The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-30 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA

By the British and North American Royal Mail steam-
ship Africa, Captain Harrison, we have intelligence from
New York to the 17th instant.

The Africa left New York at 0.18 p.m. on the 17th, and
reached the Mersey at 10 p.m. on Sunday. She brought
upwards of 1W passengers, and $360,000 in specie on
freight.

On the 17th instant, shortly after leaving New York,
the Africa observed a large ship on fire, on Staten Island,
with her masts gone, and a steamer alongside. On the
18th she passed the barque Woodbine and the steamer
Europa ; anden Sunday, at 6.30 a.m., she saw the Niagara ;
and at 5.30 p.m., passed the Arctic. During the voyage a
fireman accidentally fell among the machinery, and re-
ceived very severe injuries. A subscription among the
passengers for the benefit of the unfortunate man, realized
upwards of £4O.
The United States steam-ship Atlantic arrived at New
York, from this port, on the 15th instant.
The steam-ship Washington, from Bremen and South-
ampton, arrived at New York on the 14th instant.
The Washington had arrived at New York with the
crew and passengers of the Boston and Liverpool emigrant-
ship Winchester, which foundered on the 3d instant, after
experiencing for many days a severe storm. The gale
carried away her fore, main, and mizenmasts, and swept
three seamen from the rigging, who were drowned. At
this critical period the steam-ship Washington, from
Southampton for New York, bore
,down, and after lying
by her for nearly two days, Captain Fitch sent one of his
officers with four men, in his largest life-boat, to endea-
vour to take off the sufferers. They neared the vessel,
and had almost reached her side when the boat was cap-
sired, and the crew of the sinking ship had to haul their
deliverers on the deck of the Winchester, which they
reached in a very exhausted state. After repeated efforts
the Washington took off four hundred and forty-five pas-
sengers, together with over thirty of the crew. But four
lives were lost by this disaster.
The damage occasioned by the sinking of the Ericsson
was estimated at upwards of about $70,000.

According to the New York Evening Post, Mr. Webb,
the shipbuilder, had resolved, under the advice of high
authority, to continue the construction of the Russian
man-of-war now on the stocks.

The House of Representatives was still discussing the
Nebraska Question.
Two persons had been arrested in Boston, charged with
smuggling from seven to ten thousand dollars worth of
watches and jewellery by the steam-ship Canada, on her
recent voyage from Liverpool.
A terrible explosion occurred at a coal-pit near Rich-
mond, Va., on the 15th instant, caused by leaks from old
fire damps, by which nineteen men were killed, and one
shockingly injured. Several explosions had occurred
before in the same pit, which was six hundred feet deep.
The Governor of Cuba had officially denied the reported
existence of a treaty between Spain and France for the
emancipation of the slaves.
A letter from Mexico city, dated the 3d instant, says,
" The position of the President of the Republic is critical
in the extreme. Supposing he had succeeded in driving
Alvarez out of his mountain fastnesses near Acapulco,
Santa Anna had nearly fallen into the snare laid for him
by Alvarez, who, by the strategous manoeuvre, has placed
himself between the capital (Mexico) and the forces of
Santa Anna, whose supplies are thus entirely cut off, and
his men are fast falling victims to the effects of want and
the climate. It is also known to the Government that
Alvarez had captured upwards of four hundred mules
laden with baggage and provisions for the use of the forces
under Santa Anna. Queretaro is in a state of revolution,
and it is impossible not to foresee that this capital is about
to follow in the same wake. The arrival of Lieutenant
John G. Parke, of the United States army, and escort, at
Tuzon, department of Sonora, on the 20th February, was
officially known in the city of Mexico on the 26th ultimo.
He will trace the northern boundary, or, rather, limits and
bounds, between the two countries.
Advices from Venezuela to the 25th ult. state that the
act emancipating the slaves went into operation on the day
specified, and created much attention. The slaves, after
the promulgation of the law, went about their usual avoca-
tions as if not at all gratified by the interference. Much
indignation existed at Caraccas among the merchants re-
specting the act prohibiting all claims by foreigners for
indemnity for losses by revolutions. Coffee, ordinary
quality, 11c. to lac.; hides, 14c. per lb. ; cocoa, $2l to
$22.50 per 1101bs.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, MAY 17:

THE MONEY MARKET is quite easy, and stocks, which
for a long time have been extremely depressed, begin now
to feel the improvement. A falling off in the demand for
'money for railways and from other sources is noticeable,
which, with the moderate wants of the trading classes,
enables the banks and bankers to strengthen their posi-
tions for the future. It is from the diminished demand
that has in part contributed to the enhanced supply.
First-class business paper is scarce, and is held at 8 to 9
per cent. Money can be obtained upon favourite col-
laterals, payable on demand, or at 30 days, at 7 per cent.
The ease thus noticed does not apply, however, to the
large quantities of names on the market, which are offered
at 12 to 18 per cent., or upon many kinds of stock securi-
ties which cannot be placed for loans except through a
stock-broker.
COTTON.—(From W. P. Nrrights Circeort
_of ;Vas/
17.) —We have had a very fair inquiry fcir cotton during
last week ; the demand has run chiefly on grades of strict
middling and above, whether for export or home con-
sumption; and as the stock of these qualities is limited,
holders have been quite firm in their demands, and the
quotations show an improvement of fc per lb. since the
9th inst. ; qualities below strict middling are difficult to
sell, and the value is not so easily determined ; variations
of lc., and sometimes lc., will occar on the same day. On
Monday afternoon, after receipt of letters pd. Atlantic,
the market became dull. Yesterday the sales were re-
ported at 3,700 bales, with an irregular market, the ten-
dency being in favour of buyers. The sales reported to-day
market were 3,753 bales; theclosing steadily at the
annexed quotations :

NEW YORK CLASSIFICATION. N. Orleans.
Uplands. Florida. Mobile. & Texa.z.
Ordinary 7k to m to 81....71 to 8k.... 7f to 8k
Middling Bk to 91....8f to 9f.... Si to 91.... 9 to 101
Middling fair 10k .... lob
.... 11 .. • • 111
Fair of all growths scarce, and the value arbitrary.
Exports to Total Exports Stock on
Receipts. Gt. Britain. to for. norts. hand, &c.
1854 2 561,327 1,126,223 2,048,975 605,241
1833 3,056,231 1,395,463 1,611,234 481,992
Increase 123,259
Decrease . 434,904 262,240 437,691
BREADSTUFFS.—Present rates of flour do not vary
materially from those of this day week, excepting for
Canadian, which is 25c. per barrel lower. The transac-
tions in wheat are limited in extent, from want of supply
Indian corn has been greatly depressed by the unfavour-
able accounts from Liverpool. The decline since this day
week is not less than 12c. to 15c; per bushel.
Pnovisroxs.—Mess pork is rather quiet at $l4; prime,
$12,85. Lard, in barrels, 9.1. c. to 10c. for prime, and fair,
94c. to 91c. ; kegs, 10tc. to 101 c. Beef is still in fair
demand: city mess, $13,50 to $14,50; prime, $8 to $8,25.
Butter is more plentiful. Cheese, 10c. to 12c. per lb.
FREIGHTS.—To Liverpool, cotton, id. to 5-16 d. per lb.;
flour, 2s. per barrel; grain, in bulk, 7d. per bushel. To
London, flour, 2s. ed. per barrel. To Havre, cotton, -lc.
per lb.

EXCHANGE.—On England, in demand, at 109 to 109}
per cent. Bills on France, sf. 121-c. to Of. 10c.
lam—Scotch pig is in good supply, and the market is
dull, with small sales at $39 to $4l, the lower rate for in-
ferior brands.

NEW' ORLEANs, MAY 11.—Our market for two days
past has been less active than usual, the total sales not
exceedinc, 12,500 hales, at Sc. fbr middling. The decrease
in receipts at all qouthern ports is now estimated at
471,000 bales. Freight to Liverpool has advanced to Id.