The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

TIDE TABLE

DAYS.

‘toItN.,IEVENG. HORT. j HOLYDAYS,Ere

March.' h. m. h. m. ft. in.
Tuesday.— 7, 438 5 8 11 1
Wednesday. 8, 549 631 10 2
Thursday .. 9: 7 18 7 58 911
Friday ....10 534 9 5 10 II
Saturday ..11 933 956 12 2
Sunday ....12 10 IS 10 37 12 7 2d Sunday in lAnt.
Monday ....13 10 55 11 12 15 4

CASSELL'S ILLUSTRATED FAMILY PAPER.—Number 13,
to be published March 15, will be a Grand DOUBLE NU24IIER
of Sixteen Pages, price Twopence. This Number will be the
most wonderful production of the age, and will present a mag-
nificent ensemble of illustrations, including-1. A large view
of the Crystal Palace at Sydenbam, a full-page Engraving:
2. The Court of Extinct Animals, in ditto. 3. The Pompeian
Court, ditto. 4. The New Houses of Parliament, a full-page
Engraving. 5. Splendid Portraits of the Queen, Prince
Albert, and the Prince of Wales on Horseback in Windsor-
park, a full-page Engraving. 6. The Uniforms of the Russian
Cavalry Guards, a full-page Engraving. 7. The Winter Palace
of the Czar, at St. Petersburg. 8. Cathedral of St. Isaac, St.
Petersburg. 9. The Alexandrine Column at St. Petersburg,
with grand Procession. 10. Scene from the Tale of are
Arctic Crusoe. 11. Wreck of the San Francisco, American
Steam-ship. 12. The Advanced Post of the Turkish Armyon
the Danube. 13. Bouynuk Dore. 14. Turkish Gunboats.
With a variety of interesting Literary matter.—Orders /or
this Grand Double Number ought to be given immediately.—
Part 11. of CASSELL'S ILLUSTRATED PAPER IS now ready.
price sd. The circulation of the Weekly Numb( rs is now up-
wards of 300.000.—J. CASSELL, Ludgate-hill, London.—To be
had of all Booksellers and Newsmen.

.--iiOILOWAT'S PILLS FOE THE CURE or SICK HELD...
ACHES, B:c.—These wonderful Pills have been the means of
restoring to health many persons pronounced incurable by
the faculty both at home and abroad. They may be takes
with perfect safety, and a certainty of effecting a cure, by
persons suffering from general debility, sick beadacbdia,
diseases of the stomach, bile, or liver complaints, and those
who are predisposed to dropsy cannot use a more effectual
remedy than Holloway's Pills, acting as they do upon the
very main-springs of life, no disease can resist their influence.
The effect they have is mild, yet speedy, and as a family me-
dicine they are unequalled.

INTERESTING PICT. The following singular and
authentic case of restoration of the human hair is worthy at
observation, more particularly as it relates to an articled
high and universal repute during the last half century. Me.
A. Herrmann, of Queen-street, Soho, had been quite bald for
some time past, and had tried various preparations for the
recovery of his hair, but without any beneficial result. He
was then induced to try the effects of " Rowland's Macassar
Oil," and after daily applying it for about two mouths, be.
much to his gratification, had his hair quite restored, and new
possesses a beautiful head of hair. This fact speaks toe
strongly for itself to require comment.—Bell's ifetaenger.
Bu nNS, the Scottish bard, designated the Toothache "the
hell of all diseases." And he was not far wrong. This hell,
however, is not a " bottomless pit." Fill up the cavity of the
decayed tooth, and the torturing fires are extinguished.
Brande's Enamel, placed in the decayed spot, prevents irri-
tating substances from reaching the nerve, and kindling that
inflammation therein, which gives the terrible pain known as
toothache. This substance is used, without heat, in aal
state and becomes hard in a few minutes, rendering timmaa
teeth painless and useful for many years.
'troika! NM
PUBLIC TESTIMONIALS.—Tile following ...
phoi tip
Gentlemen, and others, have given voluntary testiV cads,
cures effected in cases of Bronchitis, Asthma, usliae. the
&c., by BRANDR'S BRONCHIAL SEDATIVE:—M• , Egg. 63, Bag-
eminent French Physician ; John Thompson Wage, Amu-
05h-street, Armagh ; Major Sheppard,
ford; Thomas Richard, Hill 'Fop, West t ;
William Davies,
Goodridge, Portfield, near Haverfordwesem,
t. Clerkenwell;
Dolgelly ; William 11 ill, 48, Northamp.taolith ; mazy Rogers,
BV:icatolri °la.m:dwlit:v, Danadviad
Dark-street, Haverfordwest J.
Eliza Woodley, Gibbon's-street,
Stepney; Mrs. Sherwood, Brampton
-cild by nearly all Chemists,
host of others. This Medicine s
a lan the Agents for Brande's
or can be obtained through
Enamel.
g MATIC PlLLS.—Extract of a
BTU
BLAIR'S Gorr AND
Mollard Wheeler, Esq., collector
letter, written by
baring John
been handed by his brother, at
customs, Jamaica,
t, for publication :—" I know you hare
ViP-14-tcos, Id, {Gilson-street;
Swindon, to Mr.
11."
take Blair's Pills, but let me empba-
,.., mercy to any friend who may suffer frost
tically tell you,
gout,.-
lumbago, sciatica, rheumatism, Or any
gout, rheumatic oy.
d allied family, to recommend their
branch of that w
never had'
this country they are of wonderful efficsey4
using them. In
aware of their powers, but I - -
I personallysee any
not only am
acquaintances receiving unfailing
friends and acq benefit front
their use. I would not be without them on any account. If
occasion to
taken in the early stage of disease they dissipate it altogether;
if in a later, they alleviate pain, and effect a mach speedier
cure than by any other means within my knowledge."—Sold
by Thomas Prout, 229, Strand, London ; and by all respecta-
ble medicine vendors throughout the united kingdom. Pilot
:4. 9d. Pcr box.

Etberpoot tanbarb.

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY MORNING

THERE has been no lack of subjects for conversation in
political circles during the last forty-eight hours, the
budget of this evening forming the most fruitful of the
whole. It would be idle to speculate ou that, seeing the

telegraphic wire will convey its substance to you in the
evening, and I only refer to the question for the purpose
of indicating the tone of the clubs—Conservative and
Reform—thereanent. Our estimates already are £3,000,000

in advance, without the consideration of a single penny
towards the expense of the war, so that a pretty round
sum must be raised by one means or another. It is said
that Mr. GLADSTONE will this evening move, at once, that
the Income Tax be raised to one shilling in the pound, or
£5 instead of £3. Of all taxes it is the most available to

a finance minister, as it goes with but little delay and

charge into the Treasury; it is also essentially a war tax,
though we have groaned under its infliction full many a

year of peace.

Another subject is the case of the soldiers' wives and

families left behind ; the long residence of regiments of
the line in towns throughout the United Kingdom,
but especially in and about the metropolis, has led to
matrimonial alliances to a very large extent ; the soldier,

in many instances, merging into the quiet civilian, num-
bers being allowed to work several days a week at trades
previously acquired. Hence the painful position of these
women, some of them with half-a-dozen children. A plan

for their provision is at present under consideration ; and

though political economists will doubtless set it down as
Utopian, there cannot be a question that, from its prompt
and practical character, it will answer all ends in view.
'lt is the proposition of that great lawyer and eminent
Conservative statesman, Lord St. LEONARDS (long known
as Mr. SUGDEN). He suggests that the children be
gathered together in little parties of five or six, and taken
in charge by the well-to-do, and put out to lodge with

worthy persons in the country. His lordship, whose
country seat—a beautiful spot—is within a few miles of
town, is willing to take the fatherly care of five children
himself, which, he states, he can do at about £8 a year a
head. Five times eight are forty. What is 40 a year ?
A mere nothing to countless numbers of the upper clases ;
I could mention in a breath a dozen names—take that

exalted lady, Miss BURDETT COUTTS, as an example, who
Could achieve this grand object, and never miss the money.
There need not, therefore, be much grieving on this

subject.
A third topic for gossip is of another character, and I
am of opinion means more than meets the eye. I refer to
Lord PALMERSTON'S sudden demolition of the Metro-
politan Sewer Commission at a time when that body was
contemplating the achievement of wonders, namely, the
outlay of two or three millions of pounds sterling —when
-they could get them—in the new draining of the metro-
polis, clarifying the Thames, and soforth ! But there is
something below the surface here. One man in his time,
we are told, plays many parts; EDWIN CHA.DWICK has
enacted not a few in his fifty odd years ; has he anything
to do with Lord PALMERSTON'S recent acts as regards the
destruction of the Sewers Commission ? EDWIN. is at
the Board of Health—head and front of it. The Board
of Health is going to " drain" the metropolis ;—it may be
in a double sense. A new building bill is likewise to come
out under its auspices. So that Mr. CHADWICK, disliked
by Sewer Commissioners, city and metropolitan,—deodo-
• rizers of ditch water, city and suburban, and other bodies,
most potent in their way, will have an addition to pay and
patronage, which he probably did not anticipate when he
commenced his humble and arduous career in the almost
• lowest line of London literature.
Yet another subject, and I have done. Lord, JOHN
• RUSSELL is a witch—say wizzard, for ;gender's sake—l
'mean one of that order of sprites, who keep the word of
promise to the ear and break it to the hope. From the
first, I told you all about the vaunted, the promised new
Reform Bill. Pitiful as it is, the country is not to have
it, and Birkenhead must " wait a wee" for a member. The
fact is, there is a split in the Cabinet on this same bill;
some for it, some against it; and some caring not a half-
penny for the measure. I believe among the latter class
may be reckoned the public out of doors. The bill is vir-
tually abandoned,—absorbed by the question of war, and
munitions of war. These give good colour, pretext for the
withdrawal of the Reform Bill; had they not existed the
real truth would have come out, and the coalition would
have been broken up; but they hang together, and pro-
perly so at the present juncture. Meantime, the most
casual observer of the conduct of the members of the
Cabinet, not only to Cabinet questions, but to each other,
as individuals, can plainly see that cordiality is not exten-
sively cultivated— or warmly.

In spite of all the stir and bustle of warlike prepara-
tion that is now going on, not only in the metropolis,
and all the naval ports and military depots of England,
but over the whole of the three kingdoms, our pacific
ministry still refuses to acknowledge either that we are at
war, or that war is, as everyone else considers, inevitable.
They still play the shuffling game of procrastination and
delay, and resort to the most transparent manoeuvres to
gain a little time—to push back the fatal day when the
unmistakeable outbreak of hostilities shall compel them
to look " grim-visaged war " full in the face, and they
must either decide on a bold and manly course, or resign
the guidance of this great nation into hands able and
competent, and willing to carry it successful through the
portentous crisis that is preparing for all Europe. Any
sane and logical minds would have concluded, after the
contemptuous rejection, by the CzAR, of the well-intended
autograph missive of the EMPEROR of the FRENCH, that
any further effort to chloroform the Russian Bear would
have been—not to say useless—but simply ridiculous ; and
yet the very last move of our sapient coalition is to
send another address to St. Petersburg, asking, in the po-
litest terms that could be culled from the "Complete letter-
writer," that Russia would evacuate the Principalities on
or before the 30th of April, and agree to settle all matters
in dispute with Turkey amicably—before a county-court
judge perhaps ! Why, have not these very terms been
rejected over and over again, until the world was sick of
hearing their eternal iteration ? Who suggested such a
contemptible course can scarcely be doubted ; for even
Lord JOHN RUSSELL declares his belief that the proposi-
tion will only meet the fate of its predecessors, and that,
at the end of the next three weeks, we may expect to hear
of our message being as cavalierly dismissed from St.
Petersburg as our ambassador was a fortnight ago. We
are only waiting to have our letter flung back with con-
tempt in our face ; and then, says the great little lord,
" Her MAJESTY will be compelled to send down a message
to both Houses of Parliament, to state that she is no
longer in friendly relations with all the powers of Europe."
It will be curious to see whether, even then, the courtly
ABERDEEN will be able to shape his mouth to utter the
ugly word "war" In the meantime, if we have not the
thing in name, we have something very like the stern
reality, and no doubt, as soon as the ice in the Baltic
thoroughly breaks up, which will be about contempo-
raneous with our receipt of the CZAR'S refusal of our
proposition, we shall commence aggressive operations
there. The appointment of Sir CHAILLEE3 NAPIER to the
command of the fleet is a sign that earnest is meant, or,
even if it be not, that gallant and practical officer will
very soon make it so. The speech of the EMPEROR of
the FRENCH, at the opening of the Chambers, shows that
we may confidently reckon on the sincere and thorough
support of our neighbour and now ally, who is preparing
to second us as efficiently in the North as he has already
done in the East. At the same time it must be confessed
that it is not wholly befitting England's honour, dignity,
or interest, that she should be compelled to rely on any
other power for being able to count with certainty on
beating an enemy in waters so near home as the Baltic.
In the Black Sea, or in the Mediterranean, it may pass ;
our interests there are more remote, and are more shared
by other powers ; we are not so largely bound to insure
our own safety, by having it always within our ability to
overmatch any or all the rest ; but the Baltic is next door
to us, and it is a mortifying eonfession of weakness that
we cannot " go in and win" single-handed, but must
wait for the co-operation of a fleet which the mutability
of human affairs, a caprice, a pique, an accident, ambition,
interest, or fifty other incentives may, in a year, a month,
or less, direct against ourselves, and in combination with
Russia. This ought not to be, and in olden times it
never was.

The discussion of a private bill in either house of the
legislature is about as dull and uninteresting an affair as
can well be imagined ; and the Liverpool Improvement
Bill, for a short time, at the commencement of business in
the Commons on Thursday afternoon, formed no exception
to the rule. It appears that a number of petitions against
the measure have been presented to the House from divers
merchants, manufacturers, and others of Birmingham ;
from the directors of the Manchester Chamber of Com-
merce; from the Commercial Association of the same city.
Mr. GEACTI, a smart man enough, and who has risen to
what he is by his own talent and attention, moved the
suspension of a standing order of the house, so that the
hostile petitions might be referred for consideration to
the committee on the Improvement Bthaill.—t Mr. WILSON
PATTEN* objected to this, observing the standing
order referred to was a most salutary one, for it demanded
t be presented seven days before the
that petitions mus 'ate bill, unless there were strong
second reading of any be
which he did not r eive
reasons for a contrail Practice,
in the present instance with regard to the LiverpP:olclm-
provement Bill.—Mr. GEACH bowed to the opinion of Mr.
bill goes on withr-
WILSON PATTEN, so that your bill
h as . I have described are
ruption as far as petitions s c
concerned. The fun of the thing that lion. members,
and others about the house, who ought to know something
of the question, were at a loss to account for the step Mr.
424c1( had taken, save in obedience to the prayer of ofthe
petitions. The Improvement Bill will pass
Govern-
ment is for it ; the rising importance of h
Birkenhead,
Increase of the trade of the Port of Liverpool, population
and 80 forth, all call for every improvement that can be
effected at almost any cost. I now keep sanitary reflec-
tions entirely out of view ; but if only one half which is
stated in Parliament and elsewhere, on that point, be true,
then Liverpool ought to cry aloud for improvement and
have it. The people who run down, or would run down
the care of the Liverpool Board of Health, I suppose,
know little about it; probably—nay, indeed, I know

they do—base their aspersions on the former state of
your town, which I am not now called upon to describe or
vindicate ; but, thanks to that little local bill of yours,
which excluded my old acquaintance EwDIN CHADWICK
from all interference with the health or disease of Liver-
pool, matters of a sanitary character are in a pretty
healthful state - pardon the apparent pleonasm—notwith-
standing what may be said to the contrary. Why, I can
state for a fact, that the London Board of Health is starved
in every way—money—intellect—energy well directed, save
in a few examples—starved as compared with Liverpool. I
see from a note before me, that Liverpool expends for its
board, about £16,000 per annum; sustaining an intelli-
gent and efficient staff. How much does EDWIN CHAD-
WICK'S London Board of Health cost ? Put the one sum
under the other and subtract. All this is known to Lord
PALMERSTON, the best Home Secretary for practical pur-
poses—because he is prompt—we have had for many a
long year. When I stated that the discussion of private
bills in Lords and Commons is very uninteresting, two
slight exceptions ought to have been taken. All private
bills, however insignificant, are of importance to the pro-
moters ; and though not much noticed by the papers, are
much cared for by the parties concerned, as is evidenced
by their earnest and constant attendance. The other ex-
ception is, or rather was, with regard to railway bills.
During the heat of the railway speculation, when GEORGE
HUDSON could neither take a walk nor a drive, a mile or
two in any part of England, without some needy "engineer
or surveyor" dogging the " Railway King,". fancying that
he was contemplating a new line in the district—during
that period the House of Commons presented a most ani-
mated appearance, on the discussion of a railway bill.
Gradients and gauges, broad and narrow, were debated as
keenly as corn or currency. Why ? Private property was
affected.
" The wish was father to the thought" is a nice quota-
tion ; it was fully exemplified in the library and lobbies
of the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, during
the discussion of Mr. T. CHAMBERS'S excellent motion
that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the
existing state and rate of increase of conventual and
monastic establishments in Great Britain and Ireland,
and to report whether any, and, if any, what alterations
were required in the law affecting these establishments.
The honourable gentleman, in a speech fraught with
rather startling facts, drawn from Roman Catholic sources,
showed the ground for the inquiry. The Irish Romanist
party in the House, and some of their friends out of it,
before the hon. member had concluded his address, began
to whisper " count out"—it was tried on. Mr. CHAM-
BERS continued keeping a house, and something more,
notwithstanding that

" tocsin of the soul,
the dinner bell,"
had rung, and a count-out did not occur—Lord JOHN
RUSSELL and Mr. MIA_LL, or Mi-eau, as the London milk-
sellers most properly announce and pronounce their hybrid
beverage—milk and water—opposed the motion, Lord JOHN
talking about non-interference with the education given
" within these walls" (monasteries). No doubt the noble
lord was so far right when he argued that, if we closed
such places, the inmates would go to Belgium, and other
places, and there seek the undisturbed opportunity of
exercising those devotional feelings, or indulging in those
active charities,which made " those ladies,whatever might
be thought of their religious tenets, an ornament to their
sex." Mi-eau' s remarks were not worth hearing. The
whole debate was interesting enough, though stained with
much error. The Roman Catholics, we are told, are grow-
ing with their growth—extending in influence—they in-
crease and multiply. There may, I have no doubt of it,
be the number of monasteries, for men and women, Domi-
nicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, Grand Carmelites, Bare-
footed ditto ; friars of orders grey, white, and black, quoted
by Mr. CHAMBERS—but Romanism, in spirit, has retro-
graded ever since the false and ambitious step, four years
ago, resolved upon at the Vatican by Pio NONO, and the
carrying out of which in England was intrusted to Car-
dinal WISEMAN, and crushed by that poor feeble measure
called " The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill," a measure as pith-
less as was ever proposed by minister ; yet this pitiful
instrument hushed the vaunting of the Papists. They
are working hard, however, and collect vast sums of
money, wrung from hard hands in all parts of the globe,
and they may break out again—yea, will ! They mean it.
They cannot help it. Malgri Lord JOHN RUSSELL and
Mr. Mum. and Nonconformity, the grand motion was
carried by a Protestant majority of 186 to a minority of
119. But the Roman Catholics are only " biding their
time ;" they say so. I wonder if honourable members
ever take a walk about the sunny hedge-rows within four
or five miles of the metropolis ? Here and there they
might meet with large and ancient-looking houses of
sombre aspect, screened by the trembling poplar, windows
all curtained—close as those of any monastery. The
pedestrian wonders what these houses are meant for ; if
it be a saint's day—and their name is legion,we all know—
the organ strains of PERGOLESI, of BACH, of Rossixi—
stabat mater—captivate the ear—soften the heart. The
" Sounds which delight,
And hurt not"
the listener outside, roll on till vesper time. These houses
are all Roman Catholic establishments.
A good lesson in history was given to the young Princes
of England the other day in their first visit to the Tower
of London. There, by accident, let us leave the starched
sentence of the Court newsman, merely setting forth that
a visit was paid by the Sovereign, &c. I don't believe the
royal children care much for the sight of jewels, even the
crown jewels, as those in the Tower are denominated; it
may be because they know not the value of their spark-
ling ; at all events, Colonel WYNDHAM, who has charge
of the crown and sceptre, and all and,sundry other royal
things, was not long detained in showing them. The
regalia at the Tower don't look half so well as paste at
the opera; there the latter does sparkle ! The " Bloody
Tower," with all its fell records, roused the royal chil-
dren ; they afterwards looked into two or three rooms still
standing, with names in sorrow, engraved an inch deep, of
former inhabitants, bright in Heaven's page for all that.
Lady JANE GREY, for example. The QUEEN and Prince
ALBERT, and the princes and princesses went to see the
armoury. There they staid a long time. Thousands upon
thousands of guns and pistols of all sorts, from Arquebuse
downwards, almost to the Mini 6 and Colt, were fused into
one peaceful and incongruous mass, when the ancient for-
tress, a few years ago, was burnt nearly—thousands upon
thousands still remain ; these attracted, more than all
jewels of great price or " barbaric pearl," the attention of
the visitors. The head gear, helmets—Roman tiles some
of them—were examined minutely. The princes did not
try them ; 'twas well : it is hazardous for those, who, as
the royal children, have the right to roam, and the rare
privilege to handle these thrilling reminiscences of chi-
valry. They are dangerous as practical playthings, for our
friend the armourer may be necessarily not forthcoming,
when most he is wanted. An inquisitive young French-
man, replete with genius—cleverness—took up one of
,hese same head-pieces, of which I am treating—one of
"The very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt."

Parley-vous put on the helm,—click ! click ! and he was
nearly choked ; the visor fell, and all the power and inge-
nuity of the parties present could not get the Frenchman's
head out of trouble until the blacksmith was sent for.
The springs and locks were secret—very cunning, and very
strong—and, though old, not rusty and most workable.
After looking at all these things, the royal party ascended
various towers and the battlements thereof, enjoying the
glorious view and the " sniff," for it was a sunshiny and
breezy day, especially up there. Her MAJESTY soon after
left, and on Tower-hill, where men, considered " fause
loons," lost their heads, was received by thousands of loyal
subjects. After that the carriages were driven home to
Buckingham Palace without note.
Some time ago, I took notice of an order for obscene
and other worse than worthless books for the "gold dig-
gings," which had been received in London ; how it was
discussed with aversion at a literary evening meeting, and
so forth. Every reader, possessing a well constituted
mind, must be gratified on being informed, that even had
the party, to whom the order was transmitted from Aus-
tralia, been inclined to comply with it —auri sacra fames
—he could not. The police authorities—however silent
the newspapers have been on the subject—have not been
idle : they rooted, out waggon-loads deposited for secret
publication in various parts of the metropolis—waggon-
loads of the obscene works. This has been done under
the surveillance, instigation, it may be, of the Vice-Sup-
pression people. The sheets of the works after seizure
were cut from top to bottom, and then cast into staining-
vats, the type being obliterated by the process. These
sheets were afterwards converted into large posting bills,
being pasted together as such things are. Not a book of
the sort referred to can be procured at any price ! In
fact the abominable trade is apparently defunct, neither
plate nor type to be had.

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—At the present time, when provisions of all sorts
are so high in price, parties having but scanty incomes are
necessarily induced to watch narrowly the state of the
markets, and I for one have been an anxious inquirer as
to the state of the markets for corn and flour. The obser-
vation I have made enables me to see that the wholesale
rates of both those articles have fallen very considerably
within the last month, but I have been unable to discover
any reduction in the retail price of flour or bread. This is
the more singular, from the fact, that the slightest rise was
promptly followed—indeed, in some instances, anticipated
—by a rise in the price of both bread and flour.
Fair play is a jewel ; and, if we are to suffer from a rise
in prices, surely we should not be precluded from all the
advantages to be derived from their fall.—l am, Sir,
A HOUSEHOLDER.
Liverpool, 6th March, 1864.

FIRES.—About six o'clock on Saturday evening, a beam
under a room belonging to Mrs. Davies' public-house,
Union-street, was discovered to be ignited. The West of
England engine and the reel from Temple-court were
quickly on the spot, and the fire was soon extinguished.
As the West of England engine and brigade were return-
ing from Union-street, they received information of a fire
having broken out in a public-house, Maguire-street.
They proceeded at once and found that the top room floor
was almost entirely burnt, and the furniture Bre. damaged
by water. Both the above fires occurred through beams
running into the chimney.—About a quarter to nine the
same evening a fire also happened on board the brig Robert
Preston. The cabin was seriously damaged, and the cargo,
which consisted of brandy, fortunately escaped. The reel
from Temple-court, under Sergeant Holden, and the West
of England engine, under Mr. Barrett, were quickly on
the spot, and the fire was soon extinguished.
A LITERARY CIIRIOSITY.—The following is a verbatim
copy. of a letter, written in a tolerably neat hand, and
received a day or two ago, by an emigration house in this
town, from an intending emigrant :—" Dear sir, itock this
opertunitay of senders a fa lines to you to infarm mee
whin ther is a vesal goan to sideney and wat stearig pasag
woud be and to send mee a rould of what i shaud ave
fiting for the voiag south, as cloathing and previshon, as
it may tack mee a fu days to get what iwhant or off theris
one goan to milbburin befor theris to sidney iwould goa
assoone ther as to sidney of inue the rates of the pasage
and what it woud bee far theris 4 of hus goang out with
the help of god. as Boone as we get a nanswer from you
and i hoap you will send mee the hoal acount and pertic-
kelars of what ishoud do. theris a fu moar of ny neabours
intends to go to. wheniget ananser back from you as soone
as you send mee the hoal pertickulers as soon as we will
get redey soneMOar Francis Quin, cattle Baler,

COMMERCIAL 4 MONETARY NEWS

MONDAY NIGHT.

THE money market during the week has presented
few features worthy of notice, the Funds being
slightly affected by the increasing probability of
war ; but, otherwise, prices have been fairly main-
tained, the great source of strength being the
growing opinion that the preparations which are
being carried on with such vigour will be effectual
for the successful prosecution of hostilities. The
bank returns in the London Gazette on Friday
also possessed little interest. The stock of bullion
had increased £32,852, and there was also an in-
crease both in the public and " other" deposits.
For commercial purposes money has been in fair
demand, but without any material alteration in the
rate of discount. The amount of acceptances due
on Saturday, the 4th of the month, was unprece-
deafly large, but everything passed off well.
In the manufacturing markets business has been
dull, but without any alteration of prices, except
in some descriptions of Yarns, which have been
about Id. per lb. lower. 4Cloths of the better
descriptions are also lower, owing chiefly to the
diminished demand, the unsettled state of political
affairs tending to discourage speculation. In the
Lace and Hosiery trades some improvement has
commenced, but the advance is not to any great
extent. In the Woollen districts there appears to
be no change. Prices remain steady, so that the
trade may be considered in a satisfactory condition.
The returns of the Board of Trade for the month
ended the sth of February, show a decrease in
the export trade amounting in the aggregate to
208,748. The falling off is, of course, attributed
to the preparations for war ; but it must be evident
that the maintenance of the spirit of last year was
hardly probable. The decrease is on most of the
more important items, the chief being Cotton
Manufactures, £324,378 ; Metals, £83,399 ; Beer,
£34,481; Cotton Yarn, £31,383 ; Woollen Manu-
factures, £25,331 ; Earthenware, £24,940 ; and
Linen Manufactures, £12,957. Upon some few
articles there appears an increase, the principal be-
ing Haberdashery, £128,812; Hardware, £35,447;
Leather, £20,995 ; and Sationery, £14,561. The
amount of foreign articles taken for home con-
sumption during the month also shows a falling off,
with some few exceptions, as will be seen by the
following :

1853. 1854.
Wheat, quarters
Other Grain
Inaian Corn 95,925 .. 98,649
Flour and Meal, cwt 303,752 .. 847,880
Butter and Cheese, cwt 47,626 .. 53.922
Eggs, No.
Cocoa, lb 352,578 .. 520,827
Coffee ....
Sugar
Tea, lb 4,403,962 .. 4,027,610
Rice, cwt.
Spirits, gallons 456,032 .. 485,119
Wines, gallons
Opium. lb
6,335 6,974
Tobacco, lb 2,662,435 .. 2,692,575
Currants, Figs, and Rai-
sins, cwt....
Spices, lb.
Ditto. cwt.

22,461 .. 16,901
101,652 .. 427,920
307 .. 350

Of raw materials for manufactures, the compara-
tive imports and exports show a decrease in every
article but Tallow :

Flax, cwt.

Imported.
1853. 1854.
69,348 36,824
_

Exported.
1853. 1854.

Hemp, cwt 21,477 8,280
Raw Silk, lb 818,638 815,577 30,585 43,900
Cotton. cwt 398,301 317,023 36,547 44,184
Wool, lb
Tallow, cwt 40,481 50,013

As regards the Shipping Trade, there were 1756
vessels employed in the Foreign trade, with a
tonnage of 530,619 entered inwards ; of which 1498
were sailing vessels, with 448,668 tonnage, and
258 steam-vessels, with 81,951 tonnage ; whilst
in the corresponding month of 1853 the number
was 2261, with a tonnage of 457,154. There
cleared outwards 1781 ships, 434,350 tonnage, of
which 1536 were sailing vessels, with 347,200 ton-
nage, and 245 steam-vessels, with 87,150 tonnage ;
whilst in the corresponding month of 1853 there
were 1824 ships, 505,438 tonnage.
In the Coasting Trade, 8196 vessels, 884,015
tonnage, entered inwards, 6959 being sailing ves-
sels, with 583,492 tonnage, and 1237 steam-ves-
sels, 300,523 tonnage ; and 10,059 ships, 1,060,237
tonnage, cleared outwards, of which 8822 were
sailing vessels, with tonnage, and 1237
steam-vessels, 289,996 tonnage ; in the correspond-
ing month of 1853 the numbers were—ships
10,808, tonnage 1,085,015, and ships 10,611, ton-
nage 1,026,571.
We give the following extract from Messrs. T.
and H. LITTLEDALE and Co.'s monthly circular—
" It is a great satisfaction to observe how little effect
the present warlike position of affairs has on prices of
Colonial and other Produce, and though operations are
much curtailed, buyers and sellers appear to stand still by
mutual consent : there is no pressure to realise, and little
or nothing doing on speculation—operations are chiefly
confined to the daily wants of the trade ; but such is the
sound, healthy state of imports, that this tardy position
of business excites no impatience or mistrust—the cause
is evident, and the effect is quietly submitted to.
"War between the Western Powers and the haughty
Czar would now seem certain ; but yet, the madness of
such a project, should Austria and Prussia stand firm to
their present professions, almost forbids us to believe it
possible—that one power hitherto considered the most
politic and far seeing—not only pacific herself, but claim-
ing credit for compelling other nations to be so too—
should now rush headlong into war against the whole of
Europe, the five great powers being determinately and
actively engaged in hostilities against her to the certain
destruction of her commerce and her naval power—seems
to admit of but one solution, that her despotic ruler is
insane, or surely he will yet find a way, to escape the
severe judgment that must otherwise most justly fall upon
him."
From Glasgow it is stated that the house of
Dickson and Co., whose failure was announced on
Saturday, was comparatively a new one. They
were Australian merchants, and their difficulties
are attributed to the heavy nature of their ship-
ments to Melbourne and Sydney. In some advices
their liabilities, originally estimated at between
£300,000 and £400,000, are said not to exceed
£200,000.
The directors of the General Screw Steam-
shipping Company are about to recommend to their
shareholders the immediate abandonment of the
Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, and Cal-
cutta mail packet line, and the forfeiture of the
contract with the Admiralty for carrying on this
service. It appears that the present high price of
fuel and the insufficiency of remuneration for the
postal service, together with the refusal of the
Admiralty to consent to any modification of the
company's contract, are the chief reasons which
have induced the directors to recommend that the
operations of their steamers on this route should
be at once brought to a termination. They have,
however, consented to despatch the Propontis on
the 14th instant from Southampton, and the voy-
age of this steamer will, it is understood, be the
last one to be made to the Cape of Good Hope and
Indian ports. Following upon the breaking up of
this line, the company have determined to com-
mence an efficient steam communication with
Australia, and have contracted with the Admiralty
to provide an alternate monthly mail between
Southampton, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The ships will go direct to Melbourne, a smaller
steamer, the Bosphorus, being employed in running
to Adelaide, and, perhaps, to King George's Sound.
Under the terms of this arrangement the remune-
ration of the company is dependent upon the
postage earned by their steamers both outward,
homeward, and intercolonial. The Queen of the
South will be the first ship. to start, and is to leave
on the 4th of April: It is very probable that a
monthly line will be kept up.
Our SHARE MARKET has continued inactive
throughout the week, and prices have declined one
or two per cent. all round. This is partly the
result of a little over-speculation, induced by the
scarcity of stock at the last settlement, to which
however must be added some small amount of
selling in apprehension of war and the war budget
of this evening. The traffics continue most satis-
factory. We annex this day's prices :—Blackburn,
5 5-16 Caledonians, 27 71- ; Lancashire and
Yorkshire, 661 * 6 I 1 ; Leeds Northern
131 ; London Stock, 1011 1001 1 fc 4 ; Sheffield
Stock, 21.1 1' • Midland Stock, 6021211411-1;
11.1; North British, 8+; Dover Stock, 18 9-16
York, Newcastle and Berwick, 17.
COTTON.—The demand from the trade has been
but moderate during the week, and the sales have,
in consequence, been limited, the account for the
week up to Friday amounting to only 31,720 bales,
of which 26,250 were taken by spinnera, and 5,470
on speculation and for export. The advices brought
by the Pacific on Thursday, of an increase in price
on the other side the Atlantic, had the effect of
strengthening the market here, without, however,
leading to any advance in value.—TO-DA.Y the sales
amounted to between 5,000 and 6,000 bales, and
the market closed firmly without any alteration in
prices. The following is a comparison of the pre-
sent rates with those of the corresponding period
of last year :

1853. 1854.
New Orleans, middling— ...... 5 11-16 cl. 5 13-161
fair
Uplands, middling 5 9-16 d. 511-16 d.
fair

PRODUCR.—The markets during the week have
been comparatively quiet, Sugar has been in fair
demand, at full prices. Coffee, dull. in WO little