The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

never unite. What ! the cold, dignified,
aristocratic ABERDEEN,—pupiI of Prince METTERNICH

each other,

go,—to sit long at the same council-table with
the glib Radical WILLIAM MoLEswon-rir ? Jamais ! I
can understand the old Constitutional Whig, LANS-
DOWNE, the more juvenile and limited Reformer, Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, and JAMIE GRAHAM, once more at the
Admiralty to lisp about spars, round sterns, and so forth,
as if he had been a sailor born and bred. I can well
understand these pulling together ; but the elements of
others of their colleagues are so antagonistic, that, I fear
me much, they must ere long explode. They will not
bear in mind the time-honoured injunction not to fall out
by the way : otherwise there is strength among them,
political experience, and some amount of character.
Tractarianism, it is considered by many, will form a
combustible ; and on the other side of the Channel,
LUCAS and his friends, who are out, are not to be trifled
with,—of all men living, LUCAS least will not let that
" good Conservative soul," the Right Hon. WILLIAM
KEOGH, JOHN SADLEIR, and MONSELL, the green
Clerk of the Ordnance, breathe quietly under their new
honours. The last appointment is awkward : Mr. MON.
SELL can know but little of shot, shell, and—the long

range. But nous verrons, as SOYER says.
Mr. and Mrs. DISRAELI—the latter intensely attached

to her lord—are enjoying a series of magnificent invites.
Last week the classic walls of Hatfield-house, the resi-
dence of the Marquis of SALISBURY, entertained the
right hon. gentleman and his alter ego ; this week he
is off to the palatial abode of the Duke of NORTHUMBER-
LAND, Sion-house. So you see Mr. DISRAELI keeps
good company ; but this was his characteristic from very
boyhood, There be those in my eye at this moment,
who sat at the same lawyer's desk with him, and who well
describe his incipient statesman reveries. Heedless of
engrossing folios, he would frequently make the dusty

apartment—redolent of ancient sheepskin—ring again by
the force of his eloquence and gesticulation. At that
early period of his life he declared with prophetic earnest.
ness that he was certain at one time of being a minister.
It is no business of mine to animadvert on the quarterly
revenue-table just published. I have had these returns
placed under my nose for more than a century of quarters.
By this time we ought to be the richest people on the face of
the earth, for the returns almost always show "an increase
as compared with the corresponding quarter." Bow-wow !

In the present return T like not to see a decrease in the
customs and excise, the latter 'specially, for it is the baro-
meter by which the poor man's enjoyments can only be
guaged. The increase on what is called " property tax"—
I say income tax—is upwards of £lOO,OOO. The simple
reason of this is to be found in the extra badgering—
dunning if you will—of the income tax collectors (by
special order from Somerset-house) during the past five
or six weeks, and not from a rise in the earnings or
incomes of those who contribute to the obnoxious impost—
essentially a war tax. Apropos thereto, it is the
opinion of some politicians—the Times seems to be
of the same way of thinking—that our new CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER will demolish PEEL'S
greatest monument ! Startle not, gentle reader :
11 the monuments to the memory of the late
lan S►r ROBERT PEEL, of a verity that same in-
come-tax is the one that makes him most remembered—
if not endeared ! On the ill-fated night when Sir Ro-
BERT—his countenance radiant with health and generous
Madeira, not in excess—proposed that abominable tax, he
approached it cautiously—declared in his conscience that
the fiscal alterations he had made, and intended to make,
would do the working man more good than the impost
-alarm. Besides, it was only for three years :—some hon.
members smiled credulously ; Ministers there were, ex-
pectant ones—Lord JOHN among the number, who smiled
also, but not credulously,—expressed a well-feigned hope
that it would only be for three years. Ah, JOHNNIE,
JOHNNIE ! at that moment T am afraid you were looking
for the reins of government, and, in your own mind, con-
sidered that the tax would be no bad thing for an incoming
minister, and he, too, a'Whig. The tax has been con-
tinued, and will be continued, notwithstanding anything
said to the contrary. The country, however, may expect
—and that ere long—to see a more sensible and equitable
adjustment of it.

statesma

Of literary and theatrical gossip, there is always enough
and to spare at this season, though I admit, ivith others
of Her MAJESTY'S lieges, being nearly surfeited by the
dramatic editions of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," produced
for the delectation of the Christmas folks. The theatres
are crowded nightly, the pantomimes being on the whole
better than usual. One is surprised at the breadth of
some of the political allusions, after what has been recently
stated of the doings of the licenser's pruning knife.
CHARLES MATHEWS, one of the most versatile and ac-
complished actors of the day, as your readers are aware,
has run a-muck—not wisely, I think,—with the critic of
the Morning Chronicle, a paper long famous for the ex-
cellence of its musical and dramatic notices. It appears
that the aforesaid critic—mentioned by name by Mr.
MATHEWS—found fault with the scenery, or something
of that sort, belonging to a piece recently produced at the
Lyceum. Now, when one recollects the house, the
great care and taste with which the dramas are "mounted,"
Madame VESTRIS herself being guarantee for excess of
splendour, such a charge might seem unwarranted, es.
t'eciallY, too, if the glowing pencil (? brush) of BEVER-
-7-,,,2, one of the best scenic artists, be taken into account.
"'"18 REACH is the critic referred to by Mr. MATHEWS•
one of the most popular light literature boys of the time,
and beyond a smart remark, intended to do good, would
not, it is believed,
management. say or write a word in opposition to a
However, it is a very pretty quarrel as it
stands. ALBERT SMITH is in dudgeon at the immense
glut on his free
libst—Mont Blanc—he now finds that the
paying
customervition room is a world too small for his
much, with what 't
asat out he issues a circular saying as
sayeth not. Thisa 4, toed or bad, your correspondent
bcTrse will get ALBERT angrily
spoken of. for which
much. Aprop A Y__ t bye, he will not care very
os, "LnEt: Z
is still making, a fortune by his must have made, and
reunions. My own opi-
nion, founded on a quarter' of 5
listcentury's experience, is
that there ought to be no freeaall, except to the
g been infested by la order
churches. London has lon
0 a t
isißede,e—r
dinner
patience,—there's
hnetrroe
hour: isunc 0-
hunters, any one of whom, on the
tion, knocks at your door at all hours
especially—and duns you out of all
shaking off such cattle—
" He best can paint 'em who shall feel
'"
Is, nmtinosqtuestion-
Of books, the crack one of the last batch •
vi RCSSELL'S TOMMY MOORE. GI •
Justice done
perennial-singingablyj°llN-E THOMAS MOORE has had • • Glorious,
to him by the ex-Whig premier. Lord Joi!rr is a scholar
of the right sort—ripe and graceful ; there is not a line of
humbug in his noble prefaratory notice to the poet's life.
Why should there be, when such a man is treated of ?
Once in his society, his presence was never forgotten ; and
to hear him sing !—his own songs of course. It was perfect
vocal enchantment. I well remember the simple mu-
sical nights,—when t
tthheelHouse of Commons was happily
"counted out,"—
Viscount CANTERBURY ate Speaker, SUTTON, afterwards
sense of the phrase ; all n elegant
the Italians at the Opera—Lox-
LEY'S then, of course—LAß
bon vivant in every
a dozen others in good note, wereLacHE to and
lyrics by the dilettanti,
, GRISI, MAR 10,
MOORE and his touching •
not preferred to Tom
,ever welcome within the cloistered walls
Si-rposz. of MANNERS
who were

laioeG
worn
You will have seen that the Duke of L
the other day, returned to the QUEEN theHarter n
the illustrious Duke his father. The Duke's g
an antique article, so seedy and threadbare, that werew a
as
chamber-maid to fall in with such a concern, among the
floss and fallen cobwebs not unfrequently the charac-
teristics of a bed-chamber in the best regulated families,
she would certainly consign it to the dust-bin. The late
Duke of WELLINGTON, too, from his peculiar position,
appeared in the garter more frequently than the other
knights of the order, hence, no doubt, its worn-out and
tawdry appearance. It is believed that the Marquis of
LONDONDERRY will be prouder of THE OLD DUKE'S Old
garter, than of all his other orders and distinctions put
together, and LONDONDERRY has not a few. And well
he may, for it was a fine appreciation:on the part of Her
MAJESTY to give the vacant garter to the Marquis, a
soldier of unsmirched honour and unquestioned I -
though by no means a SOLOMON in the Senate.
The only event of the week was the private view given of
the interior of Apsley House by the Duke of WELLING.

,eroism

TON. It was called a private view, and was such as far as
private views now-a-days are considered. The company,
though numerous, was select. There is a history replete
with interest attached to almost every object within the
walls of Apsley House, from the CarrovA sculpture to the
last painted picture of the departed warrior's dearest
daughter-in-law, the present gracious duchess. It will
strike the visitor that among so many precious gems of
admiration there are so few souvenirs of THE DUKE him-
self. WILKIE's famous "Chelsea
Pensioners" may per-
haps be considered the main one. I looked in vain for
that other less famous, because less known, picture of the
duke writing despatches after a battle, also by WILKIE ; a
fine REMBRANDTISH chef d'oeuvre. WILKIE had com-
mand from THE DUKE to paint a Picture. "The sub-
ject ?" inquired the painter. " Choose for yourself,"
replied his grace. " Enough !" In good time DAVID
WILKIE wended his way to Apsley House with the pic-
ture; THE DUKE was charmed with it, hung it himself,
went to a box, pulled out, not a cheque, but a Bank of
England note for £5OO.

fhave reason to know that, on the assembling of Par-
liament, the attention of the House will be called to the
important question of Gold in Australia, and others of
our colonies, and its anticipated effects on the currency of
the realm. It is well known that numerous companies
have been formed in the metropolis, whose stated objects
have been to obtain and work gold-fields in Australia.
under charter from Government, and that many millions
of pounds sterling have been obtained from the public
under such pretences. I myself have perused with sur-
prise, if not with indignation, some of these prospectuses.
They bear the names of men of the highest mercantile
character, great experience, honour and probity unques-
tioned such, indeed, as becomes our " merchant
princes." They state that they are incorporated by royal
charter, by which they are empowered to purchase, take,
and hold, mines and mineral grants and lands in any part
of the Australian colonies. To test the truth of this state-
ment put forth to the public, an " old miner," a friend of
my own—a man of wealth, position, experience, end high
intelligence in all that concerns our mercantile interests—
applied to the authorities just prior to the last Govern-
ment going out. I have perused the original letters from
the Colonial-office, in which I find the following passage :
" HER MAJESTY'S Government is not prepared to
grant to any individual or company any special privi-
lege in working the gold in Australia, and that no exclusive
right can be conferred on any company of settling la-
bourers upon particular lands in any of the Australian
colonies." Here, on the one hand, is the direct denial
on the part of the government ; on the other, the equally
positive assertion of the merchant princes aforesaid. I
will go further, and whisper to those who wish to specu-
late, caveat emptor ; for, from what I learn in the above
regard, the present colonial administration will be the
same as the last. I believe an improved system of licens-
ing will be adopted ; meantime our Canadian merchants
and others connected with those colonies are in high glee
at the reported discovery of gold in their regions.
Without wishing to " snatch a grace " beyond the
reach of my respectable and discreet friend the Court
Newsman, I may be permitted to say a word referring to
the play—or part thereof—represented by Her MAJESTY'S
servants on Friday, in the Reuben's Room, Windsor
Castle. It was altogether a family affair. The QUEEN
and the PRINCE ALBERT formed the centre of a circle-
semi ; before them, and much below, sat their children,—
the variegated stuff of auld Scotia, tartan, being predomi-
nant in their clothing. The children laughed heartily at
Bull Calf. The whole of the characters-were sustained
with the nicest attention ; CHARLES KEAN took care of
that. At the termination a supper was furnished forth to
the players, most of whom were in town the same
night. The QUEEN looked remarkably well, exhibiting
an almost irrepressible gaiety of heart.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY NEWS.

MONDAY NIGHT.
WE have been favoured with several of the annual
circulars published by the leading brokers of this
town, and we rejoice with them at the satisfactory
results which seem to have attended the commercial
enterprise of our merchant princes. Doubtless the
comparatively unshackled state of trade—com-
monly called free trade—has had something to do
with increasing our imports and exports ; but Free-
traders must not forget the enormous and unex-
ampled supply of gold ~vhich they have received
during the past two or three years ; and, we aver
again, that had it not been for this timely aid, this
coutitry would ere this have been visited by a com-
mercial crisis without any parallel in its disastrous
consequences. But it has been averted : and
may prudence govern the future, and prevent
undue speculation. The Directors of the Bank
of England raised their rate of interest, on
Thursday last, from 2 to 21 per cent., a step
which we cannot but consider a judicious one.
Opinions are necessarily divided as to the immediate
reasons which have induced the Directors to take
this course at a time when, from the largeness of
the stock of bullion and the increasing receipts of
gold from Australia, the money-market appeared to
be in a healthier state than in April last, when the
rate of discount was reduced. By some it has
been attributed to the state of the weather, which
has excited apprehensions as to the yield of the
next harvest; but the realisation of this fear is
rather too remote for it to operate at the present
time. Without pretending to be in the secrets of
the Bank Parlour, we should be inclined to believe
it to be a precautionary step against an apparent
tendency to over-speculation, induced by the extra-
ordinary accounts of the still undeveloped gold-
fields. On former occasions the Directors have
been blamed for delaying to interpose a check
until too late to avert the catastrophe. This was
the case in 1837, when the course pursued by the
Bank was believed to precipitate the panic which
prostrated so many commercial firms ; and again
in 1847, when the application of the screw was
deferred so long, that the Bank of England was
only saved from sharing in the crash by a direct
interference of the Government, in suspending the
Restriction Act of 1844. No such blame can attach
on the present occasion, for, being given thus early,
it can in no case operate injuriously, while it may
have the effect of deterring from rash speculation,
which is sure to have disastrous results.

Although the transactions in TEA have been
limited in extent, prices have been well supported,
owing no doubt to the belief which is generally
entertained of a reduction in the duty being con-
templated by the new ministry. This measure
formed the least objectionable item in the Budget
of Mr. Disraeli, and would have been carried by
general consent. There is no doubt, therefore,
that, though for the time suspended by the change
which has taken place, it will form an item in the
financial statement of the present Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and more than probable to a greater
extent than was proposed by his predecessor. It is
now clear that at a time when the tendency of
commercial policy is to reduce the duty on articles
in general consumption, the maintenance of a tax
which amounts to two or three hundred per cent.
on what has become a necessary of life, is altogether
indefensible. Under these circumstances the market
for Tea displays considerable firmness, and as there
is no prospect of any large additional supplies from
China, owing to the reports of a deficient crop, the
inclination to hold is in a great degree strengthened.
We cannot forego this opportunity of warning the
public against the frightful position of the IRON
market, more particularly as regards Scotch pigs ;
and we notice that Messrs. T. and H. Littledale
and Co., in their summary, give a few facts con-
nected with this article, which ate well worth seri-
ous attention. The production of this description
of Iron seems to be unlimited in amount, and
in excess of the demand for legitimate purposes.
The stock in Glasgow is greater by 100,000 tons
than ever before known—the make is also larger,
and for the ensuing year is estimated for Scotland
at 900,000 tons, or just double the shipments, which
have been actually less by 26,000 tons than in 1851.
Yet, notwithstanding this, the price has risen more
than cent. per cent., the present quotations being
755. to 78s. per ton, for three months prompt,
buyers paying a small deposit, when it is well known
by those connected with the article that it can be
produced at 40s. to 425. per ton, and pay everybody
concerned. We have had a dull week generally,
and prices have been barely supported. The con-
tinued unsettled state of the weather, with no
immediate prospect of abatement, has created some
uneasiness, and the raising the rate of discount by
the Bank of England has had a tendency in the
same direction. This last step has been freely can-
vassed on 'Change, where we hear it is generally
approved of. The cause is there attributed to a
desire to check the unparalleled speculation in iron
which we have alluded to above.
With reference to the present state of the ship-
ping interests, Messrs. Tonge, Curry, and Co., in
" This prosperous
their annual • 1
circu.ar say
state of.t.hings (alluding to the enor-
mous emigration to
for twelve months, or it inraala) ,
we believe will continue
the
it is not too
mug
toe somewhat longer, when,
found for freeing a
largeexpect some means will
nuer of the ships
beenipiaevrheaps,
that are now lying unmanned and incapable,ist at the various
ornerrihui? twol
Australian ports, amounting, by
hundred sail, equal to about 110,000 tons, when
freed, will return upon our market about'
the sacme'
the large fleet of colonial ships, now in the course of :Or
struction, will have found their way here, and which bear-
a proportion of five to three over those built in 1852, and
five to four in 1851."
The Return from the Bank of England for the
week ending the Ist January gives the following
Other de
results when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits £9,266,342; Decrease.. £31,384
On thiesoitths :er:
Rest ' • Increase .. 729,609
6,113,924 ; Increase .. 29,955
Government securities
side 01f9;1199e3a,9c5c20;11 account—
Government
£13,961,691 ; Decrease.. £997
Other securitiess,B7s,7s6 ; Incre aqe 1 73904
Notes unemployed 110
,960,495 ; Decrease.. 885,925
The amount of notes • trieirculation is £23,053,510,
82
being an increase of 8,005 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £20,527,662, show-