt in Liverpool, and for
many miles round.—On the 18th, the funeral of the
late Duke of WELLINGTON was celebrated with unex-
ampled magnificence, and attracted the largest crowd of
spectators ever seen in the metropolis. Further ac-
counts were received of still increasing gold discoveries
in Australia, and several vessels brought large quanti-
ties of that metal. Most disastrous floods occurred in
many parts of England, and most of the low lands were
under water.—On the 23d, an enormous meeting was
held in the Amphitheatre, in this town, to protest
against the introduction of the Romish practice of
Auricular Confession into the Church of England. On
the same day, the House of Commons divided on Mr.
VILLIERS' motion—affirmative of the wisdom and jus-
tice of Free-trade policy,—and rejected it by 338 to 258,
being a majority of 80 in favour of ministers. The elec-
tion for American President resulted in the return of
General PIERCE, the democratic candidate, by a large
majority over General SCOTT.
DECEMBER.—On the 3d of this month the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER made his financial statement, the
chief features of which were an increase and extension
of the House-tax, and a reduction of half the Malt
duty. The discussion upon the first item commenced
Qn the 10th; pad en the 17th the HOUR of Commend