The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER

tiberpoot tailbarb,

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY MORNING.

AT no period during the lifetime of the great majority

of our clerks in the public service, have they been so busy
as at the present. Take two branches, the Treasury and
the Admiralty—late hours and hard work, I know, are
the orders of the day at both places. At the former
establishment especially, since last Wednesday;the clerks
have been engaged making out their respective returns,
to meet the near approach of the termination of the fiscal
year, the sth instant ; and as far as they have gone, with-
out the slightest reference to the new income-tax increase,
a most favourable revenue table, both as regards the
quarter and year, is anticipated, particularly in those
branches which indicate prosperity in the great bulk
of the population, viz., Excise, Customs, and Post-office.
I am able to state with certainty they will all show well.
The law-officers of the Admiralty, who have had holi-
day for many a long year, are now furbishing up thei
parchments and precedents, and Sir STEPHEN LUSH-
INGTON, though upwards of seventy years of age, is
actively engaged in, if not adjudicating prizes, at all events
providing for their adjudication ; and the Solicitor to the
Admiralty has been busy for the last week framing those
extraordinary commissions, granting to the subjects of one
state liberty to make reprisals on those of another for
damages sustained at sea—commonly called " Letters
of Marque." Whether they will be required or not, it
is not for me to say at present ; the fact of their pre-
paration is the same. At the Ordinance-office—Tower
and Pall-mall—they are as busy as bees ; in both de-
partments many changes have taken place during the
past month, which by no means have tended to the
acceleration of public business at this particular junc-
ture. Simple as the business is in most cases, initia-
tion is necessary, and one might have thought that
the pensioning of steady and experienced hands might
have been deferred for a few months. Two have been
thus pensioned—one at £5OO a year for life, the other
at £1,200. Not bad this for the evening of life.
All eyes are now directed to Sir CHARLES NAPIER,
from whom news—" taken, sunk, or burnt"—as "per
margin," may be expected daily. Two telegraphic
messages were sent to him on Saturday—one in the
forenoon, the other during the three hours sitting of
the Cabinet Council in the afternoon. Some observa-
tions are made at the Clubs, in regard to the apparent
tardy departure of the chief officers of Lord RAGLAN'S
army, including the gallant officer himself. Military
men say that there is no ground for any apprehension,
as pitched battle is not expected between the belligerent
powers for six weeks to come ! Rather startling, certainly;
there be not a few—Aberdonians, it is true,—who believe
that a counter-project will yet be sent by Russia. I merely
give you opinions expressed in the best-informed circles.
Lord RAGLAN, the Duke of CAMBRIDGE, Lord BURG-
HERSH, Lord DUPPLIN, are all to eat fricandeau at the
Tuileries at the end of the week, on their way to the East ;
and I am informed by Parisians that the preparations for
the suitable entertaining of our noble soldiers, by the
EMPEROR of FRANCE, are on a scale of magnificence un-
exampled in history; and that the hearty goodwill of the
two armies towards each other knows no bounds ! The
gallant Duke of BEAUFORT, in obedience to, his own re-
quest, has been appointed aide-de-camp to his uncle, the
commander of the army, Lord RAGLAN. The last Duke
of BEAUFORT, a splendid broad-shouldered soldier, with a
nose so formidable that it might go through a brick-wall,
died only a few weeks since ; he and the present Duke of
RICHMOND were the pet aids of the GREAT DUKE, to
whom Lord RAGLAN himself was always right-hand man
albeit he has lost that sometimes useful appendage. The
present Duke of BEAUFORT is every way worthy of the
time-honoured name of SOMERSET, descending lineally
from JOHN O'GAUNT. The duke is only thirty years
of age ; his income about £50,000 a-year. Leaving
this to go and fight, looks very like English patriotism.
Lord LUCAN, another brave fellow, is not so old as the
Duke of BEAUFORT,;—he has a rent-roll as big. He is
related to the Earl of CARDIGAN, another of the chiefs,
and as fine a soldier as ever smelt powder. He also is
immensely rich ;—thinks nothing at all about laying out
two or three thousand pounds upon his crack military
band. He is the colonel I think I mentioned who may
be seen at the opera on a Saturday night, and yet sleep in
barracks a hundred miles off on the following morning.
BITRGRERSIC and DOPPIA2c are both young and very
" plucky :"—the former is the eldest son of the musical
arl of WESTMORELAND, our ambassador at Vienna ; the
latter is the eldest son of the Earl of KINNOUL, whose
fathers were honest farmers, and not very large ones either,
in Perthshire. The father and two sons, return-
ing home in the " gloamin' " from their agricultural
labours, with their implements ofhusbandry over their shoul-
ders, defended a narrow pass against the Danes : it was after..
wards, and is now, known in history as the " Battle of
Loncarty ;" hence the elevation of the family to the peer-
age. The supporters to the arms are two Scottish farmers
to this day. In these enumerated you have specimens of
the flower of our nobility,—English, Irish, and Scotch,—
the Irish in numbers overtopping the other two countries.
And if Lord FALmERSToN bragged about CHARLEY NA-
PIER, the commander of the fleet, being a member of the
Reform Club, the illustrious families to which I have
drawn attention have long been all eminently Conservative.
Though it takes a week to rectify, and twenty-four hours
to contradict a telegraph, as the news of the passage of
the Danube has arrived four days, we must, I suppose,
take it for granted that the " Honourable Gentleman," as
the CZAR of RUSSIA delights to call himself in " se-
cret and confidential" conversations, has got on the right
side of that river at last ; whether it wont turn out to
be the wrong side, is a very doubtful matter. Nous
verron.s. Well, then, at three points, Prince GORTSCHI-
KoFF, near Matcbin, (from Braila) with 18,000 men; at
Galatz, under General LUDERS, with 22,000 men; and at
Tultcha, under General OUTSCHAKOFF, with 14,000 men,
the rugged Russians have, at the command of their mas-
ters, committed themselves on the historic soil of Bulgaria.
Of course this is merely " defensive." We shall see whe-
ther another, who has declared her neutrality so loudly,
will not think this "offensive." She has vaunted to the
Russian minister, METERNDORFF, her intention of pre-
serving the dignified position of neutrality, conserving
German interests with 400,000 men, always relying on
the assurance that the EMPEROR. of RUSSIA. would not
cross the Danube. They have crossed it ; and what then ?
Why Austria will declare her neutrality still. Oh, most
lame and impotent conclusion, in which his mentally and
morally purblind " Cousin" of Prussia, who, the other day,
early knocked one of his bodily eyes against a tree,
nill most contemptibly join—Arcades ambo et pares
wantare parati. But, to come back to

"The banks of the dark-rolling Danube,"

and the honest Turks, is a bit of relief from these double-
dealing soi-disant Christians. OMER PACHA.has strength-
ened the force at Kalafat, by reinforcements from St. Sophie
and Widdin, to 60,000 and 150 pieces of cannon, and Col.
DIEU, of the French army, has been made general com-
manding the forward movement by which this large force
will be thrown upon Bucharest and the rear of the Rus-
sians who have so rashly rushed across the river. Let us
wish them good speed. As to the Vienna telegraph, it is
keeping up its character by inventing all sorts of stuff
about Russian fleets that are always coming out of Sebas-
topol, bat vanish into thin air on their exit. Its last
exploit is to tell us that the English and French fleets
cannot get out of Beicos Bay, where they have been lying
for two months in inglorious idleness, " for want of coal."
This is a good joke ; and they came back to that very
station on the; 22nd of January last, for the convenience
of meeting the numerous coal-laden tenders that lay there,
"to warm the good old nose" of old Durfcas, who has not
had his steam up since. I hope, as old Lord Durrce:a
said when he saw the Dutch Admiral, WINTER, bearing
down at Camperdown, " There's the enemy, gentlemen ;
he's a hard Winter, so mind you keep up a good fire !"
In the name of woollen nightcaps, gruel, and mustard
foot-baths, how much longer is our, wintering at Beicos
to last ? Old CHARLEY NAPIER has started from Kiel
and gone northward to Kjoge Bay, and therein, it seems
he is off among the half-thawed icefloes to Aland, at the
mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia, which he means to seize for
Queen.VicxoatA ; and we hope, when it is given up, it will
be to Sweden, from whom the ruthless robber Russia
wrested it in 1809. Aland has a garrison of some two or
three thousand Russians—the German and Danish papers,
of course, say 8,000. We may expect news from the north
soon.

The advantage of the telegraph was experienced at the
House of Lords late on FridayMinistweighbt. I need not refer
Lorde DERBY and
to the peppering given to
MT. DISRAELI on the war answerrsto 311
sage. It is necessary that the answer shall
possible, all be co 's
-
w, with great form,
mes-
cated to the Sovereign as soon as
white staves
the Lords going to the palace in state,
and so forth. Lord ABERDEEN did not knoww when the
QuErg would be pleased to receive their Lordships'
answer, and sent off a telegraphic message to Buckingham
Palace at midnight on Friday ; the noble Earl had scarcely
time to button up his great coat when a return was made
saying three o'clock on Monday. It was cleverly managed.
That not very reputable character the Duke of PARMA
ago as " filthy lucre" (Lucca),
,
known here twenty years
has been killed by a soldier in a house of ill repute, he
having struck said soldier in the face with his hunting
whip. The murderer has not been taken. This occur-
rence, in a country where assassinations are frequent, does
not seem to have aroused much indignation among
subjects of the defunct duke. So much for foreign affairs.
It is pleasant to write about good wine, pleasanter some-
times to drink it ; those who have much, or any, in their
%king had better husband it while they may. In an even-
longe lately
o, I met some of your real wine men; holders,
em especially, an Englishman too, of that good
old-fashioned wine, Madeira, to a prodigious extent. He
knows the value of his Madeira ; he loses much yearly by
its being in dock it has been twice to the East Indies,
and there it remains under the cobwebs ; nobody would
buy it at any price,
han
There is a fashion in all things,
said the Madeira mere
said. He fax: - merchant, and he kept his wine as I have
- ' ""4- that the taste of

thirty or forty years since will return, and that his Madeira
will remunerate him after all. There are others in Mark-
lane, and Pudding-lane, Square of Billiter, and Crutched
Friars, where wine merchants most abide, think also in
the same way. At all events, they are going to keep
their wines up to the highest figure. One of the parties
referred to, and just returned from a business and pleasure
run through the wine countries, had drunk his strength-
ening Xeres in Spain, life-giving Claret and Burgundy in
France, the clear and inspiring wines of heavy Germany—
heavy in everything but their hocks—vinous. The red
wines of Lisbon also. Wherever he went, the vine garden-
ers were pulling up, root and branch, every inch of grape
trunk they could find. Whole sunny mountain sides of
Spain, France, Germany, and Portugal are at this moment
laid waste. The gentle twigs, they say, make excellent
firewood, and the smoke is fragrant—as good as incense.
It is all very fine ; bon fires will do capitally in six weeks
after we have begun to smash Russia's pickle tubs, and
stop its game for two or three centuries yet to come ; but
it must have been a sorrowful sight to see, burning as
brushwood, the tender vine stalk, that erst had aided
life's best blood. A poison—a deadly blight, not under-
stood, has come over it everywhere ; hence, in the countries
mentioned, the old vines are up-rooted—burnt, and new
ones are being planted in their places. The plague is
genre in character, affecting the currants of Zante, &c.
The vine gives no grape of which wine can be made in less
than seven or eight years. But there is a great deal in Eng-
land ? in cellars of the wine countries P No doubt of it.
But that will not supply the demand long. Brandies also
come in fora share of the deficit; and though last, not least,
in pharmacy and chemistry—super-tartrate of potash—
cream of tartar, made from all unutterable lees of wine
manufactured; this same cream of tartar has already
risen beyond the purchase of common drysalter, or
drugger. Keep your wines and brandig, there will be a
huge rise in prices before long, and, saoth to say, I am
sorry therefor.
A message from the SOVEREIGN to the Houses of Lords
and Commons is at all times an interesting ceremony.
That of Monday was the most imposing of the present
period. The House of Peers was crowded, and the side
galleries were filled with peeresses and their daughters,—
all of them well aware of what was to come. Nor were
they disappointed. A mere trivial message —if, indeed,
one of such a character can proceed from the Palace—is a
matter of more than ordinary interest in parliament. The
bearer of the message to the peers is the LORD CHAMBER-
LAIN in common instances ; he appears at the table in the
Windsor uniform—blue with red facings—the latter now,
however, entirely obliterated by a covering of rich gold
embroidery. The Minister bears the white wand of office,
with which he approaches the table. The peers, who have
hitherto been sitting in a free and easy style, some wear-
ing their hats, others uncovered, all -assume the latter
mark of respect. The same course of proceeding is
ad.yted in the lower house, but with much less of
decorum ; for, if any ten or a dozen members should
happen to be hatted when the message is brought in,
there is grand confusion, and " Hats off, hats off," re-
sounds from all parts of the house with as much fervour,
strength of lungs, and absence of ceremony, as if the
sounds were uttered in the gallery of a minor theatre, or
at the Old Bailey when a criminal comes out at eight
o'clock on a Monday morning. On the present occasion,
HER MAJESTY'S faithful Commons behaved as usual.
HER MAJESTY'S declaration of war was received with
marked attention from both houses. _ _

It gives me much satisfaction, and it has surprised me,
that Mr. Justice TALFOURD has left £30,000 to his bereft
widow and family. Those who best knew the late able,
amiable, and accomplished judge, did not anticipate so
mush. It is usual, when the Morning Post announces
the death of a scion of a distinguished house, to add that
"the following families are in consequence placed in mourn-
ing,—so and so." I can testify that the sons of literature,
from Punch upwards, are all clad in mourning for Tex,-
FOURD.

One of the most elegant yet appropriate structures in
the metropolis is the new Stock Exchange : it forms a fine
contrast to the outré character of most of the modern
public buildings at the west end. The members of the
Stock Exchange are going to improve their manners,
especially as regards their future treatment of strangers,
who, heretofore, when they unluckily found themselves
within the precincts of " Omnitun," ran the risk of being
nearly killed,—the hat of the unsuspecting interloper
being first knocked over his eyes, to the `ruin, nearly, of the
optics; the entire ruin of the hat, certain damage to the
nose, and then the casualties : item, a dislocated collar bone;
item, a broken arm ; item, a broken rib ; item, all garments
torn to shreds. This is no fancy's sketch. " Young man,"
said a worthy alderman and member of the Stock Ex-
change, to a gawky lad with several yards of gold chain
about his chest, " young man, this is no place for you ; go
out as fast as you can." He did not regard the good advice,
and was " bonnetted." There is to be no more of this ;
not that strangers are to be allowed to roam through the
new sanctum at will. Visitors are to be admitted brought
in by a member, but no tarrying; the "secrets of the
prison-house" might else be disclosed. The public can
have no cause to find fault with the arrangement.

The Opera season began on Saturday night as brilliant
as possible. Every seat was occupied. The opera was not
Italian opera, however, and therein was a drawback to the
habitue. Beyond the epic overture to William Tell, all
else is declamation, neither Italian, nor French, nor Ger-
man, and certainly not English ; but with the unrivalled
artistes employed, and the elaborated instrumentation of
the score, there was enough to gratify all, but the perhaps
over fastidious. There is a good subscription for the sea-
son, which is only to run forty-six nights ; the shortest I
remember. A vast number of stars among the visitors
will be absent, and I am afraid the omnibus box will pre-
sent a mournful gap. It did not so on Saturday evening
—nearly the whole heap that used to occupy it,
like as many " riant hidalgos," being off to fight before
even a second Saturday shall have come round.
ALBONI, the greatest contralto in the world, evidently
has no friends. She may strain her voice to the crack of
it —no, not so bad, but to the crack of doom—she must be
contented to be the queen of contralti. Bat oh ! genius
of pipes and strings ! the musician's toast—she has deter-
mined to sing only in soprani parts. Matchless as Arsace,
she will be simply ridiculous in the imperial purple of
Semiramide. Has she, indeed, no friend to council her
from this conduct ? It would appear she has not. This
is the reason ALBONI is not in the programme this
season.

COMMERCIAL 4 MONETARY NEWS

MONDAY NIGHT.

TED 3 week seems to have been one of panic, for
the Cause of which it may be difficult to account ;
as although it may be attributed to the official
declaration of war with Russia, such an event had
been so long anticipated as to form no sufficient
grounds for extraordinary alarm. All descriptions
of public securities fell much below their real
value, and it was anticipated that the Bank
Directors would raise the rate of discount. Thurs-
day, however, passed over without any change
being made, and public confidence began slowly to
recover • but it is hardly anticipated that the
funds will; go much higher until some definitive
opinion can be formed as to the probabilities for
the future. The Bank Returns, on Friday, show
an increase in the circulation to the extent of
nearly half-a-million, and a decrease in the stock
of bullion of only £193,557. The arrivals of specie
during the week amounted to nearly £BOO,OOO,
principally in gold, and there have been two or
three arrivals since. The exports are supposed to
amount to £300,000, so that the next account will
probably show an increase.
The war with Russia being now apparently
inevitable, though its nature and duration are
beyond all probability of reasonable conjecture, its
possible effect upon commerce is still open to com-
ment. If we were to judge simply by the experi-
ences of the last war, the most gloomy forebodings
might be indulged in of its disastrous effects, not
only upon our foreign trade, but also upon monetary
affairs ; but this conclusion would be by no means
a just one, for several reasons. In the last war,
notwithstanding our brilliant naval victories, we
had not undisturbed controul over the ocean, but
our mercantile fleets required the protection of
armed convoys, a necessity at all times difficult
and dangerous, involving delay and expense, but
ill suited to the requirements of the present
state of commerce. Of little value would be the
sailing qualities of our boasted clipper-ships, if
their wings were clipped in order to keep pace
with slowing-going vessels, so that all might
share the advantage of convoy. Now, however,
the war is confined to the comparatively insignifi-
cant localities of the Baltic and the Black Seas,
each efficiently blockaded by a powerful fleet, while
Russia, being our only enemy, our merchant ves-
sels may roam the ocean with little or nothing to
fear from cruisers or foes of any kind. This cir-
cumstance, of itself, will tend in a considerable
degree to diminish the inconvenience or hindrance
to commerce from active hostilities, as, with the
exception of the trade with Russian ports—which,
as we showed last week from official documents,
as of no very great extent—our mercantile trans-
ictions with the rest of the world need not be
interrupted. Our exports to Russia are very
small in amount, and it is our supplies of Hemp
and Tallow which will be chiefly interfered with,
although means will no doubt be found, notwith-
standing the war, to compensate for these. The
more important consideration, however, is, as to the
effect of the war on monetary affairs • and if we
may judge by the panic last week in public securi-
ties, the danger appears to have been considerably
overrated. We are not now, as formerly, engaged
in a struggle with the rest of Europe, and squan-
dering immense sums to subsidise unwilling and
inefficient allies, but lending our support to other
powerful States, each of itself almost sufficient for
the task, but together invincible, without reference
to the doubtful policy pursued by the German
Powers. The maintenance of an ample contingent,
well appointed, has shown, by the slight addition
to the estimates already incurred, how much may
be done with prudent economy ; and the resources
of Great Britain are ample to accomplish consi-
derably more than has already been done, without
any very great pressure. Should circumstances,
however, occur to call for still further aid, and
Russia find support where strict neutrality was
promised, the calls upon the Exchequer may be
extended, and still leave Great Britain free from
any, serious ground for apprehension. The recent
panic, it would appear, has been caused by fears

of monetary pressure ; but the amount of unem-
ployed capital must now be enormous, far more
than the ordinary requirements of trade, and all
that is needed is confidence in the future, to render
money plentiful. In the last war we had a con-
stant drain from the Continent for all our available
specie, without any extraordinary sources of supply,
whereas now the demand is little, if any more,
than it has been for several months past, while
we have the yet unexhausted gold fields of Australia,
which last year supplied us with above ten millions,
and America has equal advantages iu California,
so that there appears no reasonable prospect of any
deficiency in the supply of the precious metals. It
must also be remembered that the expenditure of
a war is not necessarily the parting with so much
money as appears in the national accounts. Much
of it is expended in this country in the purchase of
supplies ; and in this instance especially very little
will be required to be exported, so that the chief
difficulty to be met is the effect of the increase of
taxation in diminishing consumption. The pressure
in this respect will, however, mainly be felt by
fundholders, annuitants, and those of fixed incomes;
but even this will be, in some measure, compen-
sated by the increased demand for military sup-
plies ; so that, on the whole, there is less reason
than appears lately to have prevailed, to apprehend
any serious derangement to monetary and commer-
cial affairs from the demands upon Great Britain,
according to the present aspect of warlike affairs.
Supposing, however, that the struggle should be
protracted beyond what we can at present antici-
pate, and even years elapse before Russia is reduced
to reason, and compelled to confine her operations
within her own limits, there would then be no
ground to entertain any alarm for the future. The
position of Great Britain would be totally altered
from that which she occupied in the last war, the
expenses of which still form so large an item in
the national expenditure, and instead of counting
the cost by many millions, a very few will serve to
maintain our efficiency in the strife, as far, at
least, as money can accomplish it. On the other
hand, with our commerce unimpeded, and our
immense resources, the demand would make but
little appreciable difference in a national point of
view, however it might affect individual comforts.
When these circumstances are fairly and calmly
considered, we may hope to see a restoration of
confidence in commercial security, and our public
securities bear a price approximating more to their
real value than that which has recently prevailed.
The banking-house of Messrs. Leroy de Chabrol
and Co., at Paris, has failed, owing to a run upon
it by the depositors. The capital was about
£480,000.
The Returns of the Board of Trade for the month
ended the sth of March, show a total increase
on the exports of £344,784, as compared with the
corresponding period of last year. The principal
items are a decrease on Cotton Manufactures of
£231,362 ; and an increase on Metals, £201,084 ;
Cotton Yarn, £83,473 ; Woollen Manufactures,
£64,555 ; and Woollen Yarn, £53,339. Imports
show a considerable increase on Wheat, Flour,
Butter, Cheese, Eggs, &e. ; but a falling off on Tea,
Coffee, Sugar, Spirits, Fruit, &c. Of materials for
manufactures there is a decrease on Cotton, Hemp,
and Flax ; and an increase on Wool, Silk, and
Tallow.

The return from the Bank of England for the
week ending the 25th of March gives the following
results, when compared with the previous week

Public deposits £4,423,827; Increase £745,010.
Other deposits ... 11,092,226 Decrease 213,157
Rest ... ... 3,744,205; Increase 13,328
On the other side of the account—
Government securities £11,792,116, Decrease £52,584
Other securities ... 15,757,604; Increase 1,214,709
Notes unemployed ... 6,633,535; Decrease 846,130

The amount of notes in circulation is £21,240,775,
beinc, a increase of £456,925 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £14,629,282,5h0wing
a decrease of £193,557, when compared with the
preceding return.

SALES. IMPORTS. STOCK
ending Week YearT h i s Mar 3l
r____......_, ~......_......___,
DESCRIPTION ' PRICES.
endingWeeK P ro
uesvi
yi -
- Mar.3l this yr. Mar.3l
-- --
Sea Island lll@ 36 490, 5410
Stained 7* 10 490 123757 150484
Boweds 4 6f 6190, 96410 363710
Mobile 4 6* 3700; 39910 1 20776 263269
New Orleans. 3i 8 12460, 220540 i
Pernams, &c. 6 8 1410' 10330 .... 7627 18240
Bahia, &c.
Maran ham
Demerara, &c 6* 10 80' 150 .... 1241 150
Egyptian
Com.W.l.Sic 6 60 1490 100 1107 3430
Surat
Madras
Bengal - -- .... 880 .... 840 3550
--_ - -- -
30470, 500030 54418, 533886 682090

WooL.—At our public sales last week, which
closed on Saturday, 14,318 bales were offered,
comprising 5,302 East India, 1,568 Buenos Ayres
and Cordova, 1,770 Chili and Peru, 1,111 Portugal,
2,199 Turkey, Bosnia, Volo, Mogadore, &c., 470
Russian, 897 Egyptian, 241 Iceland, and 760 sun-
dry other descriptions. At the first days sale the
attendance was not numerous, and the biddings
were almost spiritless, holders not feeling inclined
to sacrifice at the low rates ruling. A very consi-
derable portion was withdrawn. The second and
following days brought more of the trade together,
yet this did not influence the biddings, as prices
riled even a shade 'under the first day's sale,
buyers not being disposed to act otherwise than
with the prevalent caution ; and altogether the
result of the sales (as was expected) are very dis-
couraging. East India low and medium qualities
must be quoted 10. below January prices ; but
for the finest descriptions the decline was not so
great. On some sorts no change could be noticed.
Egyptian, Turkey, Russian, Peru, Mogadore, and
Buenos Ayres (which in a more encouraging state
of the market are not very current of sale) were
nearly all withdrawn for a more favourable period.
Imports for the week 2,262 bal9s.—We give the
following extracts from trade circulars, just pub-
lished
PRODUCE.—The markets during the week have
partaken of the general dulness, with the excep-
tion. of Russian produce and Saltpetre. To-DAY
the transactions in Sugar were chiefly confined to
grocery descriptions, of which 2,700 bags Benares
have been taken at 38s. to 395. 9d. ; 60 hhds. Porto
Rico, at 365. 6d. to 375.; 30 hhds. Cuba, at
345. 9d. ; and a small parcel of yellow Paraiba,
at 225. per cwt. in bond. Nothing has transpired
in Molasses Rum,
or Coffee, but 100 bags Bahia
Cocoa have brought 245. per cwt. The Tea mar-
ket continues inactive, and prices for common
Congou are nominal. Samples by the " Foam"

'are not yet upon the market. No sales are reported
to-day in Rice. The market for Saltpetre has been
much excited, and a large business transacted, at
a considerable advance, upwards of 2,800 baas
being reported for arrival, at 40s. unrefracted,
besides 500 bags on the spot, at 425. to 455. ;
Nitrate of Soda has also participated in the move-
ment, 2,800 tons on the spot and for arrival
having changed hands at 18s. up to 20s. per cwt.
We have also to report 400 bags Myrabolams, at
10s. 6d. per cwt., and 20 chests Lac Dye, at 9d.
per lb.
Messrs. W. GREAME and Co. say :
" The unfavourable aspect that political affairs have
assumed within the last few days, the extreme uncer-
tainty as to the effects and duration of the war we are now
commencing, coupled with the increasing tightness of
money, has thrown an additional gloom on the market,
and, as might be expected under these circumstances, the
result of our public sales, just closed, is not by any means
satisfactory to importers. There was a very limited attend-
ance of buyers, and the biddings were spirited throughout."
Messrs. Jos. ROBINSON and Co. say :
" The public sales were the chief feature of the month ;
about 11,400 bales of coarse descriptions were offered to a
meagre attendance of the trade ; about 5,000 bales were
East India, 1,800 Buenos Ayres and Cordova, the remainder
principally West Coast and Mediterranean classes. The
competition throughout was dull and inanimate ; in many
instances the prices offered were so low, that a large quan-
tity was withdrawn."

Messrs. ABRAM GARTSIDE and Co. say :
"At the public sales there were 14,300 bales offered,
amongst which were 5,300 East India, 1,568 River Plate,
856 Portuguese, 1,770 West Coast, and the remainder prin-
cipally Mediterranean. There has been a fair but not
numerous attendance of the trade, some of whom were
affected by the caution now prevalent, but at the reduced
prices there were plenty of buyers for East India, nearly
the whole of which was ultimately taken tor immediate
consumption, at a decline of 1 d. to 2d. per lb. on white,
id. to id. on yellow, no change in grey, &c., when com-
pared with January rates. The River Plate and Mediter-
ranean were chiefly withdrawn."

Messrs. HUGHES and RONALD say :
" We scarcely ever remember any public sales to have
gone off so flatly. Our market is at present pretty libe-
rally supplied, but the great bulk consists of uncurrent
kinds, and prices are lower with us than in any other
country. The actual state of war must undoubtedly cut
off considerable supplies, both from the Baltic and the
Black Sea, and also of the different kinds of Turkey
Wools brought from the countries bordering on the prin-
cipalities. It seems also evident that there must be con-
siderable requirements for army clothing, both in this
country, and particularly all over the continent, where
already a very active demand is reported."
TIMBER.—We give the following extracts from
Messrs. HOLME, SLATER, and Co.'s monthly cir-
cular :
" The arrivals from British North America, into the
docks of the Mersey during the month are—eight vessels,
8,819 tons, against seven vessels, 7,428 tons, for the cor-
responding period last year. The consumptive demand is
as good as can be expected under the present circum-
stances, and it will no doubt increase considerably, espe-
cially in the article of Spruce Deals, which are far cheaper
than anything in the shape of logs. Of Baltic Timber
the arrivals during the month are ten vessels, 3,906
tons; against four vessels, 524 tons, for the corresponding
period last year. This wood is on the advance, and consi-
derable excitement manifested regarding it. Three cargoes
of fair quality Memel have been sold at 2s. 6d. per foot;
2,756 pieces small Skien Red Fir sold by auction at from
Is. 4411. to is. sd. per foot."
METALS.—The iron-masters' quarterly meetings
have proved highly satisfactory. Owing to the
great demand for iron and the high rates of wages,
&c., Which have recently prevailed, some masters
were for asking an advance ; but, taking into
account the pressure on the money market, it was.
agreed to make no. alteration. The trade is con-
sidered in a very healthy state.

DECLARATION OF WAR.

(From the Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday,
Mardi 28.)
DECLARATION :

It is with deep regret that Her Majesty announces the
failure of her anxious and protracted endeavours to pre-
serve for her people and for Europe the blessings of peace.

_ .
The unpro;oked aggression of the Emperor of Russia
against the Sublime Porte has been persisted in with such
disregard of consequences, that after the rejection by the
Emperor of Russia of terms which the Emperor of Austria,
the Emperor of the French, and the King of Prussia, as
well as Her Majesty, considered just and equitable, Her
Majesty is compelled by a sense of what is due to the
honour of her crown, to the interests of her people, and
to the independence of the States of Europe, to come
forward in defence of an ally whose territory is invaded,
and whose dignity and independence are assailed.
Her Majesty, in justification. of the course she is about
to pursue, refers to the transactions in which Her Ma-
jesty has been engaged.
The Emperor of Russia had some cause of complaint
against the Sultan, with reference to the settlement,
which his highness had sanctioned, of the conflicting
claims of the Greek and Latin Churches to a portion of
the Holy Places of Jerusalem and its neighbourhood. To
the complaint of the Emperor of Russia, on this heAd,
justice was done ; and Her Majesty's ambassador at Con-
stantinople had the satisfaction of promoting an arrange-
ment to which no exception. was taken by the Russian
government.
But while the Russian government repeatedly assured
the government of Her Majesty that the mission of Prince
Menchikoff to Constantinople• was exclusively directed to
the settlement of the question of the Holy Places at Jeru-
salem, Prince Menchikoff himself pressed upon the Porte
other demands of a far more serious and important cha-
racter, the nature of which he in the first instance en-
deavoured, as far as possible, to conceal from Her Ma-
jesty's ambassador. And these demands, thus studiously
concealed, affected not the.privileges of the Greek Church
at Jerusalem, but the position of many millions of Turkish
subjects in their relations to. their Sovereign the Sultan.
These demands were rejected by the spontaneous deci—
sion of the Sublime Porte.

Two assurances had been, given to Her Majesty : one,,
that the mission of Prince Menchikoff only regarded the,
Holy Places ; the other,, that his mission would be of a
conciliatory character.
_ _

In both respects Her Majesty's just expectations were
Aisappointed.
Demands were made which, in the opinion of the Sultan,
extended to the substitution of the Emperor of Russia's
authority for his own, over a large portion of his subjects ;
and those demands were enforced by threat ; and, when
Her Majesty learnt that, on announcing the termination
of his mission, Prince Menchikoff declared that the refusal
of his demands would impose upon the imperial govern-
ment the necessity of seeking a guarantee by its own
power, Her Majesty thought proper that her fleet should
leave Malta, and, in co-operation with that of His Ma-
jesty the Emperor of the French, take up its station in
the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles.
So long as the negotiation bore an amicable character
Her Majesty refrained from any demonstration of force.
But when, in addition to the assemblage of large military
forces on the frontier of Turkey, the ambassador of
Russia intimated that serious consequences. would ensue
from the refusal of the Sultan to comply with unwarrant-
able demands, Her Majesty deemed it right, in conjunc-
tion with the Emperor of the French, to give an unques-
tionable proof of her determination to support the
sovereign rights of the Sultan.
The Russian government has maintained that the
determination of the Emperor to occupy the principalities
was taken in consequence of the advance of the fleets of
England and France. But the menace of invasion of the
Turkish territory was conveyed in Count Nesselrode's
note to Redchid Pasha, of the 19th (31st) May, and re-
stated in his despatch to Baron Brunnow, of the 20th
May (Ist June), which announced the determination of
the Emperor of Russia to order his troops to occupy the
prineipslities,.if the Porte did not within a week comply
with the demands of Russia. _ _

The despatch to Her Majesty's ambassador at Constan-
tinople, authorising him in certain specified contingencies
to send for the British fleet, was dated the 31st May, and
the order sent direct from England to Her Majesty's
admiral, to proceed to the neighbourhood of the Darda-
nelles, was dated the 2nd of June.
The determination to occupy the principalities was
therefore taken before the orders for the advance of the
combined squadrons were given.
The Sultan's minister was informed that unless he
signed within a week, and without the change of a word,
the note proposed to the Porte by Prince Menchikoff, on
the eve of his departure from Constantinople, the princi-
palities of Moldavia and Wallachia would be occupied by
Russian troops. The Sultan could not accede to so in-
sulting a demand; but when the actual occupation of the
principalities took place the Sultan did not, as he might
have done in the exercise of his undoubted right, declare
war, but addressed a protest to his allies.
Her Majesty, in conjunction with the sovereigns of
Austria, France, and Prussia, has made various attempts
to meet any just demands of the Emperor of Russia with-
out affecting the dignity and independence of the Sultan ;
and had it been the sole object of Russia to obtain security
for the enjoyment of the Christian subjects of the Porte
of their privileges and immunities, she would have found
it in the offers that have been made by the Sultan. But
as that security was not offered in the shape of a special
and separate stipulation with Russia, it was rejected.
Twice has this offer been made by the Sultan, and recom-
mended by the four powers, once by a note originally pre-
pared at Vienna, and subsequently modified by the Porte,
once by the proposal of basis of negotiation agreed upon
at Constantinople on the 31st of December, and approved
at Vienna on the 13th of January, as offering to the two
parties the means of arriving at an understanding in a
beconiing and honourable manner.
It is thus manifest that a right for Russia to interfere
in the ordinary relations of Turkish subjects to their
sovereign, and not the happiness of Christian communi-
ties in Turkey, was the object sought for by the Russian
government ; to such a demand the Sultan would not
submit, and his highness, in self-defence, declared war
upon Russia; but. Her Majesty, nevertheless, in conjunc-
tion with her allies, has not ceased her endeavours to
restore peace between the contending parties.
The time has, however, arrived when the advice and re-
monstrances of the four powers having proved wholly in-
effectual, and the military preparations of Russia becoming
daily more extended, it is but too obvious that the Emperor
of Russia has entered upon a course of policy which, if un-
checked, must lead to the destruction of the Ottoman
empire. .
In this conjuncture Her MAjesty feels called upon,
by regard for an ally, the integrity and independence of
whose empire have been recognised as essential to the
peace of Europe, by the sympathies of her people with right
against wrong, by a desire to advert from her dominions
most injurious consequences, and to save Europe from a
preponderance of a power which has violated the faith of

treaties, and defies the opinion of the civilised world, to
take up arms, in conjunction with the Emperor of tho
French, for the defence of the Sultan.

Her Majesty is persuaded that in so acting she will have
the cordial support of her people ; and that the pretext for
zeal for the Christian religion will be used in vain to cover
an aggression undertaken in disregard of its holy precepts,
and of its pure and beneficient
Her Majesty humbly trusts that her efforts may be suc-
cessful, and that, by the blessing .of Providence, peace
may be re-established on safe and solid foundations.
Westminster, March 28, 1854.
DECLARATION.

Her Majesty the Queen of the 'United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, having been compelled to take up
arms in support of an ally, is desirous of rendering the war
as little onerous as possible to the powers with whom she
remains at peace.
To preserve the Commerce of Neutrals from all unneces-
sary obstruction Her Majesty is willing, for the present, to
waive a part of the belligerent rights appertaining to her
by the Law of Nations.
It is impossible for Her Majesty to forego the exercise of
her right of seizing articles contraband of war, and of pre-
venting neutrals from bearing the enemy's despatches, and
she must maintain the right of a belligerent to prevent
neutrals from breaking any effective blockade which may
be established with an adequate force against the enemy's
forts, harbours, or coasts.
But Her Majesty will waive the right of seizing enemy's
property laiden on board a neutral vessel, unless it be con-
traband of war.

It is not Her Majesty's intention to claim the confisca-
tion of neutral property, not being contraband of war,
found on board enemy's ships ; and Her Majesty further
declares that, being anxious to lessen, as much as possible
the evils of war, and to restrict its operations to the re-
gularly organised forces of the country, it is not her present
intention to issue letters of marque for the commissioning
of privateers.
Westminster, March 28, 1854.

CONDUCT OF. THE WAR.
(From the Second Supplement to the London Gazette
of Tuesday, March 28.)

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 28th day of
March, 1854. Present, the Queen's Most Excellent Ma-
jesty in Council.
Her Majesty having determined to afford active assist-
ance to her ally, His Highness the Sultan of the Ottoman
Empire, for the protection of his dominions against the
encroachments and unprovoked aggression of His Im-
perial Majesty, the Emperor of All the Russias, Her
Majesty, therefore, is pleased, by and with the advice of
Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered,
that general reprisals be granted against the ships, vessels,
and goods of the Emperor of All the Russias, and of his
subjects or others inhabiting within any of his countries,
territories, or dominions, so that Her Majesty's fleets and
ships shall and may lawfully seize all ships, vessels, and
goods belonging to the Emperor of All the Russias, or
his subjects, or others inhabiting within any of his coun-
tries, territories, or dominions, and bring the same to
judgment in such Courts of Admiralty within Her Ma-
jesty's dominions, possessions, or colonies, as shall be
duly commissionated to take cognizance thereof. And to
that end Her Majesty's Advocate-General, with the Advo-
cate of Her Majesty in Her Office of Admiralty, are forth-
with to prepare the draught of a commission, and present
the same to Her Majesty at this Board, authorising the
Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High
Admiral to will and require the High Court of Admiralty
of England, and the Lieutenant and Judge of the said
Court, his Surrogate or Surrogates, as also the several
Courts of Admiralty within Her Majesty's dominions,
which shall be duly commissionated to take cognizance of,
and judicially proceed upon, all and all manner of cap-
tures, seizures, prizes, and reprisals of all ships, vessels,
and goods, that are or shall be taken, and to hear and
determine the same; and, according to the course of
Admiralty and the law of nations, to adjudge and con-
demn all such ships, vessels and goods, as shall belong to
the Emperor of All the Russias or his subjects, or to any
others inhabiting within any of his countries, territories,
or dominions ; and they are likewise to prepare and lay
before Her Majesty, at this Board, a draught of such in-
structions as may be proper to be sent to the said several
Courts of Admiralty in Her Majesty's dominions, posses-
sions, and colonies, for their guidance herein.
From the Court at Buckingham Palace, this 29th day
of March, 1854.
CRANWORTH, C. DRITMLINRIG,
GRANVILLE, P. MITLGRAVE,
ARGYLL, C.P.S. J. RUSSELL,
NEWCASTLE, ERNEST BRUCE,
BREADALBANE, SIDNEY HERBERT,
LANSDOWNE, J. R. G. GRAHAM,
ABERCORN, STEPHEN LI7SIIINGTON,
ABERDEEN, W. E. GLADSTONE,
CLARENDON, WILLIAM MOLESWORTH.

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 29th day of
March, 1854. Present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
in Cbuncil.

It is this day ordered by Her Majesty, by and with the
advice of Her Privy Council; that no ships or vessels
belbnging to any of Her Majesty's subjects be permitted
to enter and clear out for any of the ports of Russia, until
further order; and Her Majesty is further pleased to order
that a general embargo or stoplae made of all Russian ships
and vessels whatsoever, now within or which shall here-
after come into any of the port's, harbours, or roadsovithin
any of Her Majesty's dominions, together with all persons
and effects on board the said ships or vessels ; provided
always, that nothing herein contained shall extend to any
ships or vessels specified or comprised in a certain order of
Her Majesty in Council, dated this 29th day of March,
for- exempting from capture or detention Russian vessels
under special circumstances ; and Her Majesty is pleased
fiarther to order, and it is hereby ordered, that the utmost
care be taken for the preservation of all and every part of
the•cargoes on board any of the said ships or vessels, so
that no damage or embezzlement whatever be sustained :
and the Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury, the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports are to
give the necessary directions herein as to them may
respectively appertain. C. C. GUEVILLE.

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 29th day of
March, 1854. Present, the Queen's Most Excellent MAjesty
in Council.

Her Majesty, being compelled to declare war against
His Imperial Majesty the 12mperor of All the Russias, and
being desirous to lessen as much as possible the evils
thereof, is pleased, by and, with the advice of Her Privy
Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that Russian
merchant vessels, in any ports or places within Her
Majesty's dominions, shall be allowed until the 10th day of
May next, six weeks from the date hereof, for loading
their cargoes and departihg from such ports or places ; and
that such Russian merchant vessels, if met at sea by any
of Her Majesty's ships, shall be permitted to continue their.
voyage if, on examination of their papers, it shall appear
that their cargoes were• taken on board before the expira-
tion of the above term. Provided, that nothing herein,
contained shall extend, or be taken to extend, to Russian
vessels having on board any officer in the military or
naval service of the• enemy, or any article prohibited or
contraband of war, or any despatch of or to the Russian
Government.

And it is hereby further ordered by Her Majesty, by
and with the advice of her Privy Council as aforesaid,. that
any Russian merchant vessel which, prior to the date of
this order, shall have sailed from any foreign port bound
for any port or place in Her Majesty's dominions, shall be
permitted to enter such port or place, and to discharge her
cargo, and afterwards forthwith to depart without moles-
tation, and that any such vessel, if met at sea by any of
Her Majesty's ships, shall be permitted to continue her
voyage to any port not blockaded.
And the Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury, the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque. Ports are to
give the necessary directions herein as to them may
respectively appertain. C. C. UREVILLE.