The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-02-06 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY

The house having returned from hearing the royal
speech read, some new members were introduced, among
them being Mr. Blair, the new member for Bolton.
Several new writs were issued, including one for Bolton,
in place of Dr. Bowring, appointed consul at Canton.
The address to her Majesty was moved by Lord H.
VANE, and seconded by Mr. BUNBURY.
Mr. DISRAELI said that the speech from the throne did
not present to the house a fair and candid statement of the
condition of the country. He disputed the grounds upon
which the Government assumed that our commerce was
improving under the new system ; he contended that not
only were our manufactures paralysed by its effects, but
that it was working a change in the distribution of the
precious metals, which must be pernicious to this country.
After an appeal to figures, showing the unfavourable in-
fluence of the new commercial system upon our revenue,
Mr. Disraeli passed to that portion of the speech which
touched upon the foreign policy of the Government, ob-
serving that this was the first time he had known a royal
speech at the opening of the session omit to acknowledge
the continuance of amity with foreign powers, The hon.
member then entered upon a pungent criticism of the
state of our external relations, from which ho passed to
the subject of financial reform, ironically complimenting
the Ministers on having become converts to this great
principle, and expressed his surprise that the " large re-
ductions" promised in the speech should be the result of
"the present aspect of affairs," which, in his opinion,
held out little promise of means of reduction. Mr.
Disraeli closed a speech distinguished by his usual brilli-
ancy by moving an amendment declaring that neither our

114 ak

relations with foreign powers, nor the state of the revrsnue,
manufactures, or commerce, were subjects of con gratu-
lation.

Mr. H. GRATTAN proposed an amendment of t;he para-
graph relating to Ireland. He urged the necessity of re-
pealing the Irish Poor Law, stigmatized the proposition
for continuing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act,
and denied that there had been any insurrection in Ire-
land. The purport of his amendment was to, pledge Par-
liament to remedy the distresses of the Irish people.
This amendment was seconded by Mr. S. O'CoNmem,
in a speech condemning the Irish policy of the Govern-
ment, but in a more mitigated tone than, customary.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged the house to suspend its
opinion until that subject should, as it would shortly,
come on for specific discussion. The powers he proposed
to ask were net against Ireland, but for the protection of
th 3 well disposed_; and with respect to the Irish Poor
Law, his intention was to propose that its operation should
be inquired into by a committee. The noble lord replied
very briefly to some of the observations of Mr. Disraeli
res3ecting the state of our commerce and of our foreign
relations, upon which be said the house was not yet in a
condition to form an opinion. We had gone through
what he mast call an insurrection in Ireland, which had
been put down, not by arming class against class, but by
a wiser course, dictated by the rare judgment, temperance,
and moderation of Lord Clarendon. Europe, too, bad
been convulsed, yet bad this country been even in danger
of being involved in hostilities ? If such had been the
results •of their measures, Government at laast deserved
this—not to be condemned on the first night of the

session
Mr.

H UME complained that nothing was said of the in-
equality of taxation, and of the burden of taxation. The
hon. member then denounced what he termed the dis-

graceful and arbitrary proceedings in our colonies, which
he wondered had not driven them to desperation.

The house then divided upon Mr. Grattan's amend-
ment, when the numbers were—For the motion, 200 ;
for the amendment, 12

majority, 188

On the motion of Mr. STAFFORD, the debate upon the
other amendment was adjourned until this day.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY,

The adjourned debate on the address was resumed, and
after many members had spoken, the house divided on a
motion for the adjournment of the debate, which was
negatived by a majority of 221 to 81.
The address was then agreed to without a division, on
the understanding that the house is to be at liberty to
discuss every subject referred to in the address.

FOREIGN

AND COLONIAL

THE OVERLAND MAIL.
We have received, by extraordinary express, in antici-

January 3, and Calcutta, December 23.
We gave, in the last issue, intelligence from Moulton
to the 3rd, and from the army of the Chenaub to the 6th
of December. The only movements which have occurred
since then, at the former of these places, are two recon-
noitres by the Engineers, one on the 6th and the other
on the 13th, when no serious molestation was offered.
On the 11th, the detachment of the Bombay troops
under Major Hallett, consisting of the 3rd Native Infan-
try, Turnbull's Battery, and 500 of the Sinde Horse, ar-
rived in camp. On the 15th, the Ist Lancers joined.
On the 16th, the party just named, with the exception of
the Sinde Horse, were sent out to Shere Shah-ke-puttan,
to escort in the Bombay battering train. The main co-
lumn had not commenced crossing on the 18th, but were
all expected to camp before Christmas, when operations
would immediately be re-commenced. From the Com-
mander-in-Chief's camp, we have news up to the 21st
ultimo. So soon as it was discovered that the Sikhs,
after their retirement on the night of the 3rd, had taken
up a strong position on the Jhelum, two marches a-head
of us, it ryes resolved to leave them alone till after the
fall of Moulton. For the last fortnight, accordingly, the
troops had rested on their arms; nor are they likely to
have taken the field till New Year's-day, at all events.

Lieutenant Robinson, the assistant jof the latter, had
made his way to General Thackwell's camp. There had
been no military movement of any note during the fort-
night. The present procrastination and delay was and is
the subject of universal complaint. It is said that the
Governor-General waits the instructions from home.

FRANCE

The Assembly on Wednesday rejected Ledru Rollin's
motion for the impeachment of ministers, by 458 to 250
votes. Count Dalton Shee, ex-peer of France, was arres-
ted on Tuesday, as implicated in the conspiracy in Paris
on Sunday night.
The Minister of the Interior received the following tele-
graphic, despatch ou Wednesday from the Prefect of the
Gate d'Or :—" The conspiracy which was to have explo-
ded in Paris was concerned with the secret societies of
this department. They remained here en permanence
during the night of the 29th. Some dragoons, led by two
well-known Socialists, who assumed the uniform of the
dragoons, endeavoured to disturb public tranquillity
during the night. This small troop fractured the arm of
a police agent. The two conspirators were arrested, as
well as the dragoons." The National Assembly divided
on the proposition of M. Billault, relative to the budget
of 1849, when there appeared—for the proposition, 390 :
against it. 397 ; majority against it, 7. The proposition
was accordinsly rejecrcd. Thu editor of Di. Pauudltun's
journal was convicted on Wednesday of a seditious libel,
and sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a fine of
3000 f. Numerous arrests continue to be made.

The Moniteur of Friday announces that the-telegraphic
despatches received in Paris on Thursday from the de-
partments were perfectly satisfactory. They prove that
the conspiracy which the government defeated in Paris
had extensive ramifications, but the prefects had been in-
formed of the plans, and had defeated them.
The authorities of Marseilles had disconcerted an
attack in the night of the 27th ult. by doubling the mili-
tary posts. The malcontents in Lyons had been kept in
check by the numerons garrisons. An uneasy activity,
however, was observed by a certain number of the popu-
lation.

The members of the clubs at Macca, and at Chalons-
sur-Saone had made a tumultuous demonstration; sedi-
tious speeches were delivered, and the commissary of
police was insulted.

At Strasburg the clubbists, joined by a very few oper-
atives, paraded the streets uttering seditious cries and
demanding employment.
They dispersed after they had been addressed by the
Mayor's deputy, who promised to relieve the most needy.
These rioters did not exceed 250 in number, At Limoges
the attitude of the operatives created some alarm in the
town, but the excellent spirit shown by the National
Guard and the firmness of the garrison restored confi-
dence. The Prefect of Troyes seized 13 chests of mus-
kets which were being sent to Chalons. It has been as-
certained that a quantity of arms and ammunition were
smuggled into France by the north-eastern and eastern
frontiers. It was observed that numerous bands of able-
bodied men were seen in the roads in the neighbourhood
of the capital directing their steps towards Paris, the
rendezvous of insurrrction, while emissaries from Paris
were organizing insurrection in the departments. The re-
port of an approaching insurrection was industriously cir-
culated. The ill-disposed citizens did not conceal their
hopes. Every one believed that a conflict similar to that
of June was about to take place. " Such," says the
Moniteur, " was the movement which the government
defeated by its vigilance, and which it was prepared to
repress with energy." _ _

The National Assombly rejected on Thursday a propo-
sition for an amnesty in favour of the insurgents of Jitne
by 531 to 167.

The National Assembly rejected on Saturday night the
order of the day on the proposition demanding an inquiry
into the events of the 29th of January. The numbers
were—for the order of the day, 387 ; against it. 407 ; ma-
jority against ministers, 20. Immediately after the sit-
ting the Moniteur announced that the ministry met in
council at the Elysee Nationale, and came to the resolu-
tion of remaining at their posts and persevering in the
mission confided to them.

The Roman Catholics of New York are about to hold a
public meeting, to request the Pope to take up his perma-
nent residence in America.

The Saxon ministry resigned en masse on the 26th ult.,
declaring that the difficulties which encompassed it did not
permit it to act effectually for the interests of the country.

A prompter at the Pres-burg.Theatre has been shot, oji:
employing abusive language against the emperor, and ex-
citing his fellow-citizens to rebel against the government.
HUNGARY.—The Austrian general has taken possession
of the town of Schemnitz after a short conflict. The
Imperialists captured 12 cannon, and took 500 prisoners.
The loss on the Austrian side was trifling.
The delegates assembled at Frankfort from all North
Germany and other trading towns have recommended
that the highest average duty for the Zollverein should
not exceed ten per cent. on manufactured articles, and
that all raw materials should be free.

ROMAN STATES.—Advices from Rome of the 21st ult.,
announce that the elections for the Constituent Assembly
had commenced, and were proceeding with perfect tran-
quillity. All classes took part in them. At Rome, a
portion of the ecclesiastics voted, notwithstanding the
interdict from Gaeta. None of the priests voted, however,
at Civita Vecchia.

GIGANTIC SCHEME.—The Rhenish Democrat states
that a gigantic project, the construction of a canal between
Kiel and the mouth of the Elbe, connecting the Baltic
with the North Sea, is seriously contemplated. The
reason assigned is the frustration of the monopoly of the
passages of the Sound and the Two Belts, at present en-
joyed by the Scandinavian powers. Without some such
independent communication the creation of a German
fleet would be vain.

NAPLES.—SERIOUS COLLISION.—Letters from Naples
to the 21st ult., state that on the 18th a collision took
place between two government steamers, running between
Naples and Gaeta, one having on board the King of
Naples and Count Trapani, and the other, M. Oustenhoff,
Secretary to the Russian Legation, Count Caraffa, and
four cardinals. Frightened at the shock, M. Oustenhoff,
Count Caraffa, and some others threw themselves into the
sea. M. Oustenhoff was unfortunately lost.
RAPINE AND MURDER IN CALIFORNIA.—Private let-
ters received from the gold mines of California are rather
discouraging to those about starting for that region.
They confirm the former reports as to the abundance of
gold, but, at the same time, state that those who are in
possession of the precious ore are marked, and often dis-
appear. Even some that have attached themselves to
trains leaving the mines have been robbed, and trains on
their way there have been plundered.—Another letter
states that the mate of a vessel lying on the coast, who
had deserted a month or two previous, had returned to
the vessel with_2o,ooo dollars worth of gold.

AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.—A New„ York correspon-
dent of the Daily News says, " One thing rejoices us
greatly, that we can send our newspapers and periodicals
cheaply to your country. Our editors begin to talk of

their English circulation. Look out for some " tall spe-
cimens of newspapers. We have heard that there is one
published in the far west, where ink and paper are so
scarce the types are blackened with bog mud and the
journal is printed on a pocket handkerchief. After the
subscriber has read the news, he washes the paper and
sends it back in time for the next number. We do not,
of course, anticipate the circulation of such newspapers
in England—to any great extent?"
A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY.—The Abeille, of Yvetot,
states that a poor shepherd in that neighbourhood, the
father of a numerous family, which he maintains with
difficulty, purchased a second-hand bible last summer to
occupy his evenings. On turning over the leaves last
Sunday he found two of them pasted together, which he
carefully separated, when to his amazement he discovered
a 500 f. note (£2O), and upon the margin of one of the
leaves was written,—" I collected this sum with much
trouble, but having no natural heirs who want it, I make
you my legatee, you who shall read this bible." The poor
shepherd now considers himself more happy than a king.
Ricx QUICKSILVER MINE.—Mr. Forbes, the British
Consul at Tepsic, is the owner of, perhaps. the richest
quicksilver mine in the world,' situated about 13 miles
from this place (Rancho de la Purissima Conception,
California). The mine has been worked. but a few
months, but the ore is extremely rich and very abundant.
The bed of ore is 42 feet thick and of extent unknown.
The only apparatus at present used for extracting the
metal consists of three or four old potash kettles, very
imperfect, yet with these over a thousand pounds, or
£2,000 worth, are obtained weekly. With suitable appa-
ratus it could clear easily half a million of dollars a year.
Several other mines of quicksilver have been found in the
neighbourhood, of more or less promise, but none of them
apparently so rich as this. They are mostly, with the
exception of that of Mr. Forbes, in the bands of Ameri-
cans. Mr. Forbes owns a tract pertaining to his mine of
14 square miles.—American Mining Journal.
THE FANNY KEMBLE BUTLER CASE.—The decision
in this case for divorce was pronounced at Philadelphia,
by Judge King, President of the Common Pleas, on the
20th ult. The matter was before the court upon libel by
the husband, for the cause of wilful and malicious deser-
tion on the part of the wife, and her answer, denying
desertion, and setting up facts relied upon as sufficient to
justify and authorise her withdrawal. She claimed a right
of trial by jury, to determine whether her husband was
entitled to a divorce. To this answer there were excep-
tions, objecting to the statements accompanying the
answer, as irrelevant and impertinent. The judgment of
this court is, that the parts of the answer beyond the
denial of the libellant's allegations be stricken out, as
surplusage • that the exceptions be dismissed, and the
cause set down for trial by jury. This disposes of this
matter, in which the public feel so much interest, for the
present—perhaps for ever. Public opinion seems to be
in favour of Mrs. Butler, but we must recollect that we
have only heard one side. To the voluminous averments
and allegations of his wife Mr. Butler has made no
answer. We know not what he can complain of, if he
chooses. Whether he will stand the trial or abandon the
proceeding time will show. The trial cannot take place
until March term.—New York Herald.