The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-06-21 00:00:00

RP

ball Her AJEsTy ever
tallbarb, M
next will eclipse it.
It may be worth mentioning that the QUEEN broke
ground on Friday afternoon in the Park, the first time
for a long'period. The Royal carriage, in which were Her
MAJESTY and the Duchess of SAXE GOTHA, was driven
over the greensward in beautiful style : 'attended by the
usual retinue, the whole had a very fine effect. The
SOVEREIGN and her Grand Falconer alone have this
privilege.
The opera, the other evening, though not a state occa-
sion, presented one of the grandest spectacles ever wit-
nessed inside or outside the walls. The opera was
Roberto. About nine o'clock Her MAJESTY arrived,
accompanied by Prince ALBERT, his elder brother, the
Duke of SAXE GOTHA, and his duchess. In the course
of the evening they made quite a family party in the royal
box. The QUEEN always sits in the corner of the box
facing the stage, giving her profile to the audience. In
the opposite corner sits Prince ALBERT, the centre seats
being occupied by the more illustrious of Her MAJESTY'S
visitors or suite.'i Soon after the arrival of the royal party,
the Duke of SAXE GOTHA and his wife—he a fine manly
fellow, she a brilliant blonde, with the genuine flaxen hair
of Germany in abundance—entered the QUEEN'S box.
Prince ALBERT rose and gave his brother the royal chair,
whilst the former had a little chat with his sister-in-law.
They appeared to laugh and talk like humble folks when
they meet, with this difference, perhaps, that they did not
seem to care a penny in what language they talked ; now
English, anon German, then French. The only thing
common among them appeared to be laughter, which
smacked as much of the real jolly English as any I have
heard for some time. FORMES, the German basso, sus-
tained the part of Bertram°, and reached a musical grace
beyond his] D profondo, verifying the glories of MILTON,
that in the lowest deep there's a lower still. Her
MAJESTY applauded most heartily, and the loyal
German artist bowed profoundly. Was the QUEEN in
greater joyance than usual, because of the reality she had
witnessed outside the porch ? No doubt of it. The mu-
tual attachment which exists between VICTORIA and her
Highland subjects is well known : Balmoral, to wit ! It
so happened that on the night in question the ever-
glorious, brave, unstained 42nd Highlanders had just made
a halt in the metropolis en route for the encampment at
Chobham. Bow-street, in which the Royal Italian Opera
is situated, has not many poetical associations belonging
to it, though it is a street most popular—named, heard of
in all the quarters of the globe. Who has not heard of
Bow-street's famed Police-court ? Yea, it may be. who
in London, with a spark of " life," has not, on some
wrong, fancied or otherwise, been before his worship the
beak? Of thousands I know scarcely one who has not. And
this is not by way of brag. Well, Bow-street, if not so
poetical ground as that on which RODERICK DHu and his
men bristled,:it had, on the occasion referred to, as gallant
fellows. The 42nd had an hour or two to spare, and, to
use the words of a brawny serjeant, " they used their pree-
vilege as a body garde to the Queen." And right loyally
did they acquit themselves. Having done honour to the
Majesty of England, the gallant corps set off for the camp.
The whole affair had an unexpected charm about it, and
pleased the QUEEN immensely. The worthy serjeant re-
ferred to said they had just returned from drilling the
South Lancashire Meeleetia.
There have been music meetings three or four times a
day during the past week. The debut of Madame ME.
DORI, on Saturday evening, at the Royal Italian Opera,
is deserving of notice. The role selected by MEDORI was
the heroine in Maria Di Bohan, admirably well adapted
to a cantatrice more histrionic than musical. The lady
comes from St. Petersburg, the capital above all others
remunerative to Italian vocalists,—fastidious, also ; hence
an artist, who has gained applause at the opera of that
otherwise cold capital. may fairly reckon on achieving
triumphs elsewhere. For criticisms in French or Italian
papers, nobody at all acquainted with them cares a rush.
An individual may cause quite a furore at La Scala, or
at the opera Des Italiens, and yet make a poor figure in
London. Nor do I think MEDORI will cause Grust much
alarm. The former belongs to that numerous class where
art, elaboration, mechanical skill, things to be attained by
study or purchase, educational and schooling, in short,
some taste also it may be, and all the drossy advantages
which, put together, are outweighed by one little word—
genius. MEDORI, of course, is a soprano ; it is of the
usual register, with no very great charm in the quality.
She is careful, however ; her sound musical education is
apparent ell through. She is, moreover, very earnest,
yet does not reach the heart. She was most kindly re-
ceived by a brilliant house.
Contrary to expectation Her MAJESTY'S horses' heads
were directed to Oxford-street, on Saturday evening, to
the Princess's Theatre,where the royal party witnessed the
representation of " Sardanapalus." Mrs. KEAN is beyond
praise as the lonian slave Myrrah, her fine features, per-
fectly Grecian, telling with admirable effect. A large sum
has been lavished on the production of this play, but it
seems well expended ; the house is crowded nightly, and
likely to be so for a long time. CHARLES KEAN is the
only successful manager we have had for years ; though
not to be named as an actor with MACREADY, the retire-
ment of the latter has left KEAN sole possessor of the
stage. MACKREADY'S refusal also to read a Greek play
with music before the Court, allowed Mr. KEAN to step ,
in—not to read—but to royal favour, which he has taken 1
good care to retain and improve. He has now an ample
fortune, and the badge of a knight when he likes to have
it placed round his neck by the royal hand.
A new diorama was opened to-day, illustrating the route
of the ocean mail, via' the Cape, to India and Australia,
including Plymouth Sound, Eddystone Light, Lizard
Light, Madeira, Teneriffe, and so on to the Mount Alex-
ander diggings. The picture is by Messrs. GRIEVE and
TELBIN. The work far exceeds in beauty and grandeur
any previous attempts of the kind. Every spot of interest
is delineated, and some of the effects are magnificent, for
instance the interior of the saloon of the steamer at night
—a splendid transparency—the breaking of the sea on the
shore of Ascension Island, a marvellous piece of mechan-
ism,—a moonlight view of the Maldives,—paintings of
the Cape, Sidney, St. Helena, Mauritius, the Diggings,
&c., all upon a very grand scale. The artists have ex-
hausted fancy and ingenuity in giving life to the pictures ;
and, when it is added that such explanations as may be
necessary are given by that prince of lecturers, J. H.
STOCQUELER, the world will have some idea of the cha-
racter of the entertainment offered to its palate.

gave ; but it is understood the

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY MORNING.
LORD ELLENBOROUGR, one of the smartest old peers in
the house, opened the Indian campaign on Monday even-
ing. I make use of the word " smartest" in a double
sense. Though now in his sixty-third year, he is tall and

straight as a poplar tree, with Hyperion curls, &c., dresses
well, sits his horse well, and altogether has a jaunty air
when viewed from a distance; upon close inspection, the
observer detects the falling off in his lordship's eyes—
" the effect defective"—they are weak, oblique, dissimilar,
and unsteady. The noble earl has been twice married—
no children. The disastrous history of his last lovely
and languishing spouse, the only daughter of Admiral
DIGBY, is fresh in the memory of most of the readers of
the Standard. She was the loveliest creature I have ever
seen at court or elsewhere. She was living in loved ob-

scuritv, a short time ago, about the Regent's-park—
something in the Magdalene manner. But to return to
his lordship. He by no means approves of CHARLIE
WOOD'S bill of fare for India. The noble earl wants the
constituency for the election of the board of directors
generally to be better informed on Indian affairs. It ap-
pears that out of a constituency of 1,730, only 200 had ever
been in India. To remedy this apparently great fault,
Lord ELLENBOROUGH proposes that all persons in the
civil and military services, and colonels on furlough, should
have the power of voting in the elections for directo-s.
Good. But, my lord, .1 remember you, when you were
twenty years younger than you are, and long before you
went to India, bolding forth night after night about the
government of that vast empire like a native—one to the
" manner born." Your lordship, 1 opine, would have
thought it rather scurvy treatment, had you been twitted
with talking so much about India, a place you had never
set foot in. However, though the board of directors did
call you home, and though the nasty gates of Somnauth
was an untoward affair, in some people's eyes, you have
now a perfect right to call Sir CHARLES WOOD to order,
seeing you have secured the advantage over him, having
governed in India a dozen of years ago. The noble earl
owes the court of directors a grudge ; he had a fling, in
consequence, at their patronage, denounced the evils of a
" double government," and so forth. He needed not be
at the trouble ; the directors are the lords of India, with
" voice as double as the Duke's." The noble earl was
listened to with marked attention, and he got the corres-
pondence he moved for—and there was an end for the
present.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH must be profoundly rich by this
time ;no family—no great state to keep up—no poor
relations ; even his accumulations as one of the Clerks of
the Pleas in the Court of Queen's Bench,—•a place left
him by his father—must now be considerable. I believe
the salary is £9,000 a-year, and all the " clerk" has to do,
is to put his name—l think even that is lithographed—on
those suspicious, razor-strop looking bits of parchment
which make the stoutest hearts sometimes quail. Who
does not know what a writ is ? Lives there a shepherd
so simple ? Then let him sit the live-long day outside
the high-brick wall, topped by its terrific revolving
chevaux de friese, which guards the captives of the
Queen's Bench. There let the simple swain sit, and
with Melibeean pipe cheer them with every strain but
one—" Hope told a flattering tale"—abolition of im-
prisonment for debt ! Sham. Within these accursed
walls, of which Lord ELLENBOROUGH, with his £9,000
aforesaid, is joint clerk, hope deferred has made sick
the souls of many prisoners at this very moment, not-
withstanding all the babble of all the Law-lords about the
abolition of imprisonment for debt which has been
uttered during the last twenty years.
The Queen's Bench Prison is a very different place
now, as compared with what it was a few years since.
The authorities have certainly contrived to make the
prisoner's position as irksome as it may well be. A drop
of beer, twice a-day, is all the lush. as it is called. No
taking the chair now at nine o'clock in the coffee-room,
and discussing the affairs of the nation, with liquor ad
lib., and the " whistling shop" afterwards till five o'clock
in the morning ; followed by the pump for the rat-attor-
neys, the late breakfast,—the dinner of three courses, and
a dessert, at seven—band of musk, &c. Glorious days for
the " poor debtors." I have seen them as a visitor ; but
now gone—clean gone for ever are those agremens of
sweet imprisoment, making the memory of the Queen's
Bench dear to many an illustrious but unwary man. Now,
the turnkeys, I am told, at midnight, poke their noses
into the key-boles of the cells, to ascertain if the caitiffs
within are enjoying the cheap stupefaction of a screw of
tobacco. This is too bad.
The annual parliamentary exhibition, the vote by ballot,
came off a few evenings since, being opened, as was fit,
by Mr. BERKELEY, the usualahowroan on such occasions.
The debate is deserving of the passing tribute of a notice,
as it was characterised by some half-dozen features which
rendered it more interesting than most of its predecessors.
The talking was of a higher order than usual—more dis-
cursive—wider in its range—more matter, if not less
words. It was shown, too, that America, the land of the
ballot in several of its states, had found that it did not
answer the boasted purpose of freedom and independence
of the voter. For example, it was proved that a great
number of votes Were reckoned which ought not to have
been taken. And still stronger.,—a candidate, whose sup-
porters were known to be more than one-half the consti-
tuency, was defeated by a majority greater than the whole
of the constituency taken together. A curiosity in the
present discussion was found in the fact, that ten members
of the piebald government voted for the measure, and
against Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the leader of the House of
Commons, who every day is becoming a greater nuisance
in the cab. ; but then half that number, and in the list
is Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, the great champion of the
humbug, did not speak at all,—thus trying to please two
masters in part—voting to please a certain portion of their
constituents, and remaining silent in order to offend their
leaders as little as possible. Messrs. Sir MOLESWORTH,
OSBORNE, VILLIERS, Sir COCKBURN, and STRUTT, this
won't do. But it is not to my purpose—certainly it can-
not be to the delectation of the readers of the Standard
to pursue the debate—to argufy the topic ; it is a capital
bait for an electioneering hook ; there is something so
" popular " about it ; but it is rendered nugatory, of no
avail, for the simple reason that, in the most extensive
constituencies, the political bias of all—nearly all—the
voters is as well known at the market cross, as at their
own firesides. This is undeniable, in small and country
constituencies, where the ballot, if of any practical good,
would be really valuable. If GILES, the small tenant
farmer, could vote, according to his own free political
thinking, by ballot, 'twere well done if done in secret;
but then my Lord SPARKINGDALE has known GILES
since they were boys, and it is vain for the farmer to
blubber and deny ; his lordship knows in which compart-
ment of the ballot-box the vote was dropped, as well as
GILES himself. Mr. BERKELEY, who, by the bye, is
rather proud of having achieved what he deems a victory,
lost his motion by 60. Sir ROBERT PEEL surprised no-
body by voting for the ballot; it was as a braggadocia ;
he wants to be considered a fine independent fellow, I
know ; he is not without vanity; and, if he cannot make
himself great among tritons, he may among minnows.
Come with me to the QUEEN'S ball—sweep at once in a
nice Clarence, you are set down in the grand entrance
amidst a throng, every one of which is as gay as the
painted butterfly,—cant help it ; modest and discreet
withal, bounce won't do. Here you meet a noble crowd
without crowding. The surliest man in public, it may be
also in common life—take DISRAELI for example—is all
bienseance here. DIZZY, if he can't get up stairs for
half-an-hour, will sit down in one of the capacious corners
of the Parian staircase, with a bevy of titled dames, young
and old, around him, talking and laughing : thus DIZZY
will sit, having banished spleen, spite, and satire. But
ho ! who goes there, with the tall white wand tipped with
bullion,—that fine square-built old man, in blue and gold,
grayheaded, his countenance instinct with honesty and
earnestness,—who is he ? The Marquis of BREADALBANE,
a highlander, the QUEEN'S Lord Chamberlain,—JoHN
CAMPBELL ; he who first entertained HER MAJESTY in
Scotland, at Taymouth Castle, mid heather and highland
heartiness, the claymore, the kilt, and philabeg, with
rank and file of highland retainers ;—the fathers and
grandfathers of these lads of thew and sinew tuned
their Jacobite pipes to lays of a different description than
they play now t Who is that other fine-looking man,
quite brown in his complexion—who ? His grand uniform
you cannot describe—it is covered with stars and ribands
and orders; he is elegant and affable, yet formal; his
smile is exotic—forced—it is less natural than BREADAL-
B ANE'S ; the wearer evidently studies to make it natural.
He bears a wand also. This is STAPLETON COTTON,
Viscount COMBERMERE, Her MAJESTY'S Goldatick.
Nobody can tell his age, for all his fine looks. No
wonder Goldstick smiles by rule; he has been a soldier in
all parts of the world—was at the head of the gallant 25th
Light Dragoons in the Indian war against TIPPOO SAIB,
the Indian BONAPARTE of our boyhood. Fight—fight in
Spain, and back to India to settle the hash at Bhurtpore
another lifetime ago. There are not two men, perhaps, in
the world like COMBERMERE and ANGLESEY; so old, yet
so clean and carefully dressed, they look smarter than
many boys. Go on about the ball. How soft and fluent
the music; to be sure, you would not have the_ strepito—
the blare of 'VERDl—here ; ophecleide and trombone
fighting which should out-blare ? There's the QUEEN
there's Prince ALBERT, his brother, and a list of earth's
great ones, innumerable almost. Don't make a toil of a
pleasure is the rule; dancing begins—all fall back—a qua-
drille is formed—the QUEEN foots it with MECKLENBURG
STRELITZ—the ball is opened to the last strains of
Rigo/etto,—the music denuded of several of the aforesaid
'-rers- lam not to attempt a description of the coin-
how well some looked, how queer others. About
k it was impossible to tecognise a friend unless
ch other, the crowd was so great. One thing
earticularly—the Spartan simplicity of the
,ress. Sometime since a
,Rash fashion made rapid
short progress among our belles of England • I'll
wear to patches on chin and cheek, a la Ho9„;h,s,_
to powder and hair brushed back and
further a

ISSUE DEP.
Notes issued .. £31,991,065

ARTMENT.

4E36,767,577

PATAGONIAN CHURCH MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

A most interesting meeting was held on the evening of
Friday last, in the hall of the Collegiate Institution, in
aid of the above society,—a society of which little was
known, until a melancholy event with which all our read-
ers are long since familiar, the death of Captain A. F.
Gardiner, R.N., Rev. Mr. Williams, and five other mis-
sionary associates on the shores of Patagonia. The chair
was occupied, in the absence of Adam Hodgson, Esq., by
Edward Heath, Esq. The proceedings were opened with
prayer by the Rev. W. M. Falloon. Among those on
the platform we observed the Revs. H. Carpenter, S.
Minton, W. H. Wright, D. Anderson, C. W. Lawrence,
W. H. Duck, W. W. Jolley, and W. Rawson, and T. D.
Anderson, Esq., W. Jones, Esq., A. Ritchie, Esq., and
R. H. Wilson, Esq. The attendance was highly respect-
able, although not so numerous as might have been ex-
pected. The Rev. J. Marsh, of Bleasby, Nottingham-
shire, brother-in-law of the lamented Captain Gardiner;
the Rev. George Pakenham Despard, of Bristol, honorary
secretary to the society ; and the Rev. G. Robinson, of
Birmingham, attended as a deputation.
The CHAIRMAN, in his preliminary speech, gave a suc-
cinct sketch of the missionary endeavours, and sad, yet
cheering, end of the heroic Capt. Gardiner—of the vast
field of heathenism yet unoccupied by the preachers of
the Gospel, which it was the wish of that good man to
illuminate with the light of Christianity—and of thetoo
general but mistaken opinion of the world, that the
fatal mission had been undertaken in a rash moment, and
without due attention to the safety of the little band.
With regard to the death of these excellent men, he be-
lieved and trusted that the happiest results would spring
from the event. God, in His wisdom, not unfrequently
rendered a death more effective for the good of mankind
than the life. Every mission had its martyrs. The blood
of the martyrs was said to be the seed of the Church ; and,
in the hope that the society might from that event derive
an unwonted impulse, they would ever regard that dying
scene on the shores of Patagonia as one of the happiest
events that could have happened for South America, into
which it was the aim of the Patagonian Mission to intro-
duce the Word of Life.

The Rev. Mr. MARSH, a brother-in-law of the late
Captain Gardiner, then gave an interesting account of
that true Christian and zealous missionary ; and in the
course of his speech made an interesting allusion to Mrs.
Gardiner and her family, whom he had met a short time
ago on the eve of their departure for Cornwall, whither
they went to visit the surviving relatives of those brave
men who had perished on the Patagonian coast with
Captain Gardiner.

The Rev. G. P. DESPARD, the honorary secretary,
delivered a most interesting speech, in the course of which
he mentioned the fact that, a Liverpool merchant upon
whom he called, had given him the munificent gift of
£lOO for the Patagonian mission, and had advised him to
get a mission-vessel built, furnished, and provisioned at
Liverpool. Another friend of the cause in this town, a
provision-dealer, had offered to provision the vessel at
cost price. So that, even in Liverpool, they had acquired
aid and agencies to keep them on in the work of evan-
gelising the remote nooks of Heathendom.
The Rev. Mr. ROBINSON, and the CHAIRSIA.N, after-
wards addressed the meeting; and at the conclusion of
the proceedings, a handsome collection was made in
behalf of the society.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND EDUCATION SOCIETY. A
public meeting has been called for Thursday next, at the
Royal Amphitheatre, in support of the above society,
which has been established for the promotion of the edu-
cation of the children of the poor in the Protestant and
evangelical principles of the Church of England. Among
those who have been announced to take part in the pro-
ceedings are the Rev. Canon M'Neile, D.D., the Rev.
Wm. Pollock, 1V1.A., the Rev. J. C. Ryle, 8.A., rector
of Helmingham, Suffolk, and the Rev. Edward Girdle-
stone, M.A., vicar of Deane. A very full attendance is
anticipated.

—We announced
some time since the appointraentAmfEtsh'e Rev. D. James
FAREWELL OF THE REV. D. J
and on Sunday
to be Principal of Llandovery College,
St. Mary's,
next he will preach his farewell ser
Kirkdale, of which he has been incumbent about years.
contri._period
Owing to his unremitted exertions during
upwards of £3,000 has been raised by voluntaryt
buttons; the church has been considerably enlarged, and
upwards of 130 free seats added, making a total of 525
sittings for the poor ; and the parochial schools have been
built. A collection will be made next Sunday on behalf
of education in Wales, and as Mr. James has done so
much for England he has some claim on his hearers for
the new scene of his labours.
THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.—Some little proof was
afforded of the advantage of the system of teaching
French pursued by Mons. L. P. Plumtot, of Parliament-
street, at the public examination of his pupils on Friday
last. During four hours, very young ladies, in the pre-
sence of their parents, replied very correctly, and with
good pronunciation, to all the principal rules of the
French grammar. One young lady, who commenced to
learn the language by the French alphabet, with Mons.
P. 's new system, about eighteen months since, wrote,
without assistance,
a letter of nearly fifty lines, with only
four errors.

ruck me

. .
ing upwards
eauties—

by aid

had the boldness in this hyperborean metropolis of
powdering their hair with a pinch or two of something
' • confounded like--gold dust. It had a pretty
t its metallic lustre palsied the eye as it admired.
done in honour of EUGENIA. At Buckingham
Palace, on Wednesday evening, there was nothing of the
sort, roses and diamonds chiefly in the hair, which iv/ S
parted in the middle of the forehead, and brought out
bulging magnificently at the sides. This was the grandest

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1853.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY NE ri S.

MONDAY NIGHT.
THE movements in the East, on the dispute between
Russia and Turkey, have exercised the prevailing
influence on monetary changes ; and the slight fluc-
tuation which has taken place, compared with the
magnitude of the interests at stake, has afforded,
perhaps, one of the best proofs of the healthy state
of commercial affairs. Owing to the more favour-
able prospects of the Eastern question being ami-
cably settled, the Funds have slightly improved,
although not to the full extent of the depression,
and other species of investments have also risen in
value. Money has been generally easy for com-
mercial purposes, at rates below the limit fixed by
the Directors of the Bank of England ; and as the
weekly returns again show an increase in the stock
of bullion to the extent of nearly a quarter of a
million, we may reasonably anticipate a continuance
of the present favourable state of commercial and
monetary affairs.

Political questions appear to have affected trade
in the manufacturing districts, though not to any
great extent, and returning confidence in the main-
tenance of peace has led to an improved demand,
with a prospect of prices going still higher when a
settlement is finally effected. The demand of the
operatives for reduced hours of labour is likely to
be met by a compromise, though some are holding
out for increased wages, particularly at Stockport.
From the woollen districts the reports are similar
to previous ones, the demand being good, and trade
only checked by the high price of the raw material.
The impetus to the Tea trade, which was antici-
pated, from the reduction of the duty, has not yet
been realised, owing to the dealers being still occu-
pied in clearing their previous purchases ; but the
accounts of the rebellion in China, coupled with
the advance consequent upon improved demand,
will not leave the consumer much gain from the
slight decrease in duty. In Colonial produce there
is little to notice, save the absence of speculation ;
but there is a fair consumptive demand for most
articles, and prices are well maintained.
The repeal of the Soap duty, affecting as it does
the duty on importation, has led to some little
difficulty ; but, in order to frustrate attempts that
were in contemplation to re-land Soap which had
received the high drawback, upon payment of the
mere nominal rate of duty of Sd. per cwt., the
Lords of the Treasury have cancelled the order for
the admission of this article at the latter rate.

The return from the Bank of England, for the
week ending the 11th of June, gives the following
results, when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits .. £3,737,044; Decrease £898,410
Other deposits .. 14,033,701 ; Increase 1,130,862
Rest .. 3,111,594; Increase 5,399

On the other side of the account—
Government securities £13,124,910 ; Increase 257
Other securities .. 14,246,232 ; Decrease 386,127
Notes unemployed .. 8,907,985 ; Increase 541,015
The amount of notes in circulation is £23,083,080,
being a decrease of £340,355 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £15,47 9,515, show-
ing an increase of £225,581, when compared with
the preceding return.

Govrnt. Debt.. £11,015,100
Other securities 2,984,900
Gold coin & bu1n.17,971,911
Silver bullion .. 19,154

THE CRIMINALS AND BEERH

£31,991,065
BANKING DEPARTMENT.
Prop.'s capita1.£14,553,000 Gov. securities.£l3,l24,9lo
Rest 3,111,594 Other securities 14,246,232
Public deposits. 3,737,044 Notes .. 8,907,985
Other deposits . 14,033,701' Gold & silv. coin 488,450
7-day, &c. bills. 1,332,238

£31,991,065

LIVERPOOL.

OUSES 0

£36,767,577

The amount of business in our SHARE MARKET has
again been very limited. The political uncertainty and
uneasiness is quite sufficient to prevent buying, while it is
scarcely alarming to a degree to frighten holders into
selling, which leaves the market in the hands of the
dealers, who operate each hour as the telegraph brings
news, pacific or otherwise, and to them nearly all business
is at present confined. Our local stocks continue very
steady, finding ready buyers at the current quotations,
and in some instances at an advance upon them. This
day's prices are :-Caledonians, 344 4 4; Eastern Counties,
13 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 781 ; London Stock,
115 1144 ; Ditto Eighths, 4-p ; Sheffield Stock, 30 ;
Midland Stock, 724 4 4 2 ; Dover Stock, 214 4 i 4 ;
York and North Midland, 304 30 ; East Lancashire
Pref. Quarters, 94 ; Great Northern £lO Shares, 4p ;
Royal Insurance, lip.
COTTON.-The opinions which we expressed two months
since as to the supply of cotton not being greatly in excess
of last year have been fully realised, and now that all
doubts are set at rest, prices are firmly maintained. and
would go higher but for the uncertainty about Russia and
Turkey. The sales last week were larger in extent than
ordinary, and a considerable amount was taken on specula-
tion, at fully previous rates, on fair qualities, while lower
grades commanded an advance of 1-16 d. to 4d. per lb.
TO-DAY the sales were 7000 bales, of which about 1000
were on speculation and for export, and the market closed
fimly without change in prices.
PRODUCE.-For sugar the demand has been almost
exclusively confined to refiners, who have paid steady
prices. Molasses arrive freely, but the reduction of duty
so soon to come into operation in favour of foreign, dis-
inclines the trade to buy colonial, without a concession in
price. Of coffee the public sales of Jamaica went off
with fair spirit, particularly the ordinary descriptions.
Trinidad cocoa sold at 325., and Bahia at 265. 6d. per cwt.
Of rice 200 tierces Carolina sold at 235. 3d. to 245. 6d.,
and 7,000 bags Bengal, at 9s. 9d. to 11s. 9d., being rather
dearer. There was au improved demand for rum. The
tea market has been inactive; some few of the finest
Congons have been taken by the trade at full prices, and
common Congous, in second hands, at rather easier rates,
but the dealers are still chiefly occupied with their
clearances. Saltpetre remains dull. For guano there has
been a fair demand at former rates. Turpentine in
moderate demand, at 12s. 4d. to 12s. 6d. per cwt. About
1,700 Brazil hides sold at std. to 54d. for dry, and 44d.
for wet salted. in olive oil a further decline has been
submitted to of 10s. to 20s. per tun. Pale seal oil sold at
£32 per tun. Seed oils steady at last week's prices.
Palm oil rather lower ; about 125 tons on the spot having
been sold at £34 to £35, and 500 tons to arrive at £34105.
to £35 per ton. Tallow steady at 48s. to 48s. 6d. for
Petersburg Y.C. Jute at public sale went off with fair
spirit, at current rates. TO-DAY the Sugar market has
been rather more active, the sales, including Saturday's
business, comprising 50 hhds. Trinidad at 335. 6d. to 355. ;
120 hhds. Barbadoes at 335. to 38s. ; 100 hhds. Antigua
at 335. 9d. to 345. 9d. ; 110 hhds. Demerara at 31s. to
345. ; 50 hhds. Porto Rico at 375. 6d. to 38s. ; 300 bags
Benares at 375. ; 400 bags yellow Paraiba at 20s. 3d. ;
and a cargo of Bahia, afloat, deliverable at an out-port,
at 19s. per cwt. Of Molasses, 450 puns. Porto Rico are
reported at 18s., 100 puns. Antigua at 18s., and 100 casks
Cossipore Treacle, to arrive, at 17s. per cwt. Rum in
good demand, 100 puns. Demerara having realised the
late advance. 100 bags ordinary Rio Coffee brought 40s.
per cwt. Rather more inquiry for Tea from the trade, at
full previous prices ; but transactions limited, waiting the
receipt of China letters. At auction, 400 bags Bengal
Rice were taken at 103. 3d. to Ils. per cwt. 200 bales
Jute, at £l7 15s. per ton for fair common, and a small
parcel of Bombay Linseed at 48s. per quarter.
Woo L.--The market has been very quiet during the
past week. In the absence of any transactions, there is
no feature worthy of note ; and, until the settlement of
the disturbed state of politics in the Bast, it cannot be
expected much business will be done. Manufacturers are
afraid to operate at the high price ruling for this article at
present, until they can see their way clear. Imports for
the week, 2,141 bales, being about 670 above an average
of the last six months.

There is much interesting and momentous information
to be obtained by a perusal of the annual report of the
Head-Constable on the Police establishment. In making
up the police statistical returns, facts, rather than fancy,
recommend themselves to the compiler ; but we believe
more may be gleaned in a few minutes from the elo-
quently significant tables of Captain Greig, which have
been got up with great care by that gentleman, than
from the most elaborate pen-and-ink sketches of those
newspaper " commissioners," who devote their time and
abilities to the description of the " homes and haunts"
of criminals—their numbers, and the various ways in
which they contrive to live.

• The total number of offences committed in 1852 was
19,026 ; murder, 6; manslaughter, 7 ; cutting and maim-
ing, 23 ; bigamy, 3 ; deserting children, 4 ; concealing
births, 3 ; rape, 2 ; indecent assaults, 9. The number of
assaults on police-officers was 557. We do not appear to
have attained the same eminence in the calendar of
drunkenness as our sister country, Scotland, in whose
ancient and romantic metropolis 1 in every 15 of the
population is said to be apprehended by the police
in a state of inebriation, which renders a short period
of imprisonment absolutely requisite. In Liverpool,
during 1852, 3,211 " drunk and incapables " were ap-
prehended, which is hardly so bad as " one in fif-
teen." Fifty-nine persons were apprehended for wilful
exposure of the person ; three for being keepers of houses
of ill-fame; forty-three for bastardy ; a hundred and two
for gambling ; and thirty for deserting their families.
529 robberies had been committed by pickpockets, 554 by
girls of loose character, and 402 by other means. 541
robberies were committed from vessels in the docks ; 359
from the dock quays ; and 627 of goods from the streets.
Of the number taken into custody, 11,809 were males,
and 7,217 females; summarily punished, 10,296; com-
mitted for trial, 522 ; bills ignored, 7 ; acquitted, 99 ;
imprisoned, 517 ; transported, 93. The value of the
property stolen was £14,042 12s. Bd., and of that re-
covered, £4,846 10s. 10d. Of the persons taken into
custody on charges of felony, 3,366 males hadbeen pre-
viously in custody, and 2.211 females-425 of these total
number of " old offenders" being under the age of 12.
The number of prostitutes taken into custody and sum-
marily punished for being disorderly in the streets
was 937, of whom 842 were committed. The informations
laid by the police were, in the town, 4,208 ; of these 120
were withdrawn, 235 wrongly laid, nr summonses not
served, 625 acquitted, and 3,228 fined—the amount of
fines being £1,663 Bs. The dock informations numbered
2,809, and 2,298 offenders were fined—the fines amounting
to £728 12s.

It appears that there are 484 lodging-houses registered
in the town, 2,999 empty houses within the borough, 33
houses in which stolen property is received, 162 old
clothes shops, and 191 marine stores. The number of
public-houses doing business was 1,406, of which 83 were
irregular, 22 of them having music saloons. The number
at present closed is 18. There is an increase in the north
end of the town of 19, and a decrease in the other division
of the borough of 8. 918 beerhouses do business, and of
these 95 are irregular, and 59 have been added to the list
since 1851. Of the 96 coffee-houses in existence 15 are
irregular. Although no fresh licenses have been granted
during the year, the increase has been occasioned by
transfers and removals, particularly from the neighbour.
hood of Wapping.
The brothels kept by males number 113, by females
461; the total number of prostitutes is 1,706, of men
residing in brothels 262, of other houses of bad repute
49, of houses where prostitutes lodge 69. Forty-four
disreputable houses have been removed by the police, but
there is still an increase over the previous year of 16
houses, although the number of prostitutes has only
increased from 1,703, in the previous year, to 1,706.
The professional thieves at work in the Queen of the
Mersey, male and female, is 384, 62 belonging to the fair
sex ; the occasional thieves, 106 ; and the suspicious
characters, 90.

COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION.-
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

On Friday, the lecture-hall of the Collegiate Institution
presented a very gay appearance, being crowded with the
boys belonging to the schools and their friends who had
assembled to witness the distribution of prizes. The at-
tractive nature of the proceedings was enhanced by being
presided over by the Right Hon. the Earl of Harrowby,
who was accompanied by the Mayor, the Revds. Rector
Campbell, Dr. M'Neile, J. C. Farrar, C. W. Lawrence,
F. Ould, Dr. Hume, F. Amos, J. Cordeaux, J. H. Jones;
Messrs. C. Inman, E. Molyneux, R Shand, Alderman

Cooper Jos. Booker, E. Cropper, G. H. Lawrence. F. G

Morris, S. Douglas, W. DatisOn,'W. Aked, J. M. Wood,
J. K. Rounthwaite, William Gregson, James Tyrer, Dr.
Ramsay, John Nicholson, Joseph Rawdon, Edward Jones,
J. D. Anderson. Previous to the commencement of the
proceedings, Mr. E. F. Smith played a number of miscel-
laneous pieces on the organ. The Rev. Mr. Howson gave
out the exercises, at the conclusion of which the Earl of
Harrowby delivered an eloquent speech. The Rev. Mr.
Howson, the Principal, then made a few remarks on the
characters and abilities of the boys who had earned the
prizes; and having called in Masters Rawlin and Bishop, who
had become entitled to the M'Neile exhibition scholarship,
the Earl of Harrowby said it would not become him to
make any remarks to the boys in that particular while the
founder was there himself, and called on Dr. M'Neile,
who rose, and addressed the assembly and the two boys
alternately, congratulating the latter on their literary at-
tainments, and inciting them to increased exertion in the
Pursuit of knowledge—so that they might follow in the
footsteps of their predecessors, Farrar, Rigby, and 'White-
side. The Earl of Harrowby introduced Mr. Farrar, who
paid some happy compliments to the bows whom he had
helped to examine, and to the masters who trained them.
The Principal then called the various boys to receive the
prizes, which the Earl of Harrowby distributed, with a
word of commendation to each. The following is the list

UPPER SCHOOL. PRIZES

SPECIAL PRIZES.—Junior Dig inity Medal : lago. Certifi-
cate, Rounthwaite, Tarbet.—Junior Historical Medal : R. P.
Aked. Certificate, Rounthwaite, Dove.--Junior Mathematical
Medal : W. Bartlett, or Rounthwaite. Certificate, T. Bart-
lett. M'lSTeile University Exhibition : H. H. Bishop.
CLASS PRIZES.—tat Class : Egerton Scholarship : H. H.
Bishop. 2d Class : G. Rawdon. 3d Class : Reg. Molyneux
and Mod. Mitchell. 4th Class Reg. Caw and Mod. T. Bart-
lett. sth Class : Jeffrey and Pater. 6th Class. E. Aked.
Preparatory Classes-7th Class W. Aked. Bth Class :E.
Tarbet. Lower Bth Class : J. Lockett.

EXTRA PRlZES.—Divinity prizes Junior Classes : W.
Lowe, Scripture Lessons ; H. H. Bishop, Latin Verse ;
Douglas, Writing ; R. P. Aked, Good Conduct ; Wood and
rairclough, Arithmetic ; Cordeaux ; Carpenter ; Bouch,
French. Certificates : Cordeaux, Michod, Rounthwaite, J.
Birkbeck, Aked, Walker, Pater, Jeffery, Clough, W. Booker,
E. Tarbet, J. Lockett.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRIZES

SPECIAL PRlZES.—Divinity Medal, W. P. Swinden ; certi-
ficate, D. J. Dunlop, Old Testament History. Nomination to
Upper School, T. Edwards. Historical and geographical me-
dal, E. T. Brunn ; certificates, G. H. Rigby, G. H. Cooper.
Mathematical prize, Sinker. Arithmetical certificates, W.
Carter, T. Swift, W. Parkin, Storey, R. J. Clayton. French
medal, J. Bridson ; French certificates, B. Wilson, W. Parkin,
Mac Master, H. Dnckworth. Drawing medal, Winsor ; draw-
ing, certificates, W. Nicholson, Boustead, T. Swift. Penman-
ship medal, J. M. Dickens; penmanship certificates, Edwards,
E. Sudlow, Bocquet, Jordan, Foulkes, R. J. Clayton, Brock,
and Brown.

CLASS PRIZES.—iSt Class, Potter Scholarship, Boyd, trans-
ferred to B. Wilson; Certificate, J. Travis. 2d Class Prize,
W. Swift ; Certificate, J. D. Parkin. 3d Class, Prize, J. R.
Lewis ; Certificate, Bocquet. 4th Class, Prize, R. F. Dickins ;
Certificate, H. A. Stamper. sth Class, Prize, Pearson ; Certi-
ficate, Ilbery. 6th Class, Prize, 0. P. Clayton ; Certificate,
F. Maddock. 7th Class, Prize, Brock ; Certificate, Watkins
Bth Class, Prize, Buckley ; Certificate, H. Molyneux.
Natural History Prize, given by Head Master, F.
Certificate, R. Worthington, Patterson's Zoology.
First M'Neile Scholarship, Lewis ; Certificates, Parkin and
Phillips, Divinity, History, and Arithmetic.
Second ISPNeile Scholarship, Sinker; Certificates, Christian
and Arthur. Divinity, Geography, French, and English.
Principitl's Prize for Divinity, T. J. Edwards.
French Master's Prize, Garratt.
Mathematical Master's Prize, Boustead.
Prize for careful Preparation of Arithmetical Exercises, J
M. Castellanos.

Archer ;

THE ANNUAL GALA of the Total Abstinence Society,
which takes place today, is expected to be an unusually
brilliant affair.

BOY KILLED.—On Thursday afternoon two boys were
playing in Bakehouse-lane, Stanley-street, near a tem-
porary wall at Mr. Bennett's iron foundry, when a large
door, insecurely reared against the wall, fell upon one of
them, John Duryer, and killed him on the spot.
STAITE'S ELECTRIC LlGHT.—During the past week
Staite's electric light was exhibited as an open light,
with no other assistance than a small twelve-inch re-
flector, placed so as to throw a pencil of light towards
Woodside. This arrangement gave the greatest satisfac.
Lion. The inventor is preparing to make some other ex.
periments, one of which will be to show what can be done
when fogs prevail, and in what way the light can be di-
vided, so as to produce two, at least, distinct rays, in
different directions.
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH SCHOOLS, PLEASANT-STREET.
—The examination of the pupils of these schools took
place on Friday last, before a number of ladies and gentle.
men connected with St. Philip's Church, and who take a
lively interest in the welfare of this institution. The
children were examined on different subjects by the Rev.
C. H. Burton, and several of them sang and recited a
number of select pieces, much to the delight of all pre.
sent. At the conclusion, the rev. incumbent passed a
high eulogium on Mr. Washington, the resident master,
and Mrs. Walker, the mistress of the girls' school, for
their assiduity and attention to the studies of their pupils
during the last twelve months. There are in these schools
at the present time upwards of 200 children.
ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—Mr. James Anderson has
appeared during the past week, in " Ingomar," a piece of
overpowering interest, " Macbeth," " Virginius," " The
King of the Commons," and " The Robbers." We are
of opinion that this gentleman is one of the most cor-
rect actors of the day. He appeared last night in
" Hamlet," one of his favourite characters. We perceive,
with pleasure, that " lngomar" is to be repeated to-
night. This romantic play, which created an intense
sensation in the metropolis when first produced at Drury-
lane, under the management of Mr. Anderson, has been
put upon the stage by Mr. Copeland in excellent style.
The acting of Mr. Anderson, as Ingomar, the brave leader
of the Allemanni, is a most finished realisation of the
author's ingenious conception ; while Miss Fanny Cath-
cart's Parthenia is a highly creditable performance. Nor
can we say too much of Mr. Ray's Polydor, the character
which that gentleman originally performed on the first
production of the drama in London. The prominent
actors are creditably supported by the other members of
Mr. Copeland's corps. We trust that the support given
to this well-conducted theatre during Mr. Anderson's
brief stay among us, will be such as to encourage the
manager to keep up the succession of " stars" whom he hasintroduced during the past EMMA for the gratification
of the play-going public,

The Principal's Singing Prize, T. Phillips; Certificates, Parr
and Brunn. LOWER 1.41-10021. PRIZES. _

SPECIAL PRlZES.—Divinity prize, A. F. Thomson : Certi.
ficate, J. Parkinson. Nomination to middle school, J. South-
ward. Historical prize, J. B. Stride; Certificates: Tickle,
Gillison, and Lobley. Writing medal, J. Parkiuson : Certifi-
cates, John Lee and Southward. Arithmetical medal, J.
Nicholson : Certificetes, Parkinson, Yatest and Clarke. Ist
MNeile scholarship, A. F. Thomson : Certificate, G. Cranage.
2nd M'Neile scholarship, S. B. Fyfe ; Certificate, J. B. Stryde.
Hayworth free nomination to middle school, W.M. Pendlebury.
CLASS PRIZES.—First class. Ist Molyneux scholarship, G.
Tickle; second ditto, J. Simpson. Second class. Prize of
books, J. Turner; class certificate, R. Brown ; writing ditto,
T. K. Bellis. Third class. Prize. W. Clarke ; certifieate, T.
Middleton; writing ditto, H. Elias. Fourth class. Prize, L.
Witham ; class certificate, J. Hicks ; writing ditto, J. Bishop.
Fifth class, Prize, J. Clapham ; class certificate, M. Hart and
Westmore ; writing ditto, J. Newton. Sixth class. Prize, T.
Beezley ; class certificate, W. B. Lawton • writing ditto, T. W.
Stafford. Seventh class. Prize, H. Bird; class certificate, D.
Dawkin ; writing ditto, C. F. Wilton. Eigth class. Prize. J.
Honeyburne ; class certificate, R. Maer ; writing ditto, J. Jas.
Forshaw. Ninth class. Prize, W. Hughes; class certificate,
W. Thornthwaite ; writing ditto, H. Southey. Names honour.
ably mentioned : Gillison, Lobley, Nott, Royle, Clarkson,
Smith, Caswell, T. G. Jones, Malcolm, Wellington, Wardell,
Norbury, Pars!ow, R. Jones, J. Jones, Egan, Westmore, Hal-
sail, (who was nominated to this school from St. Augustine's,)
West, Todd, Harrison, Bradley, Lamb, Davies, Morris, Fisk,
Skellorn. Wighton, J. Jeffreys, Musker, Daft, Blease, C. Bell,
and Hallam.

EXTRA SPECIAL PRlZES.—Principal's prize, A. F. Thomson.
Head-master's prize, S. B. Fyfe : Ist class geometry certificate,
Lobley, sen,, and Pendlebury ; 2nd ditto ditto, Brown and
Leatherbarrow ; ditto ditto, Loby, jun., and Middleton. Ist
class French prize, Parkinspn ; ditto ditto, certificates, Lobley,
J. Reeve, Nicholson, and Gillison. 2nd class French prize, W.
Garner, ; ditto ditto, certificates, Turner, Tadd. West, and
Fisher. Mapping certificates, Jos. Lee, J. Nicholson, and
Glover. Drawing prize, Jos. Lee, Ist class; ditto certificate.
Yates, 2nd class ; ditto ditto, Malcolm, 3rd class.
His Worship the Mayor moved, and Rector Campbell
seconded, a vote of thanks to Lord Harrowby, which his
Lordship acknowledged ; and, after a similar compliment
to the Mayor, moved by Rector Campbell, and seconded
by Dr. M'Neile, the boys gave three cheers for the Queen
and three for Lord Harrowby, and the boys formally
" broke up for the holidays."

THE AZTE

BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.—An application has been made
to parliament for a short bill to equalise the bonds held
by the creditors of the Birkenhead Docks. The bill
passed the standing orders of the House of Commons on
Friday, and is expected to pass speedily.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentle-
men have just been elected fellows of the college :
Messrs. T. M. Ashton, Ormskirk ' • K. Ellison, Liver-
pool ; and J. L. Minshull, Liverpool. At the same meet-
ing Messrs. R. T. Lodge, of Liverpool, and G. Wolsten-
holm, of Bolton, Licentiates of the Faculty of Glasgow,
were admitted ad cundem members of the college.
AN ENGLISH HOMESTEAD.—AII who can look with
pleasure on scenes of rural life—and who can not ? should
visit Mr. Isaac's, in Castle-street, to see Mr. Herring,
sen.'s, celebrated picture, " A Glimpse of an English
Homestead." It is one of those gems which always
please ; and, as it is being engraved, we have no doubt
that copies will be eagerly sought after.

CONVERSIONS.—On Sunday- evening last five persons
publicly renounced the errors of Popery in St. James'
Church, Latchford, Warrington, and were received into
communion with the Church of England by the Rev.
James Wright, incumbent. This is the seventh time
during the last fifteen months the rev. gentleman hag
performed a similar pleasing ceremony.

LILLIPUT

lANS.-STRANGE

ARRIVAL IN LIVERPOOL.

!• America is the land of wonders. The mind of the model
republic is ever bent on the contemplation of strange
subjects—subjects stretching often beyond the boundaries
of the material world. Spirit-rapping and table-moving
have lately agitated every community in the States. The
revelations in natural history, made from time to time by
Brother Jonathan, have vastly enlarged the earth's vo-
lume of wonders ; but we hesitate not to avow that the
most remarkable revelation of all has recently taken place
which ever excited the surprise of the Old or the New
World. We allude to the Aztec children, by some sup.
posed to belong to one of the lost tribes of Israel, by
others said to be of Siberian origin, and by some thought
to be descended from the Egyptians. To the North
American Indians, among whom they have been found,
they bear no likeness whatever ; indeed, the difference is
so distinctive from the Caucasian, the Mongolian, the
African, and Red American races, that a mere glance is
sufficient to carry conviction of their separate individuality
as a race. The careful examination of the ethnologist
goes but to strengthen the fact of their perfectly distinct
character, physiologically and phrenologically.
The couple of Aztec children, which arrived in Liverpool on
Saturday, from America, are in the charge of Professor
Anderson, the world-famous wizard of the north, who, after a
successful American campaign, has returned to Britain with the
youthful specimens of the hitherto unheard-of race. These
children, wto were yesterday brought to our office in the care
of Professor Anderson and Mr. Morris, present the most
extraordinary phenomena ever witnessed by the modern
world, let their origin be what it may. We have not here the
unsightly copy of an American in miniature, whom the British
public flocked to see in the person of Tom Thumb with an
avidity which said little for the taste and judgment of the
crowd. But we have creatures infinitely smaller in stature than
Tom Thumb, albeit they look not like dwarfs, being, so to speak,
perfect specimens of the Lilliputian race to which they belong,
so far as the unaccustomed eye can discern. Had we read an
account of these extraordinary people, we should have been
disposed to class them with the fawns and dryads of the
Arcadian vales; with the moonlight fairies—the little grey
men of the Norse legends—or the green-coated gentry who
frequent the valleys of Scotland. But they are neither sprites
nor ells, but human beings, of real flesh and blood like our-
selves—the remnant, mayhap, of some strange and wonderful
race—the mightiest marvel of the land of wonders—and who,
if they bear a resemblance to any existing race are, in the case
of the boy, allied somewhat to the Caucasian branch of the
human family. The most learned and scientific men in the
United States have made critical examinations of theae
children, and unite in pronouncing them the most
unique and extraordinary beings that have ever fallen under
their observation. The attention of European men of science,
ethnologists, physiologists, philosophers, and physicians is now
called to these curious and remarkable children.
In introducing to tire scientific and general public of Europe
the Aztec Lilliputians, we deem it necessary to give an outline
of the facts relating to their discovery and history. They are
not introduced to the public as dwarfs, or freaks of nature in
human organisation—but they are exhibited as types and spe-
cimens of a race of people long since supposed to be extinct—
living links between the most remote ages and the present—a
race of people of whom we in the present age know absolutely
nothing—whose history is a sealed book, and the knowledge of
whose manners and customs has been swallowed in the womb
of time. Modern scientific researches, aided by monumental
remains, enable us to surmise much; but here science must
pause, for, after all, we have nothing but surmise to guide us
in our attempts to penetrate the vista of long past ages, and
gather something like a history of nations as far advanced in
civilisation as ourselves, nay, even more so.
Central America has been and is comparatively a terra incog-
nita. The explorations of Mr Stevens, the great traveller, in
these regions, and the publication of his work on Central Ame-
rica, have thrown some light upon the subject, and excited the
wonder and imagination of all classes of readers, yet he failed
in penetrating beyond a certain range, and, although his enthu-
siasm was excited to the highest pitch of excitement by the
rumours which reached him of great undiscovered cities and
nations beyond the mountain fastnesses, he gave up the attempt
of endeavouring to test the truth of these traditionary rumours,
owing to the apparent hopelessness and impracticability of the
task.

Whilst in Mexico, occasional excursions by the troops of the
United States, undertaken with no other object than the pur-
suit of roving bands of predatory Indians, resulted in the dis-
covery of native cities inhabited by people far advanced in civi-
lization, engaged in manufactures, tilling the earth, and in every
way distinct, in habit, manners, and customs, from the rude
barbarism of the Indian tribe of he more northern continent ;
but neither the military nor the Mexican commission succeeded
in penetrating the immense labyrintn of mountains north of the
Gila, whither native tribes retreat when pursued.
Stevens, in his second volume of Central America, relates a
conversation between himself and a priest residing at Santa
Cruz del Quiche, and the worthy padre's romantic relation of
marvellous ruins in the surrounding country, some of which
were little more than four leagues from Vera Paz. But the
most exciting intelligence Stevens received was that a large and
populous city actually existed far on the other side of the great
Sierra range, whose sparkling domes and minarets the priest
had himself seen from the summit of the Sierra, which, rising
12,000 feet, overlooks an immense plain, extending to Yucatan
and the Gulf of Mexico—a city, whose people, manners, and
customs were supposed to be in precisely the same state as
when Cortes landed--where natives exist who alone are able to
solve the mystery which hangs over the ruins of Central
America. The ardent character of the American mind was
stimulated by Stevens's recitals and the probability of dis-
coveries which would form a new era in the history of the
world. Certain it is that the reading of the particular
passage relating to the existence of a large and populous city
far away in an unexplored country, on the other side of the
Sierra, so inflamed the imaginations of two gentlemen—the
one a Mr. Huertis, of Baltimore, and the other a Mr. Ham-
mond, from Canada, both of whom were possessed of ample
means—that they determined to undertake the perilous enter-
prise which Stevens had given up as hopeless. We have intelli-
gence of their departure from New Orleans, and arrival at
Belize, in the autumn of 1848; we trace them with a party of
Indians along the borders of the Gulf of Amatique, thence
south-west to Cuban, where they arrived on Christmas-day, and
paused to rest prior to proceeding to Santa Cruz del Quiche,
where Stevens first heard of this living city in the wilderness,
and from which point the journey had, in fact, to be com-
menced. At Cobaa they were joined by Pedro Valasques, of
San Salvador, a Spaniard; and from his lips alone can any re-
cord of their subsequent movements be obtained, as neither
Mr. 'Muds nor Mr. Hammond ever returned to tell their own
tale. Certain it is that they saw and were seen by the old padre,
who related the same story he had told Stevens, and that
when shown the illustrations in the published travels of the
latter, both Velasquez and the padre recognised the sketches
of ruins and monuments immediately as objects with which
they were familiar. Re-assured by these and other proofs of
the truthfulness of Stevens's statements, the party again com-
menced their onward march towards Totonicapan on the 10th
of April, and their safe arrival at Gueguetenango can also be
traced, where they procured mules, guides, and provisions, and,
strengthened their band. They then commenced the ascent of
the Sierra, and, on the 19th of May, at an altitude of 9500 feet,
in latitude 15 degrees 48 minutes north, they reached the sum
mit. On the 20th the morning was fair, the Pacific Ocean was•
plainly distinguishable; as, also, whole groups of ruins and
pyramids through the telescope far away in what was supposed
to be the state of Chiapas. At two o'clock p.m. on the same
day, all doubt of the history, as given by Stevens, vanished, for
the entire party, guides and all, distinctly saw what was evi-
dently a richly monumented and inhabited city, of extremely
large dimensions, of an Egyptian character, lying at some
leagues' distance in the plain below, apparently not more than
25 leagues from Ocosingo, in the same latitude, and in the
direct course of the river Legartos. Domes and minarets
were apparent in such a state of preservation as precluded the
idea of the place being deserted, and thus stimulated by what
they had seen the intrepid travellers determined on exploring
the plain below ; but the descent of the Sierra on that side
was an entire impossibility. It was therefore agreed that
they should return the way they had same to the bottom of
the ravine, thence trace its north-east course to a large vil-
lage they had seen on the banks of the Legato (subsequently
discovered to be named Aguamasinta), where Messrs. Iluertis
and Hammond were to halt whilst Velasquez and the guiles
returned to Quezaltenango for surplus arms and ammuni.
tion, and to recruit a band of Indians to accompany them.
Velasquez did return to Quezaltenango, and fulfilled his mis-
sion, leaving there most of the people who had accompanied.
him on his first trip ; and the fact of his rejoining Huertis
and Hammond at Aguamasinta in the beginning of the
following July is also on record. Thenceforward, with the ex.
ception of the account of Velasquez, the Spaniard, without
notes or observations, and with no personal corroboration
(for no other member of the adventurous band returneclN
all is a confused and irregular account of their proceedings,
almost too marvellous for belief but for the living evidence of
the ;two Aztec Lilliputians, whom Velasquez was found in
possession of at San Salvador during the following February.
His account briefly is, that they had penetrated. to this city in
the wilderness—which was of vast proportions, with heavy walls,
battlements, and a moat throughout its circtunference—full of
temples, gigantic statues, and all the paraphernallia of paganism
—where the people still retained the worship of the sun as a
deity—where the habits, customs, sovereignty, and primitive
simplicity of the Peruvians in the days of Pizzaro, combined
with Assyrian magnificence and civilization, still existed intact
and without allay from the outer world—and where. the heredi-
tary priesthood of Kaana were kept isolated from the other in-
habitants, reserved for the purpose of paganism, its rites and
ceremonies, with the same religious reverence as in the days of
the Egyptian rule—where the people were bound to remain,
neither seeking nor permitting any intercourse with the white
race, to which on the one side the lofty and impracticable
Sierra presented an apparently insurmountable obstacle, whilst
on the other desert plains and leviathan forests completely
shut out the civilised world—a city where straggling white
men had previously penetrated, but whence no white man had
ever returned, the choice of death or remaining being the only
alternative. But as the truth of his narrative concerning this
pagan city of Iximaya, with its exact locality and existence,
will be determined by the United States survey, now in course
of formation, the question will be soon set at rest. Mean-
time it is cerlain that neither Hammond nor Huertis returned;
the former, Velasquez says, died from a spear wound received
in the first skirmish with the native band set on guard against
intrusion on their domains ; and the latter, it is evident, was
sacrificed after taking upon himself moral obligations to re-
main, and then attempting to escape.
Velasquez was more fortunate and more politic ; for, after
lulling his captors into a state of security, he not only escaped
himself, but brought with him two of the children of the Kaana
priesthood. His description of this extraordinary race of beings
is simply this :—That, forbidden by sacred laws from marrying
any but those of their own caste, they had here, in the course
of centuries, dwindled down to a few individuals, who, though
diminutive in stature, are held in great veneration by the
Iximayan community as living types of an antique race of
priesthood, nearly extinct, who had accompanied the first
migration of the people of the Assyrian plains.
If we doubt the narrative of Velasquez and the other evidence
before us, the natural inquiry is,—who and what are these ex-
traordinary people, and where did they come from? for they
are evidently unlike every other branch of the human family
ever seen by civilized people, and different in physical organi-
sation to any and every other specimen previously seen in a
living form ; whilst their appearance at places in Central
America nearest the region whence they came created just as
much bewildering astonishment and intense curiosity as have
ensued during their exhibition throughout the most enlighten.
ed portions of the United States; whilst their life-like resem-
blance to the sculptured figures found in the ruins of Central
America, and on the ancient marbles in the British Museum,
confirm the belief of their origin and history as given by
Velasquez.

Their guardians solicit the most searching investigation,
and the aid of scientific research to elicit the truth. All
the facts in their possession are freely given, and they do
not shrink from, but court the fullest inquiry, convinced, as
they are, that these two Aztec Lilliputians will prove to be the
greatest scientific and historical curiosities ever brought before
the public, whilst their existence may tend to throw some light
on the mysteries, and elucidate the ceremonies, of bygone ages.
Maximo and Ilartolo (for by these names the two Aztec
children have been baptised) are by medical men supposed to
be of the respective ages of 17 and 11, which opinion is corrobo-
rated by the appearance of their teeth, which indicates a much
greater maturity than that which at first sight would be awarded
to beings of such an infantile form. The formation of the cra-
nium in both is most peculiar, and totally different from any
other race of human beings with which the scientific world is
acquainted; whilst the phrenological and medical prefession
will at once observe that, in both instances, there is a maturity
of development in keeping with the dental arrangement, whilst
the forehead and cerebellum present types and characteristics
of the most interesting character to the scientific inquirer.
When brought to the country, they were unable to speak any
language. They were extremely lively, intelligent, and active,
and most inquisitive and imitative in their habits; in Maximo,
especially, these characteristics seem to be largely developed.
The exhibition of any strange article, with whose form and ap-
pearance he was previously unacquainted, excites his immediate
attention, and intense curiosity is at once depicted 'on his
face, the failing to gratify which immediately creates the ap-
pearance of both sorrow and displeasure. He evinces much
delight at seeingpersons either write or draw, and the possession
orspencil immediately induces a crude and futile imitation on
Theyart, which evidently affords him extreme satisfaction.
are both perfectly formed, and enjoyed during their
sojourn in America robust health. Whether the climate of
Europe will affect them yet remains to be Wen ; but for the