The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS. WEDNESDAY.

Imperial 13arliamint.

AD.
HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY

Parliament was this -day opened by the Queen in per-
son, and a description •of the ceremony we have. given:
elsewhere. It is scarcely necessary now to give her Ma-
jesty's speech in extengo, and we shall therefore content
ourselves with an outline. Her Majesty after altavlitteto
"the dearth of provisions which prevails in Ireland and
in parts of Scotland," recommends her Parliament "to
take into serious consideration whether, by increasing for

a limited period the facilities for importing earn from
foreign countries, and by the admission of sugar more
freely into.breweries and distilleries, the supply of food
may be'beneficially augmented." Her Majesty then • di-
rects " their earnest consideration to the permanent
condition of Ireland," and states that

writ be la"

various measures
4-.

raise the great mass of people in comfort, to promote
agriculture, and to lessen the pressure of that competition
for land which has been the fruitful source of crime and
misery." The marriage of the Infanta of Spain is

ence between the British Government and those of
France and Spain. The extinction of Cracow is called
4` a manifest violation of the treaty of Vienna," against

which her Majesty has protested. Her Majesty.E
a hope that the hostilities in the River Plate will

terniiaated ; and after stating that she has ordered every
requisite preparatiorrtolbe made for putting into opera-
tion the act of last session for recovering small debts,
and recommending measures for improving the Health of
Towns, thus concludes, " Deeply sensible of the bless-

ings which, after a season of calamity, have been so often
vouchsafed to this: nation by a superintending Providence,
I confide these important matters to yohr care, in a 1611
conviction that-your discussions will be guided by an-im-
partial spirit, and in the hope that the present sufferings

Mr. EWART moved that committees on all private as
well as railway bills, should consist oftrive members, nei-
ther personally nor indirectly interested in the question
submitted to their consideration.
On a division, the motion was lost by a majority of 67
In answer to a question from Mr. O'Brien, Mr. GIBSON
said that the state of the agricultural districts was under
the consideration of government, and a bill on the subject
would shortly be submitted to Parliament.
On the motion of Mr. PARKER, the following members
were nominated the select committee on standing orders :

Sir William Heathcote, Mr. Ord, Lord Dalnieny, Sir
Robert Ferguson, Mr. Wilson Patten, Sir John Yarde
Buller, Mr. Aglionby, Captain Jones, Mr. Home Drum-
mond, Mr. Wrightson, and Mr. Sotheron.
Mr. CmusTopHEttasked if it was the intention of go-
vernment to allow the use of sugar in distilleries and

Lord J. RUSSELL said, a resolution would be moved for
allowing the use of :sugar in, distilleries and breweries,
which, of course, would bt fully discussed, and if it was
agreed to, a bill would be brought in to carry the resolu-
tion into effect.

• HOUSE OF COMMONS THURSDAY.
Lord John RUSSELL; in committee of the whole House

explained his reasons zor proposing to suspena the navi-
gation laws till the first of November next, and the duties
en-corn till the Ist of September, 1847. On the termina-
tion of the last harveSt the prospect mks that the harvest
of wheat would be below the average of ordinary years,
but would be of superior quality; and that the harvest of
barley, and also of Pats, would be deficient in some parts
of the country. The greatest failure, however, was that
of the potato crop, which was considerable in England—
still greater in Scotland—and the greatestof all in Ireland,
where three-quarters of 'the crop, according to some cal-
culations, and at any rate one-half, had been lost. There
had been, last year, a great importation of foreign corn,
amounting altogether to 4,800,000 quarters. The prices
of corn in October and November did not show any con-
siderable apprehension that there would beany great de-
ficiency ; but from that time .there had been a consider-

time of the

harvest. In the first week of August wheat was at 475. a
quarter—in the first week .of September it was 495. It
had risen in the first week of January to 645., in the
second week to 665. 10d., and on the 16th of January to
70s. 3d. Having quoted the price of wheat, he proceeded
to show that the rise in barley had been still greater. In
the first week of January, 1842, it was 295. 7d. ; in the
same week in 1843 it was 265. sd. ; in 1844, 325. 7d. , in
1845, 345. 2d. ; and in 1846, 31s. 11d. In the -first-week
lof January, 1847, it was 445. 3d. ; in the second week, it
4 was 465. sd. ; and in the third week it was 505., and this
independently_ of the price_ f barley for malting, which
1_

had 'risen to fifis. and As. He then estimated tlie money
value of the potato crop which had failed in parts of
Scotland and Ireland at twelve millions' sterling. The
deficiency of the last harvest had been felt in France,
Germany, and other parts of Western Europe. There
was, therefore, a general effort made by all to obtain

a supply. The duties on the importation of foreigu.p.ain
had been remitted in France, Belgium, and many of the
countries bordering on the Rhine; whilst in several of
those states laws had been passed prohibiting the expor-
tation of corn. The stock of corn at Dantsic at present
was small ; and, being so, the sellers expected higher
prices. There were only two quarters from which a sup-
ply could be obtained, Odessa and the United States.
From the first France had obtained supplies to the amount
of 700,000 quarters, but in the spring there was

y of grain would be sent to
that port from the interior of Russia. In the United
States there had been an abundant harvest both of wheat
and of Indian corn, but hitherto much of that supply
had not come to this country. Now, such being the state
of the supply, and such being the deficiency, we ought to

remove e;eri'impediment to the introduction of foreign
corn to this country. The 4s. duty had not prevented

a la.ge supply of foreign corn froM coming into Great
cuort could be proposed which would not be Britain : but, while there was a strong competition for
...,
cheerfully responded to by Parliament and the people of corn, it might make a considerable difference in future as
Great Britain. He anticipated no difficulty to the grant- to the quantity of grain brought here or sent elsewhere.
ing of a Bill of Indemnity to Government for what they He therefore prciposed that all duties on the importation
of foreign corn should be suspended till the Ist of Sep-
tenthad done, as they had been taken by surprise by the ex-
of the distress, and as they were surrounded by diffi- tember next, and should leave it to parliament hereafter
culties, one of which, and not the least, was the difficulty I to consider whether it would continue that susn.--'

of acquiring correct int.(
cums

mid not, in his "opinion,
,elieved that the agriculturists

would h

not. He then adverted to the subject of theistavigation
Laws, which were at present an impediment to the impor-
tation of foreign corn, owing to the price of freight. The
want of shipping was enhanced at present in tl2e United
States by the necessity of engaging ships to carry troops
and munitions of war to Mexico.. The noble lord then
stated to the house the advance in the price of freight at
present over the ordinary price of freight from the Danube,
from Odessa, from the United States, and from the Baltic.
The advance with regard to freights to Ireland was still
more remarkable, and, as a proof of it, he would merely
mention that the freight from London to Cork had risen
from la_ to fla nrl_ HP therpforp them crlit flint in cii anent] -

v,T Tx. ..v.a alx as IA u 11l LI .UWI/0114116 al am
to this country and to Ireland. He, therefore, proposed
to suspend the Navigation Laws till the Ist of November
next. The noble lord then concluded by moving that it
be Pn instruction to the chairman to ask for leave to }wino.

tember, 1847.
• The motion was seconded by Mr. G. Bankes; and after
a short debate, carried without a division.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
The Corn Law Suspension Bill passed through com-
mittee.

In committee on the Nuvigation Bill,
Mr. MITCHELL moved an amendment, the effect of which

would be that all vessels arriving with corn in a British
port after the Ist of September would nevertheless be ad-

had sailed from her port of loading a reasonable time in
proportion to the length of the voyage prior to the Ist of

iieptmber

After some discussion,
Mr. F. BARING said that the amendment was unneces-
sary, as a discretion was always vested in the Treasury,
which would doubtless be judiciously exercised by the
Government,

Lord J. RUSSELL opposed the amendment, thinking
that a limited period would he likely to make merchants

more rapid in procuring cargoes. At the same time he
would exercise the same discretion as had heretofore been
exercised by the Treasury in cases such as had been re-
ferred to.

A desultory conversation ensued, which terminated in
a division, negativing the amendment by a majority of
118 to 50.

The bill then went through committee.
The house then went into committee on the Customs
and Excise Acts, and _ _

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved resolu-
tions with a view to allow the use of sugar in breweries
and distilleries. The right hon. gentleman entered into
very minute details in order to show that, under the new
state of things, there would be ample security against any
frauds on the revenue. He also proposed a resolution re-
commending that the differential duty on colonial rum
should he rechurd frnm nnP shilling to sixngneg. which

would have the effect of putting a stop to the manufac-
ture of a spurious article which was now consumed in this

country to a considera

ble extent

Lord G. BENTINC said that these measures were cer-
tainly not open to the objections which ,he had always
entertained against the, free admission of foreign produce
into this country ; but he nevertheless thought that all

these details required more consideration than could be
given to them that evening. He would, therefore, sug-
zest that the proposed measures should be passed as tem-

-porary ones only; and that the right hon. baronet should

a^ gain:bring them forward as permanent ones at a later

the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which, in
his opinion, would not lessen the consumption of grain in

the ManufaCture of spirits or of beer

Mr. D. CALLAGHAN said that the' Chancellor of the
Exchequer overlooked a most material fact—namely, that
in Ireland and Scotland, under the proposed regulations,

to lid. or 2d. Now, however anxious they may be for
free trade, it was scarcely fair to Ireland and Scotland to
expose them to such a competition, while refusing them
the privilege conceded to the West India colonists of dis-
tilling from molasses. This he thought the right hon.
gentleman would see the necessity of altering in com-
mittee.

Mr. BANJOS supported •the suggestion of Lord G

Bentinck

he permanent, as they stood upon grounds wholly
different from those on which they were acting in refer-
ence to the corn importation and navigatidn laws.
Mr. WODEIIOUSE said these measures ought to be only
temporary until they should have time more fully to con-
sider them. If they were necessary to meet the present
exigency, let ministers take them for a time, thus leaving
to the house an opportunity for reconsidering their
tendency. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

After a discussion, in which Mr. Fmcg, Mr. D.
BARCLAY, Lord G. BENTINCK, and other hon. members
took part,
Lord J. RUSSELL regretted to feel himself compelled
by a sense of public duty, to decline acceding to the re-
quest of Lord George Bentinck, whom otherwise he
would most willingly have obliged, owing to the fair and
candid manner in which he had received every proposi-
tion of the government during the present session. It
was not, however, intended to hurry this bill through
Parliament, as circumstances compelled them to do with
the corn and navigation acts.

Lord G. BENTI;ICK said he was satisfied with the ex-
planation, and would take the sense of the house upon
the question of the permanency of the bill on one of its
future stages.
• Mr. B. EscoTr commented on the cordiality which ap-
peared to subsist between Lord George Bentinck and Lord
John Russell, and which appeared already to have led the
former to have made a sham fight for the reduction of the
malt tax—thus selling the farmer, notwithstanding the
score of dinners at which he had been an honoured guest,
and the establishment of an anti-malt-tax-league, of which
he was the president, he believed, for he (Mr. Escott) had
never been invited to join it. (Loud and ironical cheer-
ing from the opposition benches.)
Lord G. BENTiticx said he hoped that the long ffiend-
ship which had existed between himself and Lord John
Russell would continue for many years, however strong
might be their political oppOsition. (Cheering.) He
would assure the honourable member for Winchester that
any league of which he (Lord G. Bentinck) was a presi-
dent would never invite him (Mr. Escott) to join it, unless
it was their wish that it should be betrayed. (Loud cheers
from all parts of the house.) .
Some smart sparring took place between Mr. FERitAND
and Mr. Escprr, which terminated the discussion, and
the resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were
agreed to,

Tlll LIVERPOOL STANDA*WD.

The house then resumed, and the Corn Law Suspen-
sion Bill and the Navigation Laws Bill were severally
read a third-time-and passed.
Lord John RUSSELL moved for the appointment of a
select committee to inquire into the law of settlement.
He thought it right, to say that Government did not
think it necessary to take any step in reference to the re-
port of the select committee on the Andover inquiry, un-
less some hon: member should think fit to bring the case
under.the consideration of the house, in which event he
would baTropared to state his opinion upon the subject.
He admitted that the Poor Law Amendment Act had not
been carried out to the satisfaction of Parliament, and the
Government had, therefore, resoWed to propose, that the
board should be. re-constituted with a president, having
permission to have a seat in the House of Commons.
There should be also two secretaries, one of whom should
have a scat in the house, in order to give all necessary
explanations, should the president not have a seat. The
rules of the'board should have no effect until sanctioned
by the Queen in Council, and the administration of the
poor law in Ireland should be wholly separate from that
of England.

The: proposition of the noble lord appeared to be very
generally approved of, and after a short discussion, in
which `Mr.'Bankes, Mr. Hume, Mr. V. Smith, Sir J.
Pakington, and Sir G. Grew took part,
Mr. FERRAND said he believed there was some truth in
the report circulated during the last few days, that it was
the intention of the Government to shelter the poor law
commissioners from that punishment which they had not
hesitated to visit upon their own subordinates. They
would, however, be much mistaken if they thought the
people of England would be thus easily satisfied. The
hon. gentleman -referred to the criminal information
moved for against him by Mr. Lewis, one of the poor law
commissioners, the rifle for which was made absolute last
November, but in which no step had been taken until he
moved for papers on Wednesday evening, preparatory to
moving for a committee of inquiry into their conduct next
Thursday. He was next day served with a notice that
the information was filed, which was nothing less, in his
opinion, than an attempt to intimidate him from the per-
formance of..his duty in parliament. He challenged the
parties to go on, and he pledged himself to resign his seat
if he did not come out of the ordeal with honour.

Mr. ETwALL regretted the course taken by ministers
with respect to the Andover inquiry.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that, unless they could render
the poor law more popular, neither the president nor the
secretary would ever be able to get returned to parliament.
After some further discussion, the motion was agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—SATURDAY.
Lord STANLEY expressed his regret that the proposed

bill for the allowing the use of sugar and molasses iii dis-
tilleries was to'be a permanent and not a temporary, mea-
sure, and suggested that the matter should be referred to
a select committee. The noble lord also wished to in-
quire what would be the course pursued on Monday by
the Marquis of Lansdown, -with respect to the lisish policy
of the Government ?

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE assured the noble lord that
the house should have ample opportunity of considering
the Sugar and Molasses Bill. With regard to the Irish
policy, he had already stated that his intention was to
move for certain papers on Monday ; on which occasion
it would be competent for any noble lord, if he chose, to
raise a discussion on the whole Irish question.

. .
lord BROTIGIJAM was anxious to know when the mea-
sures referred to by the Marquis of Lansdowne would
come on • and, passing to the poor law, dilated on the
_

sat down expressing his' ope that central superintendence,
the_ corner-stone of the system, would not be interfered

The Marquis of LANSDWNE explained, that it was not
the intention of the government to impair the efficacy of
--ities to

the origina

its working,

but solely to give additional faci

RAILWAY

AFFAIRS.

The sale of the Stockton and Hartlepool to the Leeds
'and Thirsk for £240,000 has been unanimously confirmed.
The Taw Vale, having declined alliance with the Bristol
and Exeter, have concluded an agreement for lease to the
South Western. the latter ffuaranteehur 5 ner rpnt_

It is now decided that the submarine electric telegraph
shall be laid down across the channel from England to
France.

By the proposed extension of the Eastern Counties
Railway to Guildford-street, Gray'slnn-road, from Tot-
tenham, the Middlesex House of Correction will be con-
verted into a railway terminus.

The Railway Tines says that " the attempt to re-open
negociatiop between the London and North Western and
Great Western Companies are likely to prove unsuc-
cessful."

I few days since, when Captain Coddington, the new

rity-two

The Doncaster and Peterborough' Loup of the Great
Northern Railway has been let to Messrs. Peto, to be
completed by the Ist Feb. 1848, under a penalty of ..£lOOO
per week for non-performance of contract.
The Queen's Speech was received in Sheffield by elec-
tric telegraph by five o'clock on the evening it was deli-

c3Tbe Dindon and North-Western -Railway will
soon ena le us in Liverpool to use even greater despatch
than this.]
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday evening, as
a girl (aged twenty) was attempting to cross the Eastern
Counties line, at the Whittleworth station, an express
train rushed upon, and instantaneously killed her. Her
head and one arm were completely severed from her body.
The special meeting of the Reading, Guildford and Rei-
gate came to no results, and was adjourned to give the
directors the opportunity of concluding, if possible, an
agreement with the South-Eastern to lease the whole line

half profits

The Great Western, the North Western, and South
Western Railimy Companies have offered the Association
for the Relief of Distress in Ireland, to convey on their
respective lines without charge, the supplies of food, &c.,
which the association may send for shipment at the various
ports of Liverpool, Bristol, and Southampton.
FATAL ACCIDENT.-011 Monday morning, before day-
light, on the line of the Liverpool and Bury Railway, now
in the course of formation, a waggoner fell across the line
of rails, and his waggons ran over him, when one of his
legs was cut off, and the other shockingly mangled. He
was instantly removed, and surgical aid procured, but he
shortly after expired.
THE EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY.—The Corpora-
tion of Preston intend offering a determined opposition io
the East Lancashire Company having a separate entrance
into Preston, by crossing the valley of the Ribble and
making a new bridge. The reasons alleged are the non-
necessity of the undertaking, and the serious manner in
which it would interfere with the proposed public

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD.—The two first miles of
the line out of Chester being completed, the use of it has
been granted to the North Wales Mineral and Chester
and Birkenhead at £2OOO per annum, which sum is to be
increased to £2500, if the combined traffic of the two
companies • amounts during the period of its rental (six
months) to £31,200, The portion of the line in question

forms the connecting link between the railways which now

:er Cheste

ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN
RAILWAY,—As the nine o'clock train on Friday morning,
was proceeding from Liverpool to Manchester, owing, we
believe, to the accumulated snow, it ran off the line about

mercial Bank of Liverpool, and several gentlemen going
as a deputation on the affairs of the Manchester, Sheffield,
•

This carriage was

hrown ip

quence
. Mr.

_ brought back to Liverpool, where
he received prompt surgical assistance, and we understand
he is doing well.

Jack was immediatel

`~'~S;~fu?81'

FOREIGN c COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

OVERLAND MAIL FROM CALCUTTA,

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—An ex-
press train, conveying the Queen's Speech, left the Euston
station, on Tuesday, at 22 minutes past 1, and reached
the Leighton station, 41 miles distant, at precisely 2
minutes past 2, having thus travelled 41 miles in 40 mi-
nutes ? From Leighton to Wolverton it followed the
half-past 12 o'clock stopping train, and was also delayed
at Weedon by a goods' train, at Rugby to set down a pas-
senger, and near Brandon by overtaking the 11 o'clock
train from London, which it followed slowly to Birming-
ham ; but, notwithstanding these delays, the 112 miles
were performed in 21 hours. Exclusive of the delays, the
speed throughout was 60 miles an hour while running free!
A meeting of 3000 persons was held at Glasgow, on
Wednesday

The. Calcutta mail of the Bth of December has been re-
ceived by extraordinary express, with papers from Bombay
Of the 15th of December; Madras, 18th of December;
and China, the 26th of November. The news brought by
•this-mail is in the main unimportant. The Punjaub re-
mains tranquil, and the British army, it was said, would,
about the middle of December, march from Lahore. It
is rumoured that it will make a halt some march or two
from the capital to watch the immediate results of its re-
tirement before falling back on Ferozepore. Just as it
was supposed, the most satisfactory conclusions had been
attained. It is stated that unquestionable evidence has
transpired of there having been an understanding betwixt
the !Rajah Lall Singh, Vuzeer at Lahore, and Sheik
Emaum-ood-deen, the Cashmerian insurgent leader, with
the purpose of keeping Gholab' Singh from taking posses-
sion of his new dominion. Should this prove well
grounded,"it will materially affect the concluding portion
of our arrangements.

Lord Ila;dinge was still within our lately acquired
dominions, in progress to the westward. Lord Gough
had left Simla for Umballa.
A hurricane of unusual violence, by which much loss
has been occasioned to the shipping interests, occurred at
Madras on the 25th November. Similar visitations at
this season of the year are frequent on the eastern side of
India; from Calcutta to the line ; they are almost unknown
in the Arabian sea, on the western shore of the peninsula.
The weather was becoming cool and pleasant.
THE BOMBAY MARKET, DECEMBER 15, 1846.—The
dulness which prevailed in our import market, at the
close of our last issue, has continued unabated throughout
the fortnight. 'The exchange continues at 25.. Id. to 2s. Id.

for the purpose of strengthening the hands
of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Directors in per-
severing in the discontinuance of Sunday trains. thigh
Cogan, Esq., occupied the chair, and the platform was
crowded by an array of all denominations of clergy, be-
sides a great number of highly respectable gentlemen of
the city. Among the clergymen on the platform, were
the Rev. Dr. 11111, Professor of Theology in the University
of Glasgow, Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, Rev. Dr. Reid, Professor
of Church History in the Uniiiersity of Glasgow, Rev. Dr.
Smyth, Rev. Dr. King, Rev. Dr. Buchanan, Rev. Dr.
Symington, Rev. Dr. Willis, Rev. Dr. Bates, Rev. Dr.
Black, Rev. Dr. Craik, &c. &c.
NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION.—Our readers will see
that the Northern Counties Union (late the York and
Carlisle and Yorkshire and Glasgow Union) is a sort of
cross or diagonal line, uniting the Lancaster and Carlisle
on the west with Mr. Hudson's line on the east. *lt;ex-
tends from the Lancaster and Carlisle at Tebay to the
Darlington line at Bishop Auckland, and from the Leeds
and Thirsk line at. Thirsk to the Lancaster and Carlisle
line at Clifton. It has 119 miles sanctioned, and has
powers to raise £3,000,000. They will see that these lines
form a sort of transverse table, by which some of the
traffic of the eastern lines may be transferred to the
western, or vice versa% On this account both lines attach
importance to them, beyond what would, in all probability,
be their intrinsic importance, looking only to their own
local traffic. Our readers will also find another group of
lines, adverted to at the meeting, and which have a similar
character—the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-on-
Tyne Junction (with which is amalgamated the Lancashire
and North Yorkshire,) extending, from Preston and from
the Leeds and Bradford to the Richmond branch of the
Great North of England, promoted by the Manchester
and Leeds Company, and proposed to be amalgamated,
with the Northern Counties Union, the total length being
561 miles, with a capital of £3,400,000. In this mass of
lines it will readily be imagined that some economy ought
to be exercised, and that it is most desirable that in
carrying out the joint scheme, the greatest amount of
accommodation should be given at much less expense
than was proposed in the fever of last year. A reduction
of cost and of capital is acccudingly proposed, and the
great subject of discussion was, which lines should have
the preference in construction. The report of the directors
to proceed with their proposed reductions, was .carried by
a considerable majority, and the proposal for, amalgama-
tion was also carried.---Bailway Chronicle.