The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-13 00:00:00

EGYPT,

Our private letters from Alexandria come down to the 29th
ult. On the 25th Captain Fisher, of the Asia, announced to
the consul-general of Holland, that he had received instruc-
tions from Admiral Stopford to postpone the blockade of the
harbour of Alexandria until the 20th of November, for the
purpose of permitting vessels in ballast to enter, and allow-
ing the merchants of neutral nations to export their goods
and merchandise.

The Great Liverpool arrived at Alexandria on the 19th,
with passengers, but without mails either for Egypt or India,
both of which had been detained by the postmaster at Malta.
The passengers for Bombay set out on the 24th, and every
facility was afforded them for their journey to Suez.

(Private Correspondence.)
ALEXANDRIA, OCT. 29.—The new and splendid steamer
Great Liverpool arrived here on the morning of the 19th, with
17 passengers for Indie, but without her mails, that for Alex-
andria as well as that for India having been taken out and

detained at Malta by Rear-Admiral Sir John Louis, who
kept her two days to think over it !
What are we to think of this second stoppage of our letters ?
The detention of the mail for India may possibly be justified
by political considerations, and the stringent orders of the
Board of Controul, who claim a right to keep their eastern
hemisphere in literary if not literal darkness ; but what sha-
dow of pretence can he or they have for preventing the com-
mercial communications, addressed to private individuals in
this city, coming to hand ? There is no British consul here
now, to compromise the bag by the inclusion of dangerous
. _

despatches. The British passengers (who are at least of as
much value as so many letters) were allowed to come on
freely, and safely made their way down the Red Sea last Sa-
turday, the 24th inst., in the. Berenice.
I am happy to be able to say, that the Great Liverpool did
not find the slightest obstacle thrown in the way of her safe
anchorage off this port, and free communication with the
shore.
Of the blockading squadron only the Dido was visible, and

the captain of that Corvette having formally discharged his
duty by conveying the usual warning, the probable danger of
entering the harbour in the present unsettled state of affairs
left Captain Engledue to act in continuation to the best of
his judgment. The Great Liverpool accordingly anchored at
a safe distance off the port, and the agents put off to com-
municate with the captain and passengers. They were very
agreeably surprised to find that no impediment whatever ex-
isted to their further progress to Suez, and accordingly in
the course of the day came ashore, and next morning pur-
sued their journey uninterruptedly to Suez. 17 by the Great
Liverpool, and 13 by previous vessels, fairly embarked on the
24th inst. in the Berenice (Captain Lowe), which brought the
Bombay mail to Suez. (This mail arrived here last night,
and, without any telegraphic warning, but preceded by one
of the passengers, who came in at two o'clock in the after-
noon.) To resume, on the 20th Captain Engledue, having
assured himself by conversation with the residents who visited
the vessel that there was no personal danger to be appre-
hended on land, came on shore with some friends, and was
introduced to the Pasha, who put an end to all his doubts for
the safety of his gallant steamer by giving him a written assur-
ance that she might enter the harbour and remain in safety
there as long as he pleased. Capt. Engledue did accordingly
enter the eastern harbour next day, and lay in safety and com-
fort under the very guns of the smaller Pharos castle, doubtless
to the astonishment of the squadron, who have since appeared
without, and sent in the notification of the further postpone-
ment of the blockade. But I think that by this time they
are inclined to concede to Mehemet Ali the characteristic of
forbearance at least. On the 18th and 19th they were " far,
far at sea," and vessels entering in ballast could find no
blockading squadron off the port to warn them as usual, as if
they were tired of frightening the poor mariners. Nay, at
length they grew jocose about the matter, and on the morn-
ing of the 20th, when a Greek brig made bold to ask the
Dido if she might enter the harbour, received a reply, "Go
and ask the Great Liverpool." The Greek accordingly came
up very seriously alongside the formidable steamer, and pre-
ferred his request, by permission of the corvette. "0 ! with
all my heart !" replied the captain of the steamer ; so the
Greek took courage, and went in without further question.
As the Great Liverpool sails at sun-set I must conclude.
Her passengers (12 from India and about 30 from Alexandria)
are chiefly British, having a natural wish to breathe an atmo-
sphere free from blockades and bombardments, or a residence
in some British port where British steamers can bring them
their British letters. Amongst them is Lady Isabella Sirow-
ski Pitcairn, who did not venture to India after all, but turned
back at the first station in the desert. Some of the passengers
at Suez would have taken open boats while making for the
Berenice, and have sailed to Jidda or Aden, a three months'
voyage, against the monsoon, if any could be procured. But
all: had been pressed into the service of the pasha, who had
sent them on to Jiddo and Jembo, on the Arabian side, to
bring across the remnant of his veterans to Cesseir on the
African, and alas! two turned back to Cairo on the 23d inst.,
and so lost their passage. The pasha is certainly intent on
strengthening his hands in Egypt, and I am further assured,
looks to the upper country, and even as far as Sennaar, for a
refuge in case of need, and if he should be obliged to abandon
Alexandria.

(From the Supplement to the Malta Times.)
LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM THE EAST.

MALTA, NOVEMBER 2.—The Great Liverpool steamer
arrived in port early this morning, having left Alexandria on
the 28th ult. She brings an India mail, despatched from
Bombay on the Ist ult., by the Berenice, which arrived at
Suez on the 24th. Mehemet Ali afforded every assistance
for the conveyance of the mail to Alexandria, having given
the East India Company's agent at that place one of his per-
sonal attendants to send for it. The following official com-
munication has been received by the Chief Secretary to Go-
vernment from Mr. Larking, British Consul at Alexandria.
" British Consulate, Alexandria, Oct. 28.

" Sia,—l have the honour to acquaint you that Mehemet
Ali has afforded every facility for the transmission of the
India mail from Suez to Alexandria, and renews his assu-
rance of protection and assistance for all future mails and
passengers through Egypt.—l have, &c.,

_ .....
."
J. W. LARKING."
"To Sir Hector Greig, Chief Secretary to Government."

MALTA.
Our correspondent writes from Alexandria—" It is to be
regretted that the mails for India were not sent forward from
Malta ; the Pasha being ready to afford every assistance in
his power ; and he gave the East India Company's agent
here one of his personal attendants to send to Suez for the
mail next received from India."

ORNITHOLOGY.—On Saturday last, a very rare and newly
discovered British bird, the black red start (shcrnicura) , was
shot at Scotchquarry Hill, near Cheltenham, by Mr. N.
Skelton, ornithologist, and examined by Mr. Wright, sur-
geon. This bird was first made known as an occasional visitor
to this country by Mr. Gould, who recorded the occurrence
and capture of a specimen near London, in October, 1829.
A few specimens have since been obtained in this country
during winter.

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON ONE OP THE CONSTABULARY
FORCE.—About half-past twelve o'clock on Saturday night
last, as George Curdy, one of the county constabulary force
belonging to the Ashton-under-Lyne division, was on duty
on the Ashton and Oldham road, near a place called Water-
loo, he observed four fellows in the garb of colliers, maltreat-
ing a woman who was on her way to Ashton. Curdy remon-
strated with them, upon which they used some very abusive
language to him, and one of them struck him ; he attempted
to draw his staff for the purpose of defending himself, and
capturing his assailant, when one of the party kicked him
twice and knocked him down, again kicking him in the ab-
domen. One of the men whose name is supposed to be
William Jones, went up to, Curdy, and, taking his staff from
him, struck him several tremendous blows on one of his
arms, by which, we are informed, Curdy's arm was broken.
the ruffians then made off. Search has been made for Jones,
who has decamped ; but it is not expected that either he or
his associates will long elude the vigilance of the police.—
Manchester Guardian.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr. Cromp-
ton) shoWed cause against a rule calling on the defendant to
show by what title he claimed to be a councillor for the ward
of Everton and Kirkdale, in the borough of Liverpool, and
relied on several objections, one that it was not sworn that
Mr. Quayle had been sworn into the office of councillor, or
in what manner he had exercised that office—it was merely
stated that he had been present at two meetings of the Com-
mon Council, which might have been as a mere bystander ;
he cited " the Queen v. Statter," and pressed the court to
decide on this preliminary point, which would prevent the
necessity of going further into the case.
Lord DENMAN said that the case of " the Queen v. Sta-
ter" was distinguishable from the present, that the affidavit
of Mr. Quayle's having acted as a councillor was sufficient,
and that the case must therefore proceed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then admitted that two cases of
personation by voters for Mr. Quayle were proved, but said
that there was also evidence:of personation in favour of his
opponent ; he admitted that Mr. Shand would be in a ma-
jority unless he were at liberty to attack certain votes given
for him, on the ground that they were not legal, by reason of
certain defects in the voting papers. He admitted that he
could not impeach in this proceeding the title of the voters
to be on the burgess roll.

Lord DENMAN observed, that Mr. Shand, the relator, had
no opportunity of answering these objections, and that he
therefore doubted whether the court could entertain them as
a ground for its decision, and he directed that this point
should be first argued.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then argued that it would be
most inconvenient if the defendant was not at liberty to im-
pugn the:votes given forihis opponent.
Mr. CROMPTON then argued the same point, urging that
this case depended upon the documentary evidence of the
voting papers.

Mr. KELLY (for Sir W. Follett) and Mr. HENDERSO
on the other side, were stopped by the court.

Lord DENMAN.—Great as the inconvenience alluded to
by the Attorney-General may be, the inconvenience would
be still greater if the court refused to put the case in a course
of investigation. It is clear that the superintendence of this
court is most important in such cases. I will not disqualify
any man as a burgess, without first hearing him. The refer-
ence to documents is by no means decisive. This is my pre-
sent impression ; but we will consider the point, and if we
see any occasion to alter our opinion, we will hear Mr. Kelly
before we conclude.

Mr. Juptice WlLLiAms.—The affidavits for Mr. Qnayle
leave the case of the relator unanswered, but lead into a dif-
ferent inquiry of facts which were not before the court. This
ie no answer to the case as sheWn by the relator for inquiry.
The case stands over for decision.

ANOTHER FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
DETENTION OF THE LONDON MAIL.

An accident occurred last night on the London and Bir-
mingham Railway, at a place called Harlow, about 18 miles
from the metropolis, which,twe regret to say, terminated in
the death of two men, and in the destruction of property to
a very considerable value. It appears that a luggage train
was on its way from Birmingham to London, about six
o'clock, at a moderate speed, when it was overtaken by an
engine without any accompanying train. The night being
somewhat dark, it is supposed the engineers could not see
the luggage train : a collision took place, which shivered se-
veral of the luggage waggons, and totally destroyed the en-
gine. The engine attached to the luggage train was so much
damaged that it will scarcely be fit for use again.
We lament to say, that two men, who had the care of the
engine which caused the concussion, were killed on the spot.
One of them was taken up immediately afterwards, but the
other was buried beneath the ruins of the broken waggons
and engine, and some time elapsed before he eould be extri-
cated. _

Information of this accident was conveyd to London, and
the mail train, which should have left Euston-square at half-
past eight was detained till a quarter-past nine, in order to
afford time for the line to be cleared. When the train, how-
ever, arrived at Harlow, it was again detained for an hour
and three quarters, the clearing of the rails occupying that
time. A gentleman who was a passenger by it, and from
whom we have have received this information. states that
whilst the train was waiting, the second man, - who had not
been extricated before, was released, his body found crushed
to such a degree that it was impossible to distinguish his
features.

In consequence of this accident the mail to this town was
four hours beyond its ordinary time.

COUNCIL OF DISCIPLINE OF THE NATIONAL

GUARD

THE GRENADIER'S DINNER

President. —You have been guilty of a grave infraction of
your duty, M. Serdat, in suffering packages to be carried
into the garden of the Tuileries.

Serdat:—lt was no package; it was only a cuisiniere.
President.—She had something in her hands.
Serdat.—Yes, some plates.
President.—Just so ; that is what you should not hay
suffered to enter. It is distinctly against orders.

Serdat.—She had run all the- way from the Rue de Seine
to the gate in front of the Pont Royal. It was impossible to
prevent her from entering.
President.—Was there anything indispensable in what she
carried ?

Serdat.—Egad, there was ; it happened to be my dinner.
(Laughter.)
President.—You should have made her go round the gate.
Serdat (with impressement).—Bless your soul, my dinner
would have been cold. .

President.--You did not profit in the least by your pre-
cipitancy. Your cook was stopped by one of the garden
keepers.
Serdat.—And my dinner too ! It was a flagrant shame.
President.—A National Guard should always show a good
example, and you did quite the contrary. You went directly
in the teeth of the countersign.

Serdat.—Pooh, pooh, I can understand no countersign
which is injurious to the well-being of my stomach. I was
hungry when they planted me at
,my post, and hungrier still,
you may guess, after three hours mounting guard. I should
have eaten the countersign had I been kept much longer
without my dinner—perhaps even demolish'iny boots !

. -
(Laughter.)
The refractory sentinel was then condemned to 12 hours'
imprisonment.
Serdat.—The Government may do its best, but it shall
never compel me to commit an act so barbarous as that which
you prescribe.
President.—What is that ?
Serdat.—Why, force a citizen, to be sure, to cross bayonets
against the admission of his own dinner, The bowels of a
Brutus would be unequal to such an act of patriotism !
(Much laughter.)

THE WINDOW DUTIES.

IMPORTANT APPEAL

On Wednesday a general meeting of the Commissioners
of Assessed and Land Taxes for the division of St. Mary le-
bone took place at the Court-house, Marylebone-lane._
Thomas Fielden, Esq., in the chair.
In consequence of the new rating to the window duties
an extraordinary scene presented itself on the occasion.
The number of persons attending to appeal against this
species of rating not only completely occupied the spacious
vestry-room, but the waiting-rooms and lobbies of the
Court-house were literally blocked up by them
liminary business having been disposed of,
Mr. Hugh Biers, of No. 12, Dorset-place, one of the
commissioners, appealed against the increase in his window
duties (from 22 to 27 windows) under the 4th and sth of
William IV., cap. 54, sec. 7. This clause enacts that " all
persons who were duly assessed to or under composition for
window duties for the year ending the sth of April, 1835,
and who continued to reside in the same premises, are en-
titled to open, and keep open, free of duty, any additional
number of windows in the premises so assessed or com-
pounded for." Under this section of the act Mr. Biers
contended that he was exempt from any charge beyond the
22 windows assessed in 1835, and, to show that he was duly
assessed, he wished to call the attention of the board to the
difference in the mode of assessing these taxes. The as-
sessed taxes on horses, carriages, servants, &c. were re-
turned by the parties to be assessed under a declaration,
and subject to a penalty for an improper return, but not so
with respect to window duties. The window duties were
assessed by the assessor, assisted by the crown officer, who
was empowered under the act to enter into, to count, and
to make a return of the number of windows rateable to
each respective house, with which return the party assessed
had nothing whatever to do, and was seldom present when
the survey was made. The number of windows taken by
the assessor was returned to the surveyor, subsequently by
the surveyor to the hoard of commissioners, who directed
the amount to be collected by their collectors, and another
return was then made to the board of taxes. Under these
circumstances, he (Mr. Biers) would maintain that after
file years' collection had been paid upon a charge made by
the parties themselves it was as unjust as illiberal to turn
round upon the ratepayers and say, "Notwithstanding it
was our own fault that in 1834 an aperture may have es-
caped our charge, yet the penalty shall be inflicted not only
for such windows as were then in existence, but also all
those that have been since opened upon the faith of that
act." He wished to impress upon the board the injustice
of this attempt, inasmuch as the assessors of 1834 might,
and no doubt did, exercise a discretion in taking the win-
dows, leaving out, perhaps, a lancet-light or loophole made
for the purpose of ventilating a water-closet or larder,
whilst the surveyors of 1840, having received from the Tax
Office the most stringent orders to keep up to the uttermost,
would count even a gimblet-hole in a door for the purpose
of increasing the duties. This, he contended, was not the
way in which the government intended that the taxpayers
should be treated ; but, even if so, he should still contend
that according to the definition of the word " duly," which
meant " properly," " regularly," he had been properly and
regularly assessed by the parties whose duty it was so to do ;
and also that they could not amerce any ratepayer for any
'aches of parties themselves. In fact, it would be most
unjust of the board of commissioners to amerce an appel-
lant by inflicting the additional charge of the whole of the
windows now found under the present squeezing system,
upon the ground that the surveyors of 1834 had either in-
advertently or liberally left out of the charge at that period
a pane of glass which they considered ought not to be
charged. He should, therefore, strenuously contend that
in 1834 he was duly assessed, and consequently not liable
to the additional charge now attempted to be enforced.
A long discussion upon the point raised ensued amongst
the board of commissioners, which was a very full one,
and the decision was ultimately postponed till the next
mee ng

Some pre-

Within the last fortnight three men have lost their lives at
km works of the Box Tunnel, and two others have had their
nabs dreadfully mangled.

An uninterrupted dullness has reigned in our market the whole
of this week, and the prices of all descriptions of Butter may be
noted 2s to 3s per cwt lower. The chief cause of this depression
is attributable to the present difficult position of monetary affairs,—
such position we take leave to say, being the undoubted effect of
the pusillanimity of her Majesty's Ministers, in permitting " Re-
peal of the Union" to be agitated by an English-hateing,—Radical-
loving, Irish demagogue, with impunity ;—and of the extraordi-
nary and puerile propensity which these incapables possess for
Little Mtn in all parts of the world. How much longer will the
commercial community submit to the infliction of their baneful
rule, without some intelligible expression of indignation ?
Recent accounts from Brazil state that French Butter had made
its appearance abundantly, and that prices of Irish had experienced
a serious decline. The nominal currency of pickled seconds, here,
to-day is g 25 ; but we have reason to believe that an offer of is to
4s less money would not be refused.

We have no alteration to notice in the value of Beef or Pork
The trade remains excessively dull. The top price of Bacon is 54s

LIVERPOOL CORN MARKET, NOVEMBER 10.
(From the Circular of Messrs. James Scott 6- Sons.)
During the past week the imports of Grain from Ireland, Coast-
ways, and from Foreign Parts, and the demand, have been equally
limited and Moderate, with little or no variation in last quoted
prices, excepting in some descriptions of Wheat, on which a small
reduction has been submitted to here, and in all our surrounding
markets.
The weather, though reported favourably in the south, has been
very rainy here and to the northward for the last two weeks, and
unfavourable for securing the Potato crops and for Wheat sowing,
in which very little progress has yet been made.
The only alteration in the duties on Grain from Foreign Ports
since Friday last is an increase of Is 6d per qr. on Oats and Rye.
Some parcels of New York Flour have been sold at 24s to 24s &I
per barrel, in bond for export, but many imports hold at 25s to 26s
and fine Wheat in bond at 6s to 6s 3d per 701 b.
At this day's market we have had a very thin attendance, and in
consequence of the dullness and decline in Mark-lane, sales have
been effected to a very limited extent at a small reduction of Id to
2d per 701 b on Wheat, and id per 451 b on Oats ; all other Grain
participated in this depression excepting superfine sweet Flour,
which is now becoming rather scarce, and fully supported last
week's rates.
WEEAT, per 701bs S. d. S. d. INDIAN CORN, 44, 4801 b.
English
Scotch 8 6 810 White 36 0 38 0
Irish 7 0 7 4 BEANS, per quarter.
Bonded
BARLEY, per qr. Irish 44 0 46 0
English 39 o 40 0 PEAS, Grey 3B 0 42 0
Chevalier 4O 0 41 0 White 42 0 46 0
Scotch, per 601 b. 4 6 5 0 SIIIP BREAD, per 1121 b.
Irish 4 6 S 0 In bond l3 0 14 0
Foreign, in bond, 0 0 0 0 ilotra, English, per 2801 b.
OATS, per 451 b. Fine 48 0 53 0
English
Scotch 3 4 3 6 Amer. 19, brl. free
Irish 1 2 3 4 Sweet U. 5.....
Foreign, in bond 0 0 0 0 Sour
Ditto, duty free.. 3 4 3 6 OATMEAL, per 2401 b
Avis, per quarter .. 36 0 38 0 gliglish ..
MALT, per qr. fine.. 66 0 67 0 Ditto, new
middling 56 0 62 0 Scotch

33 6 34 0

31 0 32 0

24 0 25 0
26 •0 26 6
24 0 25 0