The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-21 00:00:00

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

We have been favoured with the following interesting ex-
tracts, by a mercantile house of this town, from a letter,
dated " Government House, Perth, Western Australia, 11th
March, 1839 :"

I would particularly call your attention to the whale fish-
ery, in case any of your friends shOnld wish to try it. Black
and sperm whales abound on this coast, from Cape Lewin to
Swan River, and all to the north of that, and are killed in
great numbers by the Americans. Forty or fifty vessels have
been, and are at present, on the coast. The fishing com-
mences in December, and is at its height in the present month
(March.) It cries shame upon English enterprise to see
Americans taking the fishing before our eyes, in our har-
bours and bays, whilst there is not a single English flag to be
seen.
A vessel, fitted out in England, might return within the
twelvemonth,
_with a cargo of great value, or she might tran-
ship her cargo, and continue the fishing. Sir
our late governor, is to exert himself to get a company esta-
blished, on his arrival in London, in furtherance of this ob-
ject.
A person coming out here with from £lOOO to £2OOO,
would in the course of a few years realize a fortune. Sheep
increase at the rate of, SO per cent., from which 25 per cent.
is to be deducted. Horses and cattle are all dear. Sheep
are sold here at £4 10s. to £5 for ewes. Several thousands
would be taken off if brought out, as they are in great de-
mand. If care were taken not to overcrowd them, and give
them plenty of water every day during the passage, they
might be brought out so as to remunerate the undertaker.
Horses may be brought from the Cape to cost, freight
and all. under £2O, and they sell here from £6O to £7O.
The situation of Perth is on that part of the River Swan
called Melville Water : it is very fine. The Government
House commands a noble view ; but, with the exception of
the soil near the river, all for seven miles round Perth is as
sandy as the sea shore.
Our garden is of as beautiful mould as any in England, and
we have grapes, figs, peaches, and apricots in abundance. In
other gardens the vine is extensively cultivated, and in a few
years we shall make wines.
Nothing can be finer than the climate of this country. In
the summer it is rather hot, the thermometer standing some-
times at 90 to 100; but when the sea breeze sets in, it is not
much more intense than a lint summer's day in England.
Our evenings and mornings are always cool and pleasant.
The natives are perfectly quiet, and are a singular race ;
clever, and by no means ugly or ill-shaped. They carry
wood and water for us, and boys to a certain age will keep
sheep and cattle ; but they always go into the bush at last,
the parents threatening to spear them if they do not. They
all live in and about our towns and houses, and sleep round
their fires in our streets, and it is a picturesque sight to see
them with their wild looks and kangaroo cloaks, their spears
and min.-is, or throwing sticks, beside them. All the neces-
saries of life are extravagantly high here, frequently 300 to
400 per cent, above the English prices. Sometimes they are
even more, and they are never less than 50 per cent. ; but as
he colony is yet only small, it can only be a limited quantity
hat it can take off.

PRICES OF SHARES, FEBRUARY 20.
Prices. This day Last
RAILWAYS, &c. Per Share. Prices.
Birmingham and Gloucester 7O paid 56 5 o ....
Ditto and Derby
Birkenhead and Chester
Bolton and Leigh
Bolton and Preston
Bristol and Exeter 25 . ....
Chester and Crewe 4O .... 40 10 V.... 41 0 0
Dublin and Drogheda
-Eastern Counties
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Ditto Leigh and Newhaven 9 paid 3 5 0 ....
Glasgow, Paisley, & Greenock 17 paid 16 12 6 ....
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmar 130 paid 0 0 0 ....
Greenock, and Ayr
Grand Junction lOO .... 218 0 oexdiv2l9 0 0
Ditto half shares 3O 84 0 0 .... 84 10 0
Great Western 65 .... 71 0 0 ....
Ditto new shares
Hull and Selby
Lancaster and Preston 42 10 0 30 5 0 ....
Liverpool and Manchester
Ditto quarter shares
Ditto half shares
London and Birmingham 9O .... 151 15 0 . ... 152 5 0
Ditto new shares
Ditto quarter shares
Ditto an Southampton 5O .... 44 0 0 ... 44 10 0
Ditto & Brighton
London and Croydon
Leeds and Manchester 6O .... 71 0 0 ....
Ditto half shares
Leicester and Swannington 5O .... 71 0 0 ....
Ditto, (new)
Manchester, Bolton, & Bury
Manchester and Birmingham 25 .... 13 0 0 ....
Ditto and Ditto Extension
Midland Counties
Newcastle and Carlisle lOO ....
Ditto quarter shares
North Midland
New North Midland lO .... 15 0 0 ....
South Eastern and Dover
North Union . 75 .... 74 0 0 ....
•
St. Helen's and Runcorn Gap lOO paid 0 0 0 ....
York and North Midland
BANKS.
Royal Bank of Liverpool 500 738 0 uexdis74s 0 0
Bank of Liverpool 4'l2 lOs paid 22 0 oex div.
- Commercial of Liverpool 10 .... 17 12 6 .... 17 12 §
_ . .. . ... .
- - - - - Northern and Central .. 10 .... 37 6 ....
- Albion
- North and South Wales lO .... 715 0 ....
- of Manchester lO 11 7 6
- M'chester & L'pool Dsct. 15 .... 9150 .. .
- South Lancashire
Liverpool Banking Company
Borough Bank. lO .... 15 17 6 ....
Commercial Bank of England 5 ..... 4 1 0 ....
East of England lO .... 976• • • •
Plicenix Bank
Wilts and Dorset 7 10s. 712 6 ....
GAS, WATER WORKS, &c.
Exchange Buildings &IOU paid 164 0 0 ....
L'pool and Harrington Water 350 .... 475 0 0 .
Works 1 • •
Bootle Ditto Stock.... 925 0 0 ...
L'pool Coal Gas Company Stock.... 370 0 0 ....
L'pool New Gas & Coke Co. &JO° .... 196 o 0 ....
•
Ditto new shares are now paid uu
ASSURANCE COMPANIES.
Liverpool Marino Assurance}
Company
Ocean Assurance Company.... 10 .... 72 6 ....
Liverpool Fire and Life 2 105. 2 1 6 ...
DOCKS, FERRIES, NEW COMPANIES, &c.
Anderton Carrying Company l5 .... 97 6 ....
Woodside Ferry
Egremout Ferry l2 10s. ....
Rock Ferry
Monk's Ferry
Steam Tug Company 8 10S. 412 6 .... 6 0 0
Harrington Docks 100 .... 0o 0 ....
Apothecaries' Company
Asphalte (Liierpool,
(Poloncean) 2 .... 015 0 ....

SHARE MARKET• TIIIIRSDAY EVENING.
Since our last a considerable improvement has taken place in the
market for Railway property, and a good business has been done at
full prices. The feeling to-day is still' improving, and several de-
scriptions of stock have changed hands at an advance, Holders
are still very firm, and from the active demand which exists, we
may expect a further rise in most of the favorite lines.

FIRE NEAR GEORGE'S Domc.—At a quarter past eleven
o'clock on Tuesday night, a fire was discovered to have
broken out in the warehouse of a sailmaker's room, occupied
by Messrs. Byrne and Co., on the east side of George's Dock.
How it originated is unknown -The engines arrived in. a.few
minutes, and the fire,was sOop.extinguished.
" THE LI RPOOL."—This steamr.ship has been for some
time at the south end of the Canning Dock, " dis-
charging" her engines, boilers, and machinery, ind vicinity
add her paddle boxes and all the deck encumhrances, pre-
paratory to her going into one of the graving docks to
thoroughly overhauled, and widened, her hull being found
worthy of a very considerable outlay, to give her—all that
she required—greater bearings, and a consequently lighter
draft of water. She is, we understand, to be remodelled by
Messrs. Thomas Wilson and Co., the celebrated builders of
" The Prince." " The Princess," and many others of this
port, (including " The Royal William,") that have proved
themselves, for their tonnage, the fastest apd most seaworthy
of any yet afloat. The " Liverpool," will, doubtless, by
such builders, be made equal to any of the Transatlantic
contemporaries. She will be widened by seven feet • and
will then float much lighter. New boilers are also made for
her, on an improved principle, by Messrs. M. Dixon & Co. ;
and these we learn, will oocupy less room, and be much
lighter than those hitherto used. The Liverpool will have a
spare deck, like the " United States ;" and will be ready for
sea by the end of May. Captain Engledue superintends her
mproveinents.

ROYAL AMPIIITHEATRE.—We perceive by the advertise-
ment that Madame Ducrow has announced her benefit.
Considering this lady's great merits, the effective manner in
which she will be supported by the company, the splendid
style of the performances, and the magnificent spirit of the
worthy proprietor, we cannot but strongly recommend the
public to crowd the building on this occasion. - -

LIVER THEATRE.---jaCk Sheppard has been reproduced
with considerable success.; and several light pieces have
been added which have greatly contributed to thc popularity
of this pleasing place of recreation. The " bill of fare"
which the advertisement reveals is unexceptionably good ;
it speaks for itself, and therefore, on this occasion, we shall
content ourselves with merely drawing attention to it.
THE LIVERPOOL DEPUTATION TO ADDRESS HER MA-
JESTY.—Our London correspondent writes, " At the Queen's
levee to-day (Wednesday) I observed your mayor's carriage ;
it was for some time in front of St. James's Royal Hotel,
whilst the deputation were getting laced for presention. The
mayor looked extremely well, though I could not divest my-
self of the idea,—` How like a man-milliner !' They were
in full court dress. Alderman Shiel seemed unused to such
paraphernalia. As the carriage passed me, he was busily en-
gaged in adjusting his ruffles, which appeared to fret his wrists
to an itching sensation ; indeed he became quite as fidgetty
as Madame Mantilini, when she had discovered a bad fit of
her own building. Mr. Councillor Bushell looked very well
—in truth he looked full four Pecks."

ST. DAVID'S DAY.—We perceive, from the advertise-
ment, that Mr. Evans, the worthy landlord of the British
Hotel, Moorfields, has announced a public dinner to take
place, at the above hotel, on the 2d of March, (the Ist hap-
pening to fall on a Sunday), to cerebrate the anniversary of
the patron saint of Wales. We have no doubt that the
well-known taste and liberality of the host will attract many
of the Welsh residents of Liverpool and its vicinity to this
truly national festivity. It will be seen that Mr. Roberts,
the celebrated Welsh harper, will perform on that occasion.
It was hoped that the Master of the Temple would have
followed Dr. Chalmers's Hanover-square lectures by a course
on the Church of England ; but various adverse circum-
stances compelled Mr. Benson to abandon, for the present,
the intention. But the Rev. Hugh M`Neile has consented
to take his place, and to deliver a course of s x lectures, at
the same place, in the second and third weeks of March.—
Morning Herald.
THE PUBLIC CHARITIES.—We beg once more to call
attention to the concert at the Theatre-Royal next Tuesday,
for the benefit of the Infirmary, the Dispensaries, and the
District Provident Society. These useful, nay, indispensa-
ble institutions must obtain the maximum sum fixed by the
corporation. Let there, then, be no hesitation in coming
forward with the necessary aid. Whilst upon the subject we
may mention what was done for them on Wednesday night,
at the Royal Amphitheatre, through the generous instrumen-
tality of Mr. Ducrow. The following statement has been
politely furnished to us :
Total sum iu the house £7B 12 6
Deduct expenses for gas, printing advertisements,
door-keepers, policemen, bill-men, posters, and
supernumeraries
43 9 0

Leaving a balance of receipts of
Add donation from Mr. Ducrow

Making the total proceeds to be divided .... 40 0 0
No charge whatever was made for horses' keep, for the
equestrian and dramatic companies, scenes, properties or
other departments. Such conduct as this speaks its own
ettlogy.

PRESENTATION OF THE MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL AND THE
DEPUTATION AT THE QUEEN'S LEVEE.—We perceive, from
the Court Newsman of yesterday, that his Worship the
Mayor of Liverpool, accompanied by Mr. Alderman Shiel,
and Mr. Councillor Bushell, were introduced by Lord Nor-
manby to her Majesty, to present the address of congratula-
tion from the corporation on her marriage. We have not
yet heard any thing respecting the baronetcy.
CONSERVATIVE SPEECHES.—We perceive from an adver-
tisement, which appears in another column, that Mr. Painter,
the spirited publisher, has determined upon issuing cheap
editions of all the principal speeches delivered by the Con-
servative leaders, in both Houses of Parliament, during the
present session. We feel assured that such an undertaking
will be duly appreciated by the Conservatives throughout the
country, and that these corrected reports will commands very
extensive sale. They are very neatly got up, and will form,
when collected together, a volume of great interest.
MILITARY MOVEMENT.—Two troops of the Queen's 9th
royal lancers marched from the barracks, in Ipswich, on
Tuesday se'nnight, en route for Norwich, where part of the
regiment is quartered. They have been succeeded by two
troops from the latter place. The exchange took place
agreeably to the usual order from the Horse Guards.
Sir Jeffry Wyatville, the architect, died on Tuesday, at
his house in Lower Brook-street. Sir Jeffry was in his 74th
year; by his death there is another vacancy in the number
of Royal Academicians.
REPRESENTATION OF STOKE-UPON-TRENT.—The elec-
tors of Stoke-upon-Trent have addressed a requisition, very
numerously signed, to Mr. Alderman Copeland and the Hon.
Frederick Dudley Ryder, son of the Earl of Harrowby,
inviting them to become candidates for the representation of
that borough, in the event of a dissolution of parliament.
The worthy alderman returned the affirmative answer, which
the constituency of Stoke, by whom he is held in high and
just esteem, expected from their tried and faithful represen-
tative. Lord Sandon has accepted the invitation on behalf
of his brother, who is at present upon the Continent.
DEATH OF GENERAL DURHAM OF LARGO.—It is with
pain and regret we record the death of James Durham of
Largo, general in the British army, and joint convener of
this county, which took place at Largo House, upon Thurs-
day morning the 6th instant, after a short illness. He was
born, we understand, in the year 1754, and died at the ad-
vanced age of 86. General Durham entered the army as an
officer of the Dragoons in 1769, and has thus been in the
service for the space of no less than 70 years.—Scotch paper.
There are only three Roman Catholics (Sir Thomas Es;
monde, of Wexford ; Mr. Balfe, of Roscommon ; and Mr.
Laler, of Killarney), amongst the list of sheriffs for the 32
Irish counties. This circumstance is not by any means
st
to
thee
ascribed to political or religious causes ; but merely to
fact, that the number of persons professing that creed, and
6
holding station or possessing property quali g
them for the
office, is so few in comparison with that of Protestant
gentry.—Thiblin Evening Mail.
A soldier of the garrison of Valercietngees,
At
uncom-
fortable, but appeared soon afterwardsre was
very a few days ago,
swallowed a five-franc piece.
with to be quite at ease,
and now walks about galleythe money in his stomach.
an medicalold invalidman
f
died in the hospital at Lt; •
10,.anleteheisieoncnceass iroenl
tne
el otchlia I
about
As soon as the breath was de-
per s4toatyesee,
rtshaetgea,
he was engaged in the ,Hanoverian war
be opened, as when
parted, some of his relations came and begged his body might
he had swallowed a crown-piece, then worth six francs,
which might recovered. The operation was •still be
per-
formed in their presence, and the crown-piece was found,
lodged at the entrance of the intestines, and given to them.
They went away rejoicing with the only inheritance that fell
to them,