The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-16 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

BOMBAY, APRIL 14.—Fair business in general markets.
Money continues very scarce in the bazaar, but in other
quarters the pressure has not been felt much, and rates
of discount at the banks not altered since last report.
Transactions limited. Cotton, notwithstanding unfavour-
able accounts from both England and China, remains
steady at previous quotations. Most purchases made by
natives. Produce of all descriptions held at extreme
rates. Freights firm, and unchanged : £4 ss. to Liver-
pool, and £4 10s. to London. A number of large vessels
arrived. Exchange fluctuated considerably-2s. ld. and
1-16 d. ; 2s. Id. and id.
CHINA, JAN. 30.—N0 news of importance; but it
appears the rebels are quite able to maintain the position
taken up for winter quarters some two months before,
against all the forces that could be brought against
them. It is certain that the Imperialists have sustained
severe defeats. _ _ _

ry
CALCUTTA.—Indigo neglected. The few arrivals lately,
and consequent shortness of supplies, have maintained the
tone of the market for Cotton piece goods, and of dis-
posing dealers to operate with less reserve. Plain goods
in comparatively active demand, at slightly improved
prices ; but fancy and light goods still neglected, and
very inactive. Exchange scarcely altered. Tonnage
scarce. Freights higher. London £7 17s. ed. to £B.
Canton, freights to England £6 to £7.

HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY, MAY 15.

Lord BROUGHAM postponed the Scotch Bankruptcy
and Insolvency Bill until after the termination of the
inquiry respecting the amendment of the law of bank.
ruptcy in England and Ireland, which would be in about
a fortnight. He said the measure had received the sup-
port of the great mercantile interest, and was only
opposed by writers and accountants.
The Earl of EoLizirox pointed out the inconvenience
which would arise from postponing the bill for an indefi.
nite period, and he invited the noble lord either to with,
draw the bill altogether, or to fix some definite time for
proceeding with it.
Lord BROUGHAM declined to make any change.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in reference to the explana-
tion which he had given on Friday respecting an allega-
tion that the steamer Andes, when conveying troops to
Malta, had taken fire, and that only two boats were on
board, stated that he had received positive information
that the vessel had six boats, whilst the act required
only five.—The 3,larquis of CLAIBICABDE expressed his
satisfaction.

A message was brought up from the Crown, inti-
mating to their lordships that, in consequence of the
war, it was Her Majesty's intention to call out and embody
such portions of the militia force of the country as occa-
sion might require.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved an address to the
Queen, in reply to Her Majesty's message, which, after
some conversation, was agreed to.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented a petition from
Aylesbury, praying that capital punishment might here-
after take place within the prison walls, and not in public.
The Earl of ABERDEEN expressed a strong opinion that
if executions were intramural, and not in public, the
People of this country would not be satisfied. A change
in the existing practice could not be lightly made, and, as
at present advised, he could not give any countenance to
the prayer of the petition.
Lord CAMPBELL said that by the common law capital
punishment must take place in public. There 1.404 U 9