The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-10-23 00:00:00

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Mmday Afternoon.
Politica!l:nett:mon the enntitent are viewed with some
little anxiet?, whißt keeps the public mind uneasy, encl.+
the funds hale ffirctuated I.ler cent. during the week.
Until somethirg further is heard from St. Petersburgh
respecting the Turkish dispute, We must continue in igno-
rance of the views of Russiar though it is generally
believed she will tot be so insane as-to go to extremities ;
but there are not wholtre looking on the
gloomy side. In Prance there is considerable uneasiness,
and the opinion seems to be gaining ground that the
Republic, as at present constituted, canndt stand ; that
wl;th so fickle a people they must either extend the period
of the presidentship or revert to some description of
monarchy.

Our Share Market clooes-betterlo-day ;-and should the
traffic returns skew a farther increase Vhis week, com-
bined with the report that a.strong attempt will be made
to raise the fares, a considerable improvement may be
;expected. London Stock, which stood at IC-74.ou'Monday
last, and was done as low as 105 on Wednesday, took a
decided advance on the increase in the receipts-being made
known ; and it will be seen below; that the closing price
this afternoon is 4 per cent. .'rig-her than the lawest
In London the feverishness of the market was morn pal-
pable on the returns coming out.; London Stock went to
hitt on Thursday, before the regular business begair; but
subsequently subsided (seeto-dWspriceselsewhere). But
it iB not only in one description of stock that an enhance-
ment in value has taken place, which is demonstrated by
the subjoined quotations, up t 0.3; o'clock this afternoon,
with, we may add, more good business doing :
Ambergate 6$ to 6d x int ; Lancashire and Cheshire pref.,
13; Birmingham and Oxford guar.,. 25 to 26; Caledonian, 123
to 2; Do. pref., 83; E. Lincolnshire;; 263 to 27; Glasgow and
Greenock, 153 to 161; Do. 3-shares, 73 to 8k ; Great Western,.
50 to 52; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 60; Do. (M. & L.), 41 to
40 d ; Do. halves, 193 to 19 d ; Do. Nth.% 6 16/3 d ; Liverpool
and Bury, c2O d; Lancaster and Preston 3-shares, 113 t 0,1234;
Leeds and Tbirsk .t'2s extensions, 13X1; L'pool and Southport,
32 to 33 d ; London stock, 109 ; Do. new 3-shares, 3 p ; Do. 3-
shares (C), 13 to 13 p ; South-Western-..40-shares, 143 to 14 di
Midland stock, 43; Do. 3-shares, 213 North Staffords, 81 d;
North-Westerns, 103 d; Shrewsbury and Birming. (A). 73 d;-.
Shropshire Union, 33 d ; Dover .t3O-shares, 163 to 173 ; Do..
No. 4,5 j South Staffords, 43 to 43 (1; North Midlands, 1931.
Do. pref., 43 to 43 d ; Newcastle pref., 5 8/9 d; Dublin; and
Belfast, 3.33 to 33 d; Boulogne and A:miens 33 to 6; Bouert•
and Havre, 83 to 93 ; L'pool Borough Bank, 3 d.
We continue to experience a steady demand for most
articles ofproduce. 700 bags of Bengal Sugar were sold
this day at 40s. to 40s. 6d. for middling white. For 2000.
bags of fine Bengal Rice lls. 6d. was offered and refused.
The .narket for Tea is quiet, and prices are with difficulty
supported. _

The transactions in Cotton during the past week have
been the largest ever recorded, and the trade have taken
65,000 bales, at an advance of d. per lb. on American,
and 4-d. on Surat. When we contemplate the enormous
quantity of Cotton which has exchanged hands during
the fortnight-250,000 bales—and perceive that the stock•
is only 420,000 bales, we must confess that the trade are
not in a pleasant position. They. have done wisely in
purchasing heavily, but they ought to have commenced
earlier. One-half of the present stock is in the hands of
speculators, and the remainder held for higher
prices, chiefly on American account. The sales on
Saturday. were 10,000 bales, and amounted to-day
to 20,000, at an advance of an eighth per lb. The.
accounts by the steamer America, arrived last evening,
confirm all the previous statements of a late and short
crop. In•the south they had experienced a week of fine
weather, which was enabling planters to proceed rapidly,
with picking. The general estimate of the coming crop.
is 2,000,000 bales.

The firmness manifested in the- cern markets of the
United Kingdom, during the week previous to our last
publication, has been supported up to the present time,
although the amount of transactions have generally been
limited in extent, and in some cases, i. e., Manchester,
Wakefield, and London (to-day), prices come rather easier.
There is little said about potatoes in our advices from Ire-
land, the only mention being made in the Belfast letter,,
which states that " the accounts were still very conflicting ;
in some districts they were reported as turning out well,
and others just the reverse : we consider the loss may be
estimated at about one-half." This latter remark must
also be viewed in connexion with the fact that much above
the average amount of land in Ireland is under potato
cultivation. In the uncertainty as to the amount of In-
dian corn likely to be taken into consumption, buyers and
sellers conjointly aid in the limitation of business, and the
high rates asked by importers have checked sales, and the
desire evinced by speculators to purchase for investment
has somewhat slackened.

With regard to the Liverpool trade, and the probable
tenor of to-morrow's market, we find that the imports of
flour on Friday and Saturday last. amounted to 29,310 brio.,
beinz a considerable increase in the proportion of arrivals
at this port latterly; but as parties do not expect a con-
tinuance in the same ratio, and as holders are a little
firmer to-day than on Friday, if the quality turn out
favourable, prices will sustain little, if any, depreciation on
this account.

The series of public sales of Wool terminated in Lon-
don on the 13th instant; about 43,000 bales colonial aad
5000 bales other wools were off,?red : the general tone was
rather languid, and ill-conditioned flocks (of which there
was a large propertion) went about Id. per lb. below the
July series; in well-bred clean sorts the depreciation was
less apparent, On Wednesday, the following low Wools
were brought to auction here—say, 1091 bales East India,
1612 bales Buenos Ayres and Cordova, and 703 hales
Oporto, Turkey, Barbary, &c. ; total, 3109 bales. There
was a fair attendance of both home and continental buyers,
and the result, on the whole, was satisfactory. The ma-
nufacturers continue very busy, and by private we have a
healthy demand for most kinds of Wool. Stocks here
are very low, and arrivals are likely to meet with a ready
sale.

The arrivals of Timber during the past week consist of
24 vessels, 14,246 tons. St. John's Timber still main-
tains the price of ld. per foot girth, but the sales are not
so prompt on the arrival of the cargoes as before, which
evinces a feeling that the present prices cannot be main-
tained for a much lqinger period. Quebec Timber, in con-
sequence of the large arrivals lately, is and will without
doubt decline in price—a fair average being 14d. per foot;
on the contrary, deals of all descriptions are in request at
advanced prices, the importers having on a sudden alarm
of reduced prices stopped the supply ; which error it is now
too late in the season to correct. _ _

Scotch pig iron had advanced last week to 435. for
mixed numbers, 455. for No. 1 Gartsherrie, f.o.b. at
Glasgow. The market is now flat at these rates. Welsh
bar iron is ss. less, say £4 15s. per ton f.o.b. in Wales.
Copper, tin-plate, and lead firm.
We have to report a fair business in American provi-
sions this week. The trade have operated freely, and
holders have realized an advance upon some articles.
With a moderate demand for Irish Butter, the quota-
tions to-day (landed in Liverpool) are as follow :—Water-
ford, 68s. g 725. ; Kilkenny, Carlow, and Clonmel,
68s. @ 725. ; Carrick, 665. @ 68s. ; Wexford, Carlow,
70s. @ 71s. ; Belfast, 6Gs. @ 70s. ; Ballymoney and
Coleraine, 68a. @ 70s. ; Banbridge, 665. @ 693. ; Newry
and Dundalk, 645. @ 665.; Dublin, Carlow, 665. (i'y 683. ;
Sligo, 645. to 665. ; Londonderry, 645. @ 68s. Bacon :
long middles, free from bone, new, 48s. @ 50s. Lard :
fine keg, 40s. @ 425.

EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

FOURTH NOTICE.

373. Thoughts of Horne. Aaron Parley.—ls a very
pleasing composition in water colours. The su:iject is pic-
turesquely told. In the foreground an Asiatic, with his
child--we could almost imagine the former to be sketched
from a subject occasionally to be seen in our own streets
and outskirts, where he plies a little trade in tracts—is
seated, as if resting on a roadside bank. The roll of the
ocean in the back ground has caught his ear ; and his
musings have evidently borne him far away to the distant
land of his fathers. towards which he has instinctively half
turned his gaze. There are great feeling and character in
this picture.
380. Auld Robin Gray. Jane P. Egerton—ls another
pretty drawing in water colours. The face of Jessie is
most expressive, and the figure and accessories throughout
convey to us a faithful picture of the poor heartbroken
girl, when complaining in her wretchedness—
" I gang like a Gliaist, and I care !la' to spin,
I dare na think o' Jamie, for that wad be a sin."

338. Italian Image Boys at a Roadside Alehouse. J.
Collinson.—Contains sonic good painting, with one great
defect. The figures are generally good; those of three
boys in the left corner of the foreground very clever. But
there it no perspective in the picture. The group looks
rather as if ranged along a wall, than as occupying an
interior.

402. Scene from Don Quixote. J. Gilbert.—Ts a clever
little picture. The figure of Sancho is especially good.
42. The Battle of Preston Pans. 21st Sept., 1715.
Finished sketch. Sir W. Allan, P.R.S.A.R.A.—This is
a very spirited battle piece, full of vigour, incidents and
colour. As an historical painting it is very valuable, as
conveying not only a scene memorable in our annals, but,
we understand, portraits as well of some of the principal
actors.

77. Scene from the Bourgeois Gentlehomme. W. P.
Frith, A.R.A.—This painting possesses the care and finish
for which the artist is celebrated. The costumes are very
rich and cleverly painted.
84. A Florentine Lady. Painted from a sketch taken at
a window during the fete of Florence, in honour of the
National Guard. A. J. Woolmer.—ls very pleasing, and
contains some good painting, as does
85. The Garden Terrace. H. Jutson.—Many portions
of this are very creditable to the artist.
103. Fruit. W. Duffield.—ls one of the best paintings
of its character in the room. The grapes are very trans-
parent.
116. Portrait of an Old Lady. D. Williamson.—ls
very meritorious.

LIVERPOOL AND HAvuu.—The attention of the im-
porting merchants of the United States is called to the
advertisement of the British and North American Royal
Mail Steam-packet Company, in which they announce
the intention of carrying any foreign merchandise offered
to them for shipment to the United States, on and after
the Ist of January, 1850, the period when the new navi-
gation laws will come into operation ; and early in the
spring of the year a first-class steamer will sail weekly
between Havre and Liverpool, for the purpose of accom-
modating the exporting houses of the continent.
ST. ANNE'S CHu•RCH•—At the meeting of the Health
Committee last week, a letter was read from Mrs. Marga-
ret Crosfield affirming, that notwithstanding the public
contradictions, burials have taken place within St. Anne's
Church. She had many relations laid in the vaults under
the pews in that church, and had herself been present
when an interment took place near to the pulpit. It was
formerly, she stated, " a very Conservative place of wor-
ship, and genteel families buried within its precincts."
The sexton of the church, who has been connected with
it for twenty-eight years, affirms that he never heard of
any such burial within the church.

THE
agrtruiturai Allbß?ortirultural
COLUMN.

If must be evident to the most careless oblerver, that
the taste for horticultural pursuits has rapidly increased
in Liverpool during the last two or three years. Every
class of society seems to have imilibed a love (or the ettlo
tivien of plants. This is especially the calti with the
wealthier inhabitants, who, having the means at thet
disposal. are gradually acquiring the most refined tastes
for plnts of ornamental and useful characters. But the'
gentry of Liverpool cannot hope to attain that extraordi-
nary perfection which characterises the horticulture of
the metropolis and other places, unless, like the cuAtiva--
tors of those localities, they form some kind of combina-
tion for mutual assistance. In London. the Horticultural
Society has wrought wonders. Its benefits are not con-
fined to one locality, but are diffusett over the whole
kingdom. Other places have their societies, which pro-
duce the most benefffcial' results., We need go no farther
than Manchester, where-an excellent society is established
and is productive of much good. Gardeners may combine
and form societies, but the benefits of such combinations
must necessarily be very limited ; whereas, if the employ-
ers would unite, a society might be formed which would
produce incalculable advantages; -bbtle to-themselves and
those employed by. them. Stich a society is; we believe,
in contemplation ; and we- hope that gentlemen who love
gardening will do their utmost to support- it ha such a
manner, that it may eventually develope the extraordi-
nary resources which unquestionably exist- in this great
commercial emporium. As far as we hare been informed,
the proposed society has for its-objects the union of' those
gentlemen who make horticulture one of their pleasures,
and,. by bringing them together; diffuse whatever know-
ledge they may acquire, for the benefit of the members;
the reward of gardeners, and others, by prizes and certi-
ficates for meritorious productions exhibite4, at the meet-
ings;. the establishment of a muteumfor dried ,speoirnams ;
and' the importation and distrib-ation of seeds-aml
Should this society be formed, andits objects carried eut,
it is easy to perceive that very considerable good may
result, and Liverpool will soon take the lead improvincial
horticulture.

PAPERS ON AGRICULTURAL- CHEXIBTRY.

NO. IV.

We have now briefly pointed out the functions of the,
elementary forms of vegetable organism, and we con-
cluded our last by saying that alkalies and alkaline salts
are the substances pencipally absorbed from the soil; and
from these are formed all of the ultimate constituents of
plants. _

It may not be thought advisable to enter too muchinto
detail upon these points of agricultural chemistry,..but we
are of the opposite opinion. There is no royal road to
agricultural chemistry, any more than to the other sci-
ences ; and unless the student thinks the matter worthy
some attention, he had better not take -up a subject more
than all others liable to misconstructions.
Vegetable matter, when submitted to analysis, is found
to consist of the following chemical principles—carbon.
hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen ; but it-must not be pre-
sumed that these constituents are all derived in the form
of food, from the soil. The carbon, for instance, which
is a principal constituent, is derived from the atmosphere,
and so also in all probability is the chief portion of the
other elements.

The combinations of these elementary gases, with the
inorganic bases absorbed from the soil, produce all the
various vegetable principles. Now, though manure may
furnish the inorganic salts in solution, it is certain, front
direct experiment, that it in no way increases the amount
of gaseous food to the plant, the same quantity of carbon
being produced by untnanur,d plants itS by those which
have been richly manured. This is an important point
for consideration, and involves some of the most curious
phenomena of the material world ; but the object with
which we started—namely, a simple exposition of the
subject—will not allow us to diverge too much, however
tempting the theme.

Fr.om-what we have already said, it will be readily un-
derstood that the absorbent functions of plants divide
themselves into two kinds—first, those which absorb
nutriment from the soil; and, secondly, those which in-
hale gases from the atmosphere. Excretion is performed
by the leaves, which reject oxygen, and a portion of the
water absorbed ; and it is an opinion of some that solid
matters are thrown off by the roots, but this opinion rests
upon very slight grounds.
Although alkalies and alkaline salts are essential to the
existence of the plant, other matters are also taken up by
the roots. These substances depend principally upon the
nature of the plant itself. Thus the flinty stems of corn
require a supply of silica to strengthen them, and the corn
itself requires phosphate of magnesia. Therefore, the
grand aim of the agricultural chemist is, first, to ascertain
the chemical composition of the vegetables to be cultiva-
ted ; and, secondly, what soils contain the most of those
substances which are found to be the principal constitu-
ents of the analysed plant. Both of these points are less
difficult than is generally imagined.

REVIEWS.

A Popular History of British Sea-weeds. By the Rev.
D. L'indsborough, A.L.S., London: Reeve, Benham.
and Reeve, King William-street, Strand.

Little as the lovely sea-weeds, that strew our shores,
are noticed and understood, they are rarely despised ; the
most incurious stroller on the sandy beach, marks with
some interest the delicately beautiful forms which are
strewed in such rich profusion, even the eye of childhood
is delighted with these ocean flowers, and who is there
who cannot remember the eager delight with which they
were collected in the first sea-side ramble ? Gathered
only to be thrown away as new and more delicate beauties
presented themselves. Indeed many who could wander
heedlessly through the flower-bespangled meadow, trampl-
ing beneath their feet, with careless indifference, the
flowers of earth, still stoop to gather the garlands of
ocean's gay flowers. Yet notwithstanding this general
predisposition in favor of sea-weeds, how seldom do we
find any one tolerably conversant with their history. We
can only attribute this to the costly character of all
works on algology hitherto published.
This injury to science is however removed by the
elegant publication of Dr. Lansborough, which is all that
can be wished for by the young student ; it is cheap,
tastefully got up; and illustrated with 80 figures, most
accurately drawn and coloured ; besides uncoloured struc-
tural illustrations. The letter-press is divested of scien-
tific pbreseology as much as possible, and the work alto-
gether is a most meritorious production. As a sea-side
companion, it will recommend itself to every one who
feels a desire to know something more of these beautiful
creations, and feel,
"There is a rapture on the lonely shore."

A Century of Orchidaceous Plants, selected from Cur-
tis's Botanical Magazine, consisting of a hundred
of those most worthy of cultivation. The descrip-
tions by Sir William Hooker, R.H., D.C.L., &c.,
director of the royal gardens at Kew. Accompanied
by an introduction on the culture and general
management of Orchidaceous Plants. London :
Reeve, Benham, and Reeve.
(Coat int!ed.)
Plate 50. Calasetum globfferum.—This is a curious
species, with upright spikes of flowers of an almost glo-
bular shape, and a purple and green colour. The label-
lum is much spotted with purple. It is a native of Brazil.
Plate 51. Culasetum purum.—This is a singular plant,
with upright spikes, of green flowers, and having a
most grotesque form, almost resembling the head and
shoulders of a man in armour. It also is a Brazilian
species.