The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-11 00:00:00

COTTON TRADE.

The papers lately received from the United States indicate
the violence with which a controversy has been carried on there
upon the probable prices, production, and consumption of that
important staple—Cotton. To such a pitch of intemperance
was this carried in one of the papers, that the Editor felt him-
self bound to put 'a stop to it, by refusing to admit any more
communications on either side; declaring, with a sagacity
highly creditable to his judgment, that, as all they could say or
write would not produce one bag snore or less, the wisest course
was to wait until the crop was got in, when the facts would be
accurately known. With logic like this we have neither incli-
nation nor powers to cope; and cheertolly submit to the argu-
ment. But the disputants in America do . not stand alone.
We need not travel many yards from the spot where these words
are penned, to find discrepancies of as serious a character on this
staple subject as any that can bewilder our brethren on the
other side of the Atlantic. It is not, however, every one who
deems it politic or discreet to commit his sentiments to paper ;
some persons, perhaps, being fearful, in so doing, of committing
themselves. But there are a few daring spirits bold enough to set
such doctrines'at defiance; and with sufficient candour and libe-
rality to desire that the world at large should have the benefit of
their cogitations. Unlike a portion of this same community, which,
(we speak on the authority of one of our contemporaries, as will
be seen in another part of our paper, touching affairs in the la-
titude of the Exchange)—unlike, we say; some other people, we
are anxious to read and hear all sides ; and wishing to inform
ourselves on the gate and prospects of the cotton market, we
ranged half-a-dozen printed circulars before our eyes, deter-
mined to come to a just conclusion as to the present actual, and
future probable situation of this commodity. Vain hope ! The
more we read and pondered the farther were we removed from
any thing like a satisfactory conclusion on the subject. Now,
in such a dilemma, the best thing we can do is to appeal to the
. . .
kindness of some of our numerous friends, to extricate us from
the difficulty in which we are plunged, and lead our judgment
into the right path. And it occurs to us, that our only course
is to take two of the number now before us, and to place extracts
from them in j uxta-position ; and any kind friend who may be
charitably disposed to fix our wavering opinions, we declare
beforehand will be entitled to our gratitude. In selecting the '
two particular circulars from which we have made our quota-
tions, it will, we think, be admitted, that the task of hyper-criti-
' cism on the style has been spared us. We think it only fair to
state, that the favour of our selection has fallen upon the circu-
lars of Messrs. Godfrey Barnsley and Son, and Messrs. Bolton,
Ogden, and Co.
Dated 18th September. Dated 23d September.
" That cotton, one of the most " The advanced prices of Cotton
important articles of commerce, have produced some effect on the
should attain to its present value, consumption, to what extent it is
and exhibit au appearance of re- difficult to ascertain ; but from the
taining it, appears to those who best information we can collect
are uninterested in its fluctuations we think it is.already diminished
astonishing, and they, therefore, upwards of 1,000 bags per week,
boldly attribute its present eleva- and that after October (when the
tion to a speculative spirit instead export of Twist to the north of
of its legitimate cause, an increase Europe will be over for the sea-
of consumption -over the produc- son,) a continuation of the present
tion. prices would in our opinion occa-
" That enhanced value of an ar- sion the production of Yarns and
tide should stimulate production goods to be diminished to the ex-
is natural ; but what effect it can tent of 3,000 bags per week corn-
have had on the crop in the United pared with the production of the
States now reaping is easily seen first three or six mouths of the
by referring to theperiod when the year ; for the spinners and manu-
advance in the Liverpool market facturers will not accumulate their
took place, which being in June ordinary stocks during the winter
and .1411 y, could not reach that for the chance of continued high
country until late in the latter prices in the spring : with respect
month and August; and, therefore, to the future prices of Cotton
could not increase the quantity of there is much diversity of opi-
land planted; although it undoubt- Ilion. •We assume that the low
edly will the industry of the plant- prices- which have prevailed for
erg in securing it ; as regards Bra- the last six years have had a con-
zil, the effectis too. distant to re- siderable influence in extending
quire particularreference, the same the consumption of it, and it is
reasons applying to the produce of we think beyond all question that
that country. the consumption hasovertaken the
" The editor of the London Pub- growth, and that at the end of the
lie Ledger gives the stock of cotton year the stocks in the ports of
in Liverpool on the Ist of July, this country will be about 100,000
1833, contrasted with last year, not bags less than they were at the
recoliecting that he was publishing beginning of it, reduced as these
on the 4th of September, and that were compared with the stocks
the markets ate influenced less -by that have been held at the same
the actual stock on hand than by period. for. -the last eight years ;
the extent of the supply, and the yet, on.the .other side, it cannot
time which must elapse before it 'be denied that hiher than ordi-
can arrive ; and these' are in fact nary prices check consumption,
the real causes'of the advance, in and especially so, when the rise
connection with a return to an ea- has been produced by causes be-
sier currency ! ! And not, as he lieved to be of a temporary na-
suppoSed, to an increased con- ture ; the late prices of cotton
sumption, which may not prove being highly remunerating to the
much over 18,000 bags weekly. planters ; a knowledge of the fait,
"It may be said that there is no that within the last ten years the
actual want of cotton, and that a produce in'the United gtates,h4s
'stock 01'100,000 balms is'amely sof- beett doubled ; and that veitfiin
ficient when there is a certainty of these States there is a capability
its arrival freely, but those who of gradual and almost indefinite
know the business readily perceive increase ; must lead to the con-
that so small a stock can be easily viction that temporary causes
monopolized by a few, and. then alone can sustain the present
there would be no limit in price rates ; and that in time the
except that Caused by a diminution growth will again overtake the
of consumption. consumption. . The recent ae-
" That such a crisis may arrive is counts from the United States
evident from the fact that if the represent. the.. prospects of the
consumption continues with some growing crops of Cotton to Le
reduction to the close of the year, very favourable, and as likely to
the stock on the Ist of January produce between 1,200,000 and
next will not exceed 110,000 to 1,300,000 bags ; but supposing it
120,000 bales. • should onlyre.ach theformer quan-
" And this is founded on no ex- tity, we should estimate the pro-
travagant idea of supply, but upon portion of it that would be shipped
such -reasonable calculations now to this country at 700,000 bags ;
annexed as a merchant may safely and with the expectation of a
rely on. It does not appear to supply to that extent the prices
have been generally observed here, would most assuredly decline. The
that the consumption in other unusually small stocks of Cotton
countries has increased as rapidly that there will be in Europe at
as in this, and that the general the end of the year it is assumed
stock of cotton has been reducing . by some must inspire still higher
gradually for several years, plain- prices ; but to this mode of rea-
ly demonstrating that the prices soning we attach but little impor-
which have been current have in- tance, conceiving that the future
duced an increased consumption, prices will be mainly determined
and offered a scanty inducement to by the opinions that may prevail
increase the culture. as to the extent of the future sup-
"We will not suppose it possible plies. For the present we assume
or probable that the crop of the that the imports of Cotton from
present.year in the United States all places other than the United
may prove only equal 'or less than States will not be materially dif-
the last, but leave it to the imaeina- ferent in the next year from what
tion of those who believe that they will be in the present, which
ton can be produced by magic will not in the aggregate vary
when prices rise, and that a supply much from the actual consump-
can be furnished of, new cotton at tion of them ; and although cir-
a period when it is either growing eumstances, the operation of
or picking. which it„,is not possible to fore-
"To understand the value of cot- see, may arise, to vary most
ton, its past, present, and future essentially any estimate that may
consumption and currency, the be formed of the probable prices
foregoing' details are indispensable. and consumption for the next
" And to make such conclusions year, yet we submit the following
correct and complete, it is abso- to the consideration of our friends
lutely necessary that due consider- as some guide to them in their
ation at the same time should be shipments.
taken upon the variations in the " Should the prices of short
course, and the effects of money. stapled American in this country
"We must justly understand the be from 10d. to 12d. per lb., we
power and the extent of contrac- would estimate the consumption
tion and relaxation of an occasional of it for the next year at 500,000
paper, metallic, and an amalga- bags. Should the prices be from
mated currency of paper and me- 9d. to lld., we would estimate it
tallic jointly, as at the present pe- at 550,000 bags. Should they be
riod. from Bd. to 10d., we would esti-
" The value of all labour and of mate it at 600,000 bags. Should
all property depends upOn the scale they be from 7d. to 9d., we would
or balance upon which the Bank of estimate it at 650,000 bags. Should
England and the Government may they be from 6d. to Bd., we would
place our. eurrency, for the one is estimate it'at 700,000 bags ; and in
merely the prototype of the other, the degree in which opinions may
and vice versa, as the case may suit prevail as to the extent of the im-
for the lime being: else, reform ports to be received in the year
would mar, h with too rapid from the United States will our
strides. This is doubtless my Lord future prices be regulated, and we
Brougham's drag upon the wheel think at rates not materially dif-
of that machine ; past events have ferent from the above scale.
plainly indicated it. . " When the Bill was brought
"In conclusion we beg to add, for into Parliament for the reqewal
the benefit of the inexperienced of the Charter of the Bank ofEng-
and unretlecting, who for the most land an opinion was extensively
part have been led to look for a entertained, that the effect of it
panic in the money market, in con- would be to increase in no incon-
sequence of several editors of the siderable degree the circulation of
newspapers 'writing upon the cur- paper money, and thereby the
renc7, deducing exports of bullion prices of commodities ; in that
consequent upon the modulation of opinion we did not entirely con-
our currency, hut which cannot cur, and we continue to think
but prove 'partial and temporary that there will be no material in-
to such we must add that the crease in the circulation of Bank
payment of several millions of mo- Notes on account of the passing
ney on the 10th proximo, being the of that Bill.".
October dividends, cannot fail to
render money much more abundant, while the present position of the
money market never was more firmly based !
"Being quite alive, from our local knowledge of the position of our
present stocke.here, that the elements of. a rapid advance are in am-
ple existence, and liable to ignition at any hour, we trust it may not
be regarded ,as out of place for us to add, we neither have been, for
several
years, nor shall we become owners of cotton, under any cir-
cumstances whatever.
"korthe guidance of our immediate connections we have to inform
them that, so signal was the paralyzation of the demand and the in-
fatuation of a large fall, carried to that length of absurdity up to the
close of Saturday, that the sales of that day were only," Sze., Ike., Sze.
We put it- once snore to our friends kindly to consider whether,
in our anxiety to arrive at a proper judgment upon this important
question, with facts before us so plainly but modestly advanced,
and supported, in each case, by reasoning so cogent and conclu-
sive, we are not likely to be placed in the puzzling situation of a
certain animal between two bundles of hay. Such is the diffi-
culty of our position, that we feel, in truth, almost inclined to
sing, with Macheath,—
" How happy could I be with either,
Were 'tother dear charmer away."

India, so horribly celebrated by the sacrifices of its infatuated
devotees, is in some districts no less so for its weak and extrava-
gant idolatry. In Ahmenadab, hospitals have been erected for
the benefit of apes, where thousands are kept in fancied ease
and indulgence; and another city, which was taken by General
Goddart in 1780, upon its surrender contained 40,000 inhabi-
tants, and as many monkeys. They are even worshipped by
the Brahmins, and are raised to the rank of gods. Gorgeous
temples are erected, "with pious care a monkey to enshrine!"
Moileus, in his "History of India," describes one of great
magnificence—it was fronted by a portico for reviving victims
sacrificed to it, which was supported by no less than 700 columns;
and Linschotten relates, that when the Portuguese plundered
one of these monkey palaces, in the island of Ceylon, they found,
in a little gold casket, the tooth of an ape—a *lie held by the
natives in such veneration, that they offered 700,(X)0 ducats to
redeem it. It was, however, burnt by the viceroy, to stop the
progress of idolatry. Among the ancient Egyptians they also
seem to have been held in more than ordinary reverence, or, at
least, to have borne a rank equal to that of the sacred ibis.
They were, like them, represented in the sculptures, and their
bodies were preserved as tuumruios.—Naturaliet's Library.

LIVERPOOL E..YCILINGE NEWS-ROOM.

it would ill have suited the character of our last week's
hours to have mixed up with our musical criticisms anything so
discordant as a controversy upon politics or party. One of our
contemporaries may thence have concluded, that he: had the
last word on the abOve question,—Land that we had been hit so
hard as to disable us from renewing the contest. We must un-
deceiVe him ; and however derogatory to ourselves to prolong
the contest in this form, by addressing ourselves partially to the
advocate, instead of exclusively to the immediate subject of his
defence, we are disposed to yield to the necessity, by showing
up the party whose cause he supports in the language of the
defence itself.

The origin of this little skirmish was a:charge made by us, in
plain and intelligible terms, against the sub-committee of the
news-room, of having violated the understanding that was come
to in February last, with regard to the proportions of conserva-
tive and radical papers, by making a change on the 7th of "last
month,,which gave an advantage in numbers, in favour of the
radical party, of nineteen to seven in the London and Liver-
pool papers only. That charge we now, in the most distinct
and unequivocal manner, repeat. Au article was put forth by
one of our local radical organs, in an apologetic strain, in favour
of the sub-committee. This did not satisfy us, and we retorted.
When, lo! we are again assailed; and that, too, most un-
graciously, on the first day of the festival. Before we return to
the charge, we must tender our best thanks to the writer of the
article for his great anxiety to improve us " in the art of com-
position ;" and, to show that we are not ungrateful for his
kindness, we will, on some fit occasion, endeavour to descend
to the level of his own style. But this is somewhat from the
purpose. Let us take the words of our contemporary :
"The writer himself must be personally aware, that the Whig
and the liberal daily papers are in much greater request than
the Tory journals. Ihe Tories themselves, while clamouring
for equality of numbers in the supply of •the London papers,
show by their own conduct that such equality would be unfair
to the great body of the subscribers.' For it is notorious to every
frequenterof the room, that, while the Whigs and the Reformers
generally confine their reading to the organs of their own party,
the Tories, with an impartiality truly singular in them, eagerly
devour, not the conservative papers alone, but the Whig and liberal
journals also."

As .Tories we plead guilty to the charge here made against
us; and we can imagine the satisfaction with which " the,
, • ••
Whigs and the Reformers" have read this one-sided compli-
ment; the truth of which we are, nevertheless, but little in-
clined to dispute. Indeed it would be useless to raise-a question
as to its accuracy, in the face of the following declaration:—
" And, when every day's experience proves the truth of this
statement, is there any justice or fairness in the outcry which
the Tory writer is attempting to raise against the arrangement
made by the sub-committee ? On the contrary, does it not
proie most unequivocally, that a certain disproportion must
and ought to exist betwixt the supply of the different London
papers."
Our excellent contemporary thus concludes:—
"The sub-committee may expect to have their arrangement
fiercely assailed. if their assailants can.produce good and satis-
factory reasons for an alteration, it will be their business to
take those reasons into consideration. They must not, hew-
ever, pay the least attention to clamour, While impudent dicta-
tion must be met with dignified contempt."
To all the "dignified contempt" with which it is in the power
of the sub-committee and their organ to visit us, we can well
afford to submit. And without putting ourselves to the trouble
of "fiercely assailing" the arrangement of the sub-committee,
we will content ourselves with gently exposing its unfairness,
and mildly reminding the gentlemen who compose the sub-
committee, of their unfitness for the situation which they fill,
when they allow their political feelings to lead them into the
violation of a compact.
Thus much for the London and local press, the changes in
question having been limited to those classes. But we have a
word or two to say on the arrangements of the provincial press
in the newsroom. Without at present going minutely into the
subject, we perceive, on looking down the list of provincial
papers, that four radical Manchester Guardians are taken on
Saturday, but no tory Manchester Courier on that day. We see
a radical Bristol Mercury on Wednesday, but no Fe!ix Farley
on Saturday. We find a Newcastle Courant, but no Newcastle
Journal. Of the high character and respectability of the three
excepted papers here named no one, we venture to surmise, will
raise a question. Then, instead of "fiercely assailing" the
sub-committee, we beg to suggest to them,, with the utmost
modesty and humility, that, as all the other provincial papers
are limited to one copy each, the Manchester Guardian should
be placed on an equal footing ; and that the three extra papers,
now partially thrown into the scale of radicalism in favour of
that especial paper, should be taken from the tory- press—the
Manchester Courier, Felix Farley of Bristol, and the Newcastle
Journal.

In thus humbly suggesting our opinion, we beg leave, in the
same modest strain, to remind the sub-committee, that the
course we recommend is in exact accordance with the expressed
sentiments of their organ ; and, as oue of the organs ourselves
of that party which is stated to prefer reading all sides, we do
entreat the sub .committee to bear in mind that, although
talis and prussic acid are, each in its proper place, useful matter,
yet too large a dose of either may be dangerous to .the constitu-
tion,,auct the antidote should be at hand.

IMPORTANT DECISION TO SHIPOWNERS AND'
EMIGRANTS.

The following trial, which took place in New York, although
for a trifling amount, involves a very important question, which
is, that of the liability of shipowners to refund the amount of
passage-money, in ease a ship is prevented, by stress of Wea-
ther, from performing the passage. It appears this decision
that the owners were obliged to return the original amount re-
ceived for passage :
COURT OF' COMMON PLEAS.-BEFORE JUDGE IRVING.
WM. MALONEY v. EDWARD MACOMBER.

This was one of a class of actions brought by the plaintiff.,
who is an emigrant, and others, against the defendant, who is
the agent of the Liverpool line of packets, for the recovery back
of his passage-money, in consequence of the non-fulfilment of
the engagement to carry him from Liverpool to this city.
From the evidence adduced, it appeared that the plaintiff,
with numerous others, took paisage in the steerage of the ship
Governor Strong, at Liverpool, for New York, and paid pas-
, sage accordingly, at the rate of sixteen dollars each ; the pas-
sengers to provision themselves, but to be furnished with water.
fuel, &c. agreeable to the custom in those cases. The ship,
with her cargo and passengers on board, proceeded to sea, and
when four or five days out experienced a violent gale of wind,
by which she was so essentially injured in her hul and rigging,
that it became unsafe to prosecute the voyage, more especially.
as she had sprung a-leak. At the instance of the passengers,
Captain Farnum (whose skilful and energetic measures for the,
safety of the ship, and whose kind offices to the passengers were
fully appreciated by all) determined to put back, which he did,
and arrived at Liverpool in safety, where the ship underwent a
strict and impartial survey by the proper authorities, and was
pronounced unseaworthY, and unfit and unsafe to prosecute the
intended voyage.. .
In consequence of this involuntary termination of the voy-
age, in which no blame appeared to attach to any one, the
plaintiff, with the other steerage passengers, were necessarily
compelled to remain at Liverpool, subjected to expenses which
they could ill afford, until another vessel could he
.provided or
procured to carry them to New York. The consignees, how-
ever, in Liverpool, with the agent of the line, promised them a
passage in the ship Dalmatia, which had not yet an ived from
New York, and which did not arrive in three or four weeks
thereafter ; but the plaintiff and others demanded the return of
their possage-money, which they did not however receive, and
they were then offered a passage in the ship Jay, not of the
same line, but which the plaintiff and others declined ; and tak-
ing Passage for themselves, after some weeks detention, arrived
in safety in this city. Here, in consequence,ef the non-payment
of their passage-money, and expenses of detention at Liverpool,
they were instructed to bring suit for the recovery back of the
amount paid, as also of the many extraordinary expenses in-
curred. The case being one of considerable interest to ship-
, owners, citizens, and emigrants, called forth, on the part of the
, defence, able andi energetic efforts to defeat the claim. The de-:
fendant proYed that no negligence had occured on his part, or on
the part of the captain, consignee, or agent, that although the
passage-money was not paid back, yet a passage was offered
to plaintiff and others without any additional consideration.
That the refusal of the plaintiff to take the passage offered, in
lieu -of the one lost by an act of God, would properly preclude
the recovery back of the amount of the passage money; that,
by a principle.. of the maritime law, the party paying Ins pas-
sage, and losing it by virtue of an accident of the kind described,
could only recover back, pro rata itinens, on the part of the pas-
sage that was not complete. It was also contended by defend-
ant's counsel, that the counsel for the prosecution hadiniStaken
his plaintiff in this cause, that inasmuch as the ticket or certifi-
cate to a right to a passage on board the Governor Stroi_i_y was
made out in the names of \William Maloney and Bridget Duyer,
conjointly, that the suit should have been brought in the names
of them both; that, although for conveying freight to a certain
place in which attempt to carry failed, freight-money could be
recovered back, yet there was a material difference between
freight and passengers, the latter not being entitled to receive
back, except pro rata itinene, and, therefore, moved for a non-
suit. This motion the court denied, and permitted the cause to
ga to the jury. .
After an able summing up on both sides, the court charged
the jury on the law and the facts, and laid it down as law that
in cases of the payment of passage money, and the considera-
tion not being rendered, nor the passage completed, those con-
tracting to carry the passengers, as common carriers, were
bound to execute their agreement, which, if not done, they
were liable for the amount paid them. That there was no dis-
tinction in law between freight and passage, both being alike
in the same principle of maritime law, which requires the car-
rying of the freight and passage money as agreed. That when
a vessel starts with freight, and returns to the place whence she
started, without fulfilling her contract, there is no freight car-
ried; and the same is the case in relation to passage. The
voyage is not completed, and they are, therefore, liable for the
passage money. They may furnish another vessel, and offer
to carry the passengers to the port of their destination ; they
are bound to provide the earliest possible conveyance, in that
or some other vessel without delay, and if so done, they would
he absolved from the repayment of the passage money; that
the cases cited by the defendant's counsel rest. on the particular
circumstances characterising each of them that prove, freight
was carried by usage, in consequence of leaving it at an ex-
traordinary part of the voyage, and that freight money Paid
on a consideration,. that hippens to fail, is always recoverable
back the same as in any other contract, the consideration of
which fails. It was the duty in this case of the defendant,
when the vessel put back to have furnished another as speedily
as possible, and he should have shown that he found a passage
for the plaintiff in the first vessel that sailed to the port of his
destination. The offer was made, but whether followed up or
not is not in proof. The defendant must show that he did all
he could to furnish the earliest possible passage, and as he had
not proved that, he is liable for the passage money, unless he
shows that he did offer this, and that it was refused, the plain-
tiff is entitled to recover. It rests with the jury to determine
whether they will allow any thing for the expense of the de-
tention in Liverpool, or any thing more than the mere amount
of the passage money, to dollar 3.
The jury returned a- verdict for the plaintiff of 16 dollars
with cost.. -