The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-26 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Ebt LtbtrpioT &tanbarb.

TUESDAY MORNING. SEPT. 26, 1848.

THE presidential election, which is just now
going on in the United States, is one of the most
important which has taken place since the forma-
tion of that republic; yet, neither in Great Britain
nor in any other portion of Europe, does it seem to
be regarded as more than an ordinary party or in-
dividual contest, or as interesting to any other than
the American people themselves. It is not a tariff;
41. it is scarcely the institution of slavery, it is no
definite scheme of annexation or aggrandisement,

which is at stake; hut the broad queStion, whether
the American people are to be urged on to a wild
crusade for the possession of the entire continent,
upon which they have located themselves. Their
half disciplined soldiery have, for the first time for
half a century, been permitted to flesh their swords.
The nation is flushed with their recent victory over
a feeble people ; and the presidential struggle must
now be one between the advocates of peaceful in-
dustry, and those who regard their favourite object
—" progress"—as to be attained only by war and
encroachment against their neighbours. Amongst
a large portion of this party the idea has gained
ground, that the time for making the effort has
arrived ; and that a pretext and the man are only
war ted to authorise its being forthwith commenced.
We can't imagine nothing of more momentous
danger, not only to Europe and the world at large,
than any event which would give predominence in
the direction of the affairs of the republic to this
party. We can conceive nothing which would
more disasterously arrest the growth and consolida-
tion of the true greatness of America herself, than
even a successful war with an enemy worthy of
herself. Yet we see, amongst the candidates
offering themselves for the presidential chair,
General Cass and General Taylor, two men to
whom the opportunity for entering upon such a
war would not be an unacceptable event. By the
former of them, indeed, we believe that it would be
sought for with enthusiastic ardour, especially if it
afforded a vent for a long cherished hostility
against the British nation. The dangerous charac-
ter of this man, and his policy, are well sketched
by an eminent American statesman—Mr. Webster,
—in a recent address, delivered at a meeting of his
friends in Massachusetts, in which he expresses his
opinions of the comparative fitness of the various
candidates. General Cass, he says,—
" He will go into the government by the same party
that elected Mr. Polk, and he will follow in the footsteps
of his illustrious predecessor. (Vociferous laughter.) I
hold him, I confess, in the present state of the country,
to be the most dangerous man on whom the power of
government could be placed. He would describe himself,
not as a conservative nor a protective, but he would say
that he belonged to the party of progress. He believes in
the destiny of the United States, to go through wars and
aggressions, to establish a universal government over the
whole of this vast continent. We know that if General
Cass could have prevented it, the treaty with England
would never have been made in 1342 ; nor if he could
have prevented it, would the Orogon question ever have
been settled, ss it was in 1846. We know that General
Cass could have prevented the declaration of the Mexican
war if he pleased. We know he supported it with all his
might, and in all the deliberations of congress on the
matter, that he was for pushing the war to every ex-
tremity. He is a man of learning, a man of talent, and
in every particular superior to his predecessor ; but I
think him a gentleman of rash principles, pushed on by
an ardent and rash party, and committed to such a course
of admiration as I believe not to be consistent with the
security and peace of the country."
The possibility of such a man being elected to
the Presidency is one which cannot be regarded
without alarm ; for we could not assure ourselves

for an hour that the peace of the world, and the
relations between this country and America might
not be broken. The spectacle of a collision between
Great Britain and the great kindred people which
has sprung from her loins, would be one at the
sigh of which all the truly good of the human race
would mourn, whilst anarchy, infidelity, and des-
potism combined, throughout the world, would
clap their hands for joy. May the good sense of
the American people avert so disastrous a consum-
mation !

WE beg to draw attention to the meeting to be
held this evening, at the Music-hall, at which his
Worship the Mayor will preside, for the purpose
of forwarding the objects of the Early Closing
Society. We are satisfied that, much as has been
spoken and written on the subject, the publis are
not yet sufficiently impressed with the importance
of the boon, which it is in their power to confer
upon the young men and others employed in our
shops, by adopting the custom of making their
purchases during the day, and avoiding, wherever
it is practicable, night shopping. Nor do they
sufficiently appreciate the advantage which a lesson
set by the wealthier portion of society would con-
fer upon their poorer neighbours, by imposing a
sort of necessity for buying their articles of wearing
or consumption at a time when their quality could
be fairly judged of—by daylight, in short. It is
well known that in the glare of gas it is that the
cheap and trashy fabrics, by which the working
man is so often fleeced of his money, are shown off
in their most deceptive aspect; and there is this
moral advantage to be reaped from such a com-
pulsion, that the incitements and excuse for leaving
their fire-sides during the evening, and the con-
sequent temptations and contact with vice, would
be withdrawn from the young of many a family.
We. trust, upon every ground of sound policy
and consideration for the comfort and improve-
ment, both of mind and body, of the numerous
young men employed in our shops, that a good
attendance will be given at this evening's meeting.

WE have been accustomed, immediately pre-
ceding or pending the picking and housing of the
cotton crop in the United States, to hear reports of
damage done by blight, by the worm, and other
enemies of the planters' interest ; and we have
generally regarded such reports as of about the
s:rn^ value to some of those Corn-exchange tales,
which find circulation about the period of our own
grain harvest. The following, however, received
by the mail which arrived yesterday, is of too
serious a character to be thus treated, borne out as
it is by, concurrent events. The authority is the
Concordia (Southern States) Intelligencer of the
26th t►ltimo

" The severe storm which was raging when we went to
press last week was one of the most widely spread and de-
structive visitations of the kind that we have had for many
years. Jt came at a time the most unfortunate for the
cotton planter, there being much cotton open and all
hands prepared to take advantage of a rich picking sea-
son. The damage wrought by the rams and wind that
made up that storm has been immense, and faily dis-
heartened our planters. We have reports of its doings
from all parts of this cotton latitude. It has blown over,
twisted, and rendered unfit for picking the greater part of
the high cotton, caused the shedding of millions of forms,
and even destroyed more bolls than we have ever seen on
the ground at any one time. The prospect of a crop now
is f r worse than that of the same time last year, and it
will be recollected that last year we had one of the most
favourable cotton picking times ever known—such a long
continuance of dry weather as we may not enjoy again in
many years. The damage of the storm of Friday of last
week has injured the prospect of the cotton crop in Mis-
sissippi and Louisana, not less than 25 per cent.'

From the New York Morning Herald we also
take the following :
" An arrival at New Orleans brings dates from Havana
to the 23d ult. The island at that time was perfectly
tranquil. A heavy storm occurred at Matanzas on the
17th, which did much damage to the plantations, and in
which several persons were killed."
Considering this intelligence, along with the
melancholy fact reported in our columns, and re-
ceived by the West India mail, which arrived at
Southampton yesterday, of the destruction of An-
tigua by a hurricane the most severe ever felt, we
have some reasons to fear that the reports first
quoted are but too correct ; and that there has
been an atmospheric disturbance of a serious kind,
which has passed through a great portion of the
tropics. We are painfully affected by this intelli-
gence with respect to an important crop, of whose
prospects we were recently so sanguine, and the
abundance of which was one of the elements upon
which we built our hopes of a revival of the pros-
perity of the industrious portion of the British
people.

POOR John O'Connell ! We are heartily sorry
for him. His dolorous appeal for the maintenance
of Conciliation-hall has fallen upon deaf ears.
The last item of the machinery of the once profit-
able agitation of his defunct sire is about to be de-
secrated by its conversion to some sensible purpose ;
and the young " Othello's occupation 's gone."
Physical force has gone ahead of moral force ; and
ridiculous, as both have made themselves, the phy-
sical force people are at present in the ascendant,
as objects of attraction to the many headed public;
and the champion of the mole' force section feels
that his little light is obscured.
Well, neople cannot help their want of valour.

Poor John O'Connell has neither inherited his
father's mantle of cunning and legal lore, nor his
prestige of success in gamtnoning his fellow coun-
trymen. The ambition to live a mendicant, and to
shine as a martyr, are, however, strong in him ;
and the latter ambition‘ has just shone out most
brilliantly, but, at the same time, accompanied by
a just sense of its expensiveness, so far as personal
danger is concerned. John took precious care of
his small person, when pikes and muskets were
talked of; and still more when they were to be
used. He talked wonderfully large of " Rejieal of
the union, or —"; but the practical part of the
alternative it never entered into his small soul to
dream about. More earnest people, however, have
entered upon the path, which this mendicant family
only h!ntod at—to earn a beg,;ar's hire. Smith
O'Brien, and his brother young islanders, went
the whole animal—except biting—and are about
to be made " felons" and martyrs, for their earnest
adoption of the O'Connell representation : and
John grudges them their ovation, whilst he still
clings to his safe-side-of-the-hedge sort of rebellion.
The feeling pf this small animal has oozed out in
a letter, addressed to his excellency the Lord Lieu-
tenant, prompted by a reply made by that function-
ary to a declaration of allegiance to the Crown of
England, by an immense majority of the rank and
property of Ireland. In the reply in question,
Lord Clarendon denounced, as destructive to the
best interests of the country, the agitation for
repeal. Probably, his Excellency might have
had his own, not very peculiar, views as to the
parties, for whose benefit that agitation was carried
on. He has had ample time and opportunity to
know the O'Connells, and the progeny of fools
which they have engendered—the bankrupt scamps
in green and gold, and the whey-faced renegades,
whose cabbage garden exploits have cost the em-
pire a round amount of its treasure, and the ha-
rassing marches and uncomfortable bivouacs of
thousands of its fine soldiery. At all events, he
offended the would be successor of Ireland's wallet
bearer; and this is his demand for amends :
" You compel me, as one of those who have been for-
ward in that agitation, to demand of your Excellency (I
do not use the phrase disrespectfully to you, but out of
respect to myself) to demand that you shall either deny
the accuracy of the application of the expression, or else
that you put me upon my trial before the country for the
' criminal' efforts which you have thus denounced."
Excellent young man ! We regret that we can-
not add chivalrous. It would have been perfectly
in your power to have earned the crown of martyr-
dom, which you demand. But you know, as well
as any living being, that you have most studiously
avoided the risk, to which aspirants to such a crown
are liable. You, John O'Connell, kept out of the
ring. You had not even the courage to hold the
clothes of any one of the combatants. We grant
you the disposition to hold any quantity of their
money, and that of their dupes; but you wanted
pluck. Even at the last hour your wish—couched
in insolence as it is—wears a cowardly aspect; for
you know that there is not a law which can touch
a hair of your head, so carefully have you kept
your tongue from transgressing beyond the limits
of puerile Billingsgate.
Poor John O'Connell! We conclude as we be-
gan. If you are the shadow of the great Liberator,
the world will witness in your children a race of
that fabulous people who have no shadows to give.

WE should think that, in questioning the pro-
priety of any of the proceedings of the National
Confederation of this town, we shall not be sus-
pected of a wish to injure the usefulness of that
important body. Our advocacy, thus far, of the
objects for which they have been exerting them-
selves, ought to protect us from such a suspicion.
But we must submit to them that, whatever may
be the straightforward character and the prudence
generally of their course as a body, some of
the proceedings of their committees do not appear
to deserve this praise. A portion of the conduct
to which we object is referred to in the following
letter, which appeared in a contemporary, with a
complaint of the writer that no reply had been
vouchsafed to him :

" September 18, 1848.
" Sin,—A report has lately come to the ears of some of
the gentlemen connected with the Rodney-street Ward,
which has occasioned them no little surprise, and in this
feeling, as Secretary to the Conservative Committee, I
naturally participate.
" The report I refer to is to the effect, that your asso-
ciation has it in contemplation to contest the ward, or,
what amounts to the same thing, that it is purposed to
nominate some person in opposition to Mr. Geo. Booker,
at the forthcoming election, in November.
"As it is generally understood in the town that the
Confederation is not hostile to any person, on account of
his position in society, nor yet for his entertaining any
peculiar political sentiment (in the ordinary acceptation of
the term ' party politics',) I feel desirous of knowing the
grounds upon which the association founds its hostility to
Mr. Booker, should the report referred to be correct.
" What the causes can be I must own myself at a loss
to conceive, inasmuch as the votes by this gentleman in
the Council have favoured to the utmost the expressed
views of the body to which you act as secretary.
" His ideas have conformed with those of the Con-
federation upon the Water Question,' and the still more
recently discussed ' Rating of the Docks.' And I have
heard that a deputation from your association to Josias
Booker, Esq., expressed themselves perfectly satisfied
with his brother's opinions (G. Booker, Esq.) upon the
necessity of curtailed expenditure in our local manage-
ment, &c.

" I shall feel obliged by your laying this before your
committee, and, awaiting your reply, I am, sir, your most
obedient servant, "J. B. COOPER.
" - Macdonald, Esq.,
" Secretary of the National Confederation."

Since this communication was made public, we
understand that a reply has been made, but merely
to inquire whether Mr. Cooper has acted with the
authority of his committee. The charge of want
of courtesy, therefore, we pass over. But the
question still remains to he answered to the public,
—will a body, which professes to be neutral in
politics, permit one of its ward committees to or-
ganize an opposition against a gentleman, who,
like Mr. Booker, is sound and staunch upon every
point for which they are exerting themselves. We
make no charge against the confederation itself,
that they are equated in this, or any other case, by
political considerations. We would strongly advise
them, however, not to mar the confidence which the
public are disposed to place in them, by incurring
even a suspicion of being actuated by such consi-
derations. Mr. Booker, although a new member
as yet, is from his great energy and local experi-
ence, likely to prove himself a most efficient repre-
sentative of the interests of his fellow-townsmen
in the Council; and we are quite unaware that he
has done anything to warrant his being replaced by
the electors of Rodney-street ward, by any untried
representative.
There are one or two more proceedings, con-
nected with the coming elections, of which we
much doubt the prudence. To these, however, we
may advert on a future occasion, if we see fit. We
may, in the meantime, explain that these are un-
connected with the slightest charge of political
leanings, either in the body itself or its commit-
tees.

ONE of the most remarkable signs of the times
was exhibited last night at the Great George-street
Assembly-rooms, in a meeting convened by a party
of gentlemen, for the purpose of hearing a lecture
from Jonathan Duncan, Esq., of London, on the
effect of our present monetary laws in producing
commercial distress, and want of employment
among the working classes. Mr. Duncan is well
known as a staunch opponent of the theories of
the bullionists. Upon the platform we observed
some of the most prominent members of the Free-
trade party, singular to relate, listening to an ex-
posure of the fallacies of their great apostle, Mr.
Cobden, in his arguments on monetary science,
and of the ruinous results of the carrying out of
Sir Robert Peel's advice, that we should "buy in
the cheapest market and sell in the dearest." At
the close of Mr. Duncan's remarks, Mr. Charles
Holland, who was in the chair, attempted to vindi-
cate his position, as a follower of the Manchester
school of politics in one direction, and parting from
them on the question of monetary science. Such
a course was natural. We are only glad to see
that even amongst its most thick and thin advo-
cates, such as were some of the gentlemen present
last night, that free trade and a restricted currency,
with a basis of gold at a fixed price, are felt to be
incompatible things.
Mr. Duncan will deliver a second lecture on the
currency laws this evening.

CHINESE EXHIBITION.—This truly interesting collec-
tion of Chinese articles continues to attract numerous
visitors. Nor do we wonder at it. The people of the ce-
lestial empire are a race with whom we are very little ac-
quainted. Their manners and habits have long been a
source of curiosity, not only to the British public, but
every other civilized nation. In this collection we are
introduced into the most familiar acquaintance with them
and their manners—habits, trades, recreations and amuse-
ments, are all vividly placed before us. It is impossible
not to feel deeply interested in contemplating the thou-
sand things here presented to our uotico.

AWFUL AND MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN
TOXTETH PARK.

About ten o'clock on Sunday forenoon last, the neigh-
bourhood of Chester-street. Toxteth-park, was thrown
into a state of alarm and excitement by a rumour that a
man named Robert ilowarth had first murdered his wife,
and had afterwards committed suicide. From the facts
which had then come to light, and the scene which pre-
sented itself in the house where the bodies were found, to
the few who had the hardihood to enter it, there was cer-
tainly strong ground for supposing that the crimes stated
had both been perpetrated ; and though it has since trans-
pired, after a surgical examination, which took place yester-
day, the cause of the death of both the deceased parties was
attributable to poison, it will yet, admitting this to be a
correct conclusion, leave the mind in doubt as to whether
coercion was used by the male to induce his companion to
swallow the fatal drug; or whether they both became the
voluntary administrators to their own death. We can
form no conjecture, indeed, of any possible forthcoming
evidence, that—as the parties were alone and shut up in
the house for at least a day after they were missed—can
unravel the mystery.
The man Howarth is stated to have been about 47 years
of age, and was a wholesale confectioner. until recently
occupying a shop in St. James's-street, but latterly resid-
ing in a house in Park-place. It is added that recently
he had dealt in cattle ; that he had lost considerable sums
in that line; and that he had been heard ,to express a
threat to take his own life ; but of this no evidence has
yet been given. Owin.,-r to some domestic differences
!wither his wife nor family resided with him ; but he has
made a periodical allowance to his wife ; and on Friday
evening she went to his house to receive her usual pay-
ment. As she did not return that night, her friends
became alarmed, and not appearing on Saturday their
alarm was increased. They made inquiry, but heard
nothing of her during the whole of Saturday. On Sunday
morning, some parties, including friends of the deceased
female, went to the house, and, with difficulty, obtained
an entrance into the house, through a stable, the premises,
front and back having been fastened up. Some of them
went up shiirs, and were horrified to find, in a front bed-
room, the male deceased dead in bed, and the female also
dead on the floor,—the latter surrounded by blood. An
alarm was given to the police, two of whom'were soon on
the spot. The further particulars yet known will be best
gathered from the preliminary portion of the inquest,
which was commenced yesterday afternoon, before Mr.
Curry, but necessarily postponed until this day, several
witnesses, whose evidence was requisite, not being in at-
tendance. _

James Calderbank, a glass-cutter, said in effect—"l
live in Henderson-street, and knew the deceased parties
by the name of Howarth. On Sunday morning I saw,
while at my own house, three females at Mr. Webster's
house, opposite to mine. They knocked and he came
down and spoke to them. Mr. Webster then came across
the street, and asked me to go with him to Mr. Howarth's
house, as he (Mr. H.) and his wife had been missing for
some time. We went there together, and not being able
to get in by the front door, which was fast, went to the
back. We called another person. and an entrance was
finally obtained by the stable. We all went up stairs,
into a bed-room, the door of which was half open.
When we entered, we saw the body of Mr. Haworth
lying on the bed, partly across it from the bottom to the
top. He was lying partly on his right side. We saw his
face. We then saw the body of Mrs. Howorth lying on
the floor, her legs partly under the bed. I saw no blood
about him, but a good deal about her. I did not examine
the bodies, I was so much shocked. I went for two
police-officers, and returned with them to the back door..
1 did not again enter the house. I did not particularly
notice what was in the room. I have known Mr. Howortlr
about fifteen years. He was a confectioner. He and his
wife did not live on good terms.
James Baird, a police-officer, was called by the last wit-
ness, who said a man and a woman were dead in Park-
place, and went with him to the house. Another officer
was called by the last witness. Baird continued :—" I
asked last witness if he knew how it had happened, and if
it were a murder. He said he did not know. We all
went together, and entered at the back by the stable. We
went up stairs to the front room facing the street. One or
two other persons were with us. We saw the deceased,
Mr. Howarth, lying in bed, partly on his right side, and
lying diagonally. from corner to corner. He was quite
dead. The female was lying on the floor, partly on her
side and belly, and with her legs partly under the bed.
She was also quite dead. I supposed, from the way she
was lying, that she might have fallen out of bed. Her head
and neck were bare. He had no coat, and he had the rest
of his clothes on, excenting his shoes. A doctor was sent
for by the superintendent. I saw two basins in the room,
like wash-hand basins, one larger than the other: There
was something in both of them of a dark colour, as if per-
sons had been vomiting in them. This morning I found
a small pill box on the wash-hand stand, (produced); with
what appeared to be a small quantity of white powder in it.
Here the Coroner finding that several witnesses requi-
site to maintain the chain of evidence had not come up,
felt it necessary to defer further proceedings until to-day.
He noticed that the bodies appeared to have been found
in rather a different posture from that in which the jury
and himself had that day seen them. He said he had
learned from the surgeon who had examined the bodies
that there was no doubt but that both the parties had been
poisoned ; but he had not yet been able to ascertain pre-
cisely the kind, for it was not of the usual corrosive sub-
stances ; but he expected to be enabled to determine it
by to-morrow. He should therefore postpone the case,
rather than adjourn it, and he thought it would be better
to commence de novo, when all the witnesses were present.-
We have learned from a party who visited the apart-
ment in which the tragedy was so privately and fearfully
performed, that the spectacle was a truly frightful one.
Beside the female was a pool of blood, and her head pre—
sented a number of contusions, on both sides, and espe-
cially over the left eye, and it remains to be seen how this
can be reconciled with the absence of violence, which, how—
ever, might not be sufficient to produce death. But it were
improper to speculate in this stage of the proceedings.
The inspector of police, who visited the house after the
police-offic3rs were first there, found a common pint jug,
with a tea-spoon in it, and which contained a small in-
crustation of a white substance at the bottom. This has
not yet been examined, out will be submitted to-morrow.
The inquest will be resumed at ten o'clock.

INSPECTION AND REVIEW OF THE TROOPS AT EVER-
TON.—Yesterday, the 46th Regiment, now stationed at
Everton, underwent the half-yearly inspection of Sir
William Warre, Inspector-General of the north-western
district.

OPENING DINNER.—The opening dinner at the Old
Swan Hotel is announced to take place on Tuesday. Mr.
Chapman, so long connected with the Adelphi restaurant,_
is the new proprietor, a fact that will ensure every deli-
cacy for the occasion.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—TO night is the last oppor-
tunity that the public will have of viewing the beautiful
spectacle of New York, in connection with the splendid
display of fireworks, which have given such satisfaction.
No doubt the closing gala will be a bumper.
AFFONSO STEAM FRIGATE.—We regret to learn, that
owing to an opening in one of her cylinders, this noble
vessel had to put into Holyhead, and she has since been
towed into this port to have the necessary repairs pro-
ceeded with.
ANOTHER BODY OF A SUFFERER IN THE OCEAN MON-
ARCH.—Yesterday an inquest was held before Mr. Curry,
on view of the body of a man unknown, which was found
by the captain of a steamer which was working at the
wreck, on Fridfiy night. He was about 5 feet 8 inches
high, and had on- a black frock coat, and pepper and salt
trowsers. The fare was so disfigured and decayed that
the countenance was effaced. Verdict, " Found drowned."
NEW LINE OF STEA. MERS TO THE LEVANT.—A new
lioe of monthly communication is about to be commenced
between this town and several of the principal ports in
the Mediterranean, including Malta. Constantinople, and
Trebisand. The first steamer wilrbe the Sir R. Peel, of
320 tons, to. be despatched on the 18th proximo. She
will be succeeded by the Earl of Auckland, a splendid
ship of 450 tons. We wish this new and promising line
every success.
COLONIAL CHURCH SOCIEW.—On Sunday next, ser-
mons will he preached in one or two of the churches in
this town, on behalf of this excellent society. The anni-
versary meeting will be held in the Music-hall, on the
following evening, when the Rev. Dr. Byrth will take the
chair; and a deputation consisting of the Rev. Edward
Bickersteth and the Rev. C. J. Yorke, rector of Shen-
field, will attend. The society supports clergymen and
schools in our colonies; and promotes in various ways,
the spiritual improvement of British residents in other
places.
RESULT OF THE TRIALS AT THE SES3IONSYESTERDAY.
—Caroline Hampton, aged 18, for stealing, in Liverpool,
five shirts, blankets, &c., the property of David Adamson
and Thomas Hunter ; Francis Clarke, 17, for stealing a
purse and money belonging to Thomas Bunting ; and
Jane Thornton, 23, for stealing Gs. from the person of
James Totterdell, were each transported for ten years.
The other trials were of little importance, and the parties
convicted were sentenced to various terms of imprison-
ment, from nine months downwards.
DEATH FROM DISEASE OF THE HEART.—An incoest
was held yesterday, before the borough coroner, on view
of the body of Richard Sutton, aged 43, who resided in
Paul. street. It appeared that about eight o'clock on
Saturday morning he went out to his work, and did not
return until late at night, when he went to the same bed
with a son of his, 13 years of age, with whom he some-
times slept. His Rife had seen him home that night, and
observing him to be intoxicated, went to sleep with a sis-
ter. In the morning the lad found him dead in bed. Dr.
Kilner made a post mortem examination, and pronounced
death to be caused by disease of the heart, accelerated by
excessive drinking.—Verdict accordingly.
DEATHS BY" FALLING INTO THE DOCKS.—Yesterday
an inquest was held before Mr. Curry, on view of the
body of Fitzpatrick, a Custom-house officer, who on
Fridap night going on duty on board of a vessel, in one of
the South Docks, missed his way ; fell into the water,
and before he could be assisted, sank to rise no more.
The body was not recovered until next morning. He was
quite sober at the time. The coroner remarked upon the
case at the time it was communicated, that it appeared
that want of proper light on or about the margins of the
docks was the cause of numerous accidents of this kind,
even Custom-house officers being in danger of their lives;
and that if the Dock Committee could devise some re-
medy, it would be most desirabls. It is somewhat re-
markable that on the day following this accident, a similar
one occurred, and the inquest was held also yesterday.—
A young man, a porter in the employment of the City of
Dublin Steam Packet Company, named Hugh Keenan,
aged only 22, fell into the dock, on Saturday night, and
thouogh he was heard in the water, he could not be seen.
Two police officers did their utmost, but three quarters of
an hour elapsed before the body was got up by grapples.
Deceased was quite sober at the time. The jury concur-
red with the coroner as to additional light, to be thrown,
if possible, upon the water round the docks ; but if (bin,
cult. to devise a plan to effect this desideratum,

MR. JONATHAN DUNCAN'S LECTURE ON TIIE

CURRENCY, LAST NIGHT.

Yesterday evening, the first of two lectures upon the
subject of our monetary laws, and their effect in produc-
ing periodical suffering amongst the mercantile, manu-
facturing, and commercial classes. The attendance was
a highly respectable and tolerably numerous one, amongst
which we were glad to observe a considerable sprinkling
of our intelligent working classes, was given in the As-
sembly-room, Great Howard-street. Mr. Chas, Holland
was moved to the chair, and in a brief and lucid manner
introduced the subject to the meeting, explaininc, the
mode in which the present laws ware introduced, and the
objects for which they were devised, which he showed
they had utterly failed to effect, and indeed had
aggravated the evils which they were intended to cure.
He contended that difficult and abstruse as the subject
was said to be, it was high time that the community
should begin to examine its various bearings for them-
selves. It had been the subject for inquiry before two
committees, one in the lower and the upper house, the
first of whom reported in favour, and the latter against
the present laws. But these committees confined them-
selves to the law of 18-14 ; and the question before them
was a narrow one. Both the measure of 1844 and that of
1819, whose principle was convertibility, should be exam-
ined ; and Mr. Duncan, he believed, would address him-
self to these inquiries. After stating that he should hold
himself unpledged to Mr. Duncan's particular views with
which he was not well acquainted, and that he had come
to the meeting as a hearer only, he introduced Mr. Dun-
can to the audience.

After some preliminary remarks on the obstructive force
of prejudice, and on the difficulty which truth always has
to encounter in its endeavours to obtain a fair hearing
before an impartial jury, Mr. Duncan proceeded to define
the meaning of the word " money," which may be used
in three senses : First, as that which possesses intrinsic
value ; 2d, that which has only a representative value ;
3d, that which combines both, which is its common accep-
tation with us as coin. The bits of bullion, called sove-
reigns, are money of intrinsic value, but cease to be money
if they lose a fraction of their prescribed weight ; Exche-
quer Bills are specimens of representative money ; and
our silver coins, passing for more than their intrinsic-value,
combine both the intrinsic and the representative qualities.
The question with us is, what money ought to be ; and if
it can be shown that the precious metals are the very worst
commodities that could be selected for a currency, it will
be in vain to plead long established usage in their defence.
We must first lay down a distinction between real and
symbolic money. In a comprehensive sense, the earth,
the crops it yields, the cattle it sustains, the metals and
minerals contained in its bowels, the structures raised
upon it, vessels, dockyards, railways, warehouses, facto-
ries, in a word, all things of value which may be trans-
ferred from man to man, constitute real money. Of this
sort of money Great Britain possesses an abundance—
statists estimating it at five thousand millions. The dis-
tress so often witnessed cannot, therefore, arise from any
deficiency of real money. Symbolic money is the sign,
not the thing signified ; it is an instrument by which real
money is symbolized and put into circulation. It is the
representative of the reality ; and, if necessary, no dan-
ger could arise were the whole amount of real money
represented by symbols. But, in practice, that amount
never would be necessary, owing to the rapidity of circu-
lation. Before the incorporation of the Bank of Eng-
land, money of the state was issued by the crown,
and it is desirable to revive that prerogative, by the
issue of paper pounds, not possessing any intrinsic value,
to the annual amount of the taxation voted by parliament.
This is the theory. At the end of every financial year,
the Crown is debtor to its subjects to the whole extent of
all the supplies it may require during that year, and it is-
proposed that it should pay for those supplies with taxa-
tion notes, covenanting to take them back again- at the
same value at which they were issued, in payment of
taxes, when the Crown became creditor of its subjects.
Though such notes would be intrinsically valueless,- yet
the-condition annexed to them of discharging taxes would
render them valuable, as in the case of postage stamps.
These notes would pass as legal' tender from man to man,
and perform all the functions of money ; and as the Crown
would-create, not borrow them, they would not bear any
interest. They could never be in excess, since they would
be limited to the annual amount of taxation, nor could
they ever depreciate. This theory will be more readily
understood if we consider that all taxes were formerly
paid in kind, and then the subject tendered his real
money into the treasury ; but since taxes in kind are now
commuted' into money taxes, that money ought to be the
symbol of the reality. The people are only bound in jus-
tice to give a portion of their time, produce, or labour for
the protection they receive from government, and the go-
vernment, by issuing taxation money, gives a certificate
and receipt that such time, predate, or labour has been
rendered. To' compel the people to pay their taxes in
gold is tyranny, since government can not retain gold in
the country, or prevent it being hoarded, in which cases
commodities fall in price, so that a tax-of five pounds be-
comes, in reality, a tax of seven or•ten pounds, esti-
mated in time, in produce, or in labour. Commercial
money differs from taxation money: The latter is
issued by the Crown, and is declared legal tender.
The former is issued by joint-stock banks, and is not legal
tender. In order that commercial money should be worthy
of public confidence, it is proposed that none should be
allowed to issue it who had not lodged an ample security
with Government, whether in land or consols, to be ap-
' proved of by the law officers of the crown-. To the ex-
tent of two-thirds, or three-fourths, of the security, the
proposed banks might issue notes, to be marked with a
distinctive stamp, such stamp being a certificate to the
public that the security was lodged. The public would
be empowered at all times to demand the conversion of
commercial money into taxation money, the latter alone
being legal tender, or into gold, at the market price of
that metal. Such was the basis of the monetary system
proposed, and Mr. Duncan stated that there was no
novelty in taxation money, as it was established by King
Henry the First, and-maintained till the establishment of
the Bank of England, under the title and name of Ex-
chequer Tallies, of which he read a curious and interest-
ing account from the writings of Mr. John Taylor. With
these tallies we founded our colonies, our navy, and our
constitution, and through these the grandeur of the em-
pire. The lecturer then proceeded to commsnt seriatim
on all the stock fallacies adduced by the bullionists
against representation money. The first to which he
alluded was, that paper money would be in excess. To
this he replied, that the charge could not apply to tax-
ation money as he had defined it, because-it would he
limited to the annual amount of taxation, and the dread of
impeachment would prevent any minister from violating his
trust. Commercial money would also be limited, as de-
scribed, to somewhat below the extent of the securities.
However, in all transactions between a banker and his
constituent, a double check against our issues exists. If
a man wants a thousand pounds only on loan, he will not
borrow two thousand, however pressed upon him, for why
pay interest on what is of no use to him ? Again, bankers
do not fling their notes about in the street ;. their pru-
dence admonishes them to lend only to those who will in
due time redeem their loan ; so that caution on both sides
renders over-issues quite impossible. It is no answer to
say that there were over-issues by private bankers during
the war ; since the system which then prevailed is quite
different to the one proposed. Fallacy the second. " That
prices would rise indefinitely in paper money.!' This as-
sumes that money is the active cause of a rise in prices,
whereas it is only the permissive cause. The distinction
is of the highest importance. It is not money that creates
business, but business that creates money. If you cramp
money, prices fall, but if you make money excessively
abundant, you will not raise prices indefinitely, for so soon
as they have found their due level, competition will pre-
vent them rising any higher. It is well known that, by
the pressure of the atmosphere, water will rise in a
vacuum (the barrel of a pump for instance) to about thirty—
three feet. Now suppose that the water had always been
prevented by the interposition of a plug from rising
higher than ten feet, it would follow that when this
plug was raised one, two, or ten feet higher, the
water would- immediately rush up and fill the va-
cuum created.. Now bad the plug never been en-
tirely withdrawn, and people had not known what
was the cause which produced the rise in the water, they
might have concluded that it would rise ad infinitum ;
and that it was necessary to interpose a limiting power, to
prevent it overflowing and deluging everything around.
But it was obvious that the removal of the plug was not
the cause of the rise of the water, but was only that which
permitted it to rise ; the cause was the weight of the
atmosphere, and it ceased to act when an equilibrium was
gained, So, in like manner, the extension of the cur-
rency is not the cause of the rise in prices, but is only
what permits it; the cause is the weight of taxation, and
the rise will cease whenever a price, which will form an
equilibrium with the weight of taxation, is obtained.
Competition will infallibly prevent prices rising higher
than this. We can not enter fully into an exposition of
all the fallacies, as we have of the two first, on account of
the limited time allowed us to make up the report. But
we can indicate them. They comprise the following
That capital consists exclusively of the precious metals,
That coined gold is not fixed in price. That usury is jus-
tifiable with limited money. That a return to paper
money would involve a breach of faith with the pub-
lic creditor. That we ought to have cheapness with
high taxation. That paper would not be convertible.
Mr. Duncan then passed on to historical evi▪ dence show-
ing the evils of metallic money, and next pointed out the
advantages of paper money. He instanced the building
of a market at Guernsey, which did not cost the inhabi-
tants a farthing, and now returns an annual revenue. He
applied the principle to the reclamation of waste lands,
and showed how a properly-framed money would operate
as an absentee tax, and cited in favour of his plan the
authorities of David Hume and Dr. Frankli▪
n. The lec-
turer then-read Mr. Jones Lloyd's theory of trade, and
argued that that theory was the condemnation of the very
system it was intended to support. He then alluded to
Mr. Gray's principles, in which he concurred, and in-
sisted that production could go on indefinitely with an
expansive currency, and that pauperism, crime, and nine-
tenths of the evils of society would disappear, if monetary
science were understood, and its truths embodied in prac-
tical legislation.
The Lecturer was listened to with great attention
throughout, and frequently elicited loud applause, and at
the conclusion, after a few words from the chairman, the
meeting broke up, much gratified with the information
which had been conveyed upon them.

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT.—On Friday night, about
seven o'clock, Henry Oldridge, a workman in Exeter,
accidentally broke a bottle of turpentine in his trousers'
pocket, and the contents saturated his clothes, which,
coming in contact with a light, ignited. The flames en-
veloped his loins, and ascended rapidly towards his head.
A Mr. Reed, who was passing, ran to the sufferer, and
there being nothing at hand to wrap round him, he ex-
tinguished the flames by pulling the burning clothes from
his person, which presented a frightful spectacle. He
Was talcoO to the hospital in a very dangerous state,

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Monday Night.

The trade of this town has presented a more cheerful
face during the last few days, and the prices of railway
stock, though still miserably low, are a little better. It
is a source of sorrow, however, that the demand for two
articles of foreign produce, rice and Indian corn, which
are evidently destined to come closely into competition,
should be caused by the almost certain failure of the
potato crop, particularly in Ireland ; but certain it is that
large supplies of both will almost immediately be wanted,
the peasantry in some districts being on the point of
starvation. The continued unsettled state of the conti-
nent keeps our manufacturers down for the present, but
we are not without hopes that this state of affairs will be of
short duration. One thing is mainly wanted, and that is
a government in France capable of asserting its power,
without the almost constant necessity of fighting for it,
or threatening to do so. Temporisers will not do : the
French people can only be ruled by a tyrant; and such
a ruler could guarantee, with the assistance of Great Bri-
tain, the peace of Europe. An improvement in the French
prices caused the English funds to open on Saturday morn-
ing at an advance of an eighth, which was maintained
throughout the day. The only quotation of Consols was
86} to

The commercial intelligence brought by the West
Indian steamer yesterday, is of the usual gloomy charac-
ter. Business was marked by increasing dulness. The
certain prospect of the ministerial measure on the sugar
duties had capped the climax of the misfortunes. The
merchants now say that sugar cultivation must he aban-
doned, and that if the colonists wanted any inducement
to industry they have it in starvation. Sugar at Kingston
remained as last reported, prices ruling at from 16s. to
21s. per 100. The stock at market was just sufficient to
meet the demand. Flour moved off heavily, not that the
supply was not large. _ _

Ttie SHARE market has been very steady all week.
The sales by the public have almost altogether ceased,
and many bond fide purchases have been made. We
believe more stock will be taken off the market the next
account day than at any settlement for some time. This
has given great alarm to the bears who are making great
efforts to keep down prices. London Stock is to-day 110.
Midland 84.

The prices of CorroN continue to fall, and the partial
decline of id. per lb. noticed last week is now general.
In the face of this continued reduction in value, we find
that, compared with the same period last year, the in-
crease of import is 422,424, the increase of stock 123,700,
and the increase of quantity taken for consumption
208,900. Very little, however, continues to be taken on
speculation. On SATURDAY a fair amount of business
was transacted : the sales were 5,000 bales, including 500
for export; and prices continued without any material
change. The sales TO•DAY are about 5,00 G bales, chiefly
Americans, at 31d. to 4d. per lb. The market has been
quiet, but steady. About 1500 bales have been taken for
export. —The alarming intelligence of the destructive ef-
fects of the hurricane on the cotton crop exposed for pick-
ing in various parts of the States, did not arrive in time
to-day to have any effect upon the market. Its infinence,
however, must be felt, and we may anticipate some rise in
prices. We shall report, if we receive it in time for our
post-parcel, any change which may take place in to-mor-
row's (Tuesday's) market.
The amount of business done in foreign Wow, this
week has been on a limited scale, but prices are without
alteration. A fair business has been done in Alpaca. ID
consequence of the large arrivals from Scotland, pricer
are rather easier. Imports for the week :—Foreign.---
From Trieste 481, Oporto 136, Malta 40-657. Previously
54,040, total 54,697.—5c0tch. 1120, 9807, total 10,927.
The TIMBER trade here continues steady, and there is
a fair country demand. The arrivals up to this period last'
year are rather exceeded by those of the present, and most
of the cargoes meet ready sale on arrival; very few have
been yarded on importers' account. Spruce Deals having
arrived in very large quantities are lower than they were
ever known, cargoes having been sold under 100. per
solid foot.

The CORN trade in Liverpool has not varied since Fri-
day. There is not much doing, the anticipated demand
for Indian Corn for Ireland nearly monopolising the at-
tention of the merchants, owing to the Potato failure, of
which more below. The Grain harvest, however, has
gone on well in most parts of England and Ireland, al-
though there is a little, in late situations, not yet ready
for the sickle. The arrivals into this port from Europe
since last market-day comprise 2054 qrs. of Wheat and
760 qrs. of Barley ; from the United States 6398 qrs. of
Indian Corn, 422 brls. I. C. Meal, and MOO brls. Flour;
and from.freland 167 qrs. Wheat, 102 qrs. Oats, 388 Ids.
Oatmeal, and 598 sks. Flour. The exports to Ireland
alone are 551 qrs. Wheat, 3194 qrs. Indian Corn, 370 brls.
I. C. Meal, 42 sks. and 358 brls. Flour. We have select-
ed the best-authenticated accounts of the POTATOES, of
which the summary in brief is—in Ireland, worse ; on
the west coast of Scotland, one-third of, the crops are
already gone; on the east coast they are not so bad ; in
North :Wales, very bad ; and generally throughout Eng-
land reports are unfavourable ;—but it must still be borne
in mind that an unprecedented breadth of land is devoted
this year to their growth, and that we can thus afford
greater loss than heretofore without approaching famine
point. We subjoin extracts generally of the crops :
Neweastle-on-Tyne, Sept. 23 :•With the exception of a
few hours' rain on Wednesday and a slight shower yes-
terday., the weather this week has been everything that,'
could be desired, and great progress has consequenth
been :made in harvest operations, nearly the whole of the
Wheat and Barley being secured and about one-half of
the Oats, but some quantity of Pease and Beans is yet
abroad.—Peterborough, Sept; 23 : The weather has been
remarkably fine all this week, and we have but little grain
left in the fields.—Waterford, Sept. 23:- The weather
continues as fine as could be desired, and nearly all the
late corn crops in this district have been secured in good
condition ; these, however, bear but a small proportion
to the whole. Potatoes are more variable in quality, and
prices range from 44d. to 9d. per stone of 161b.—Belfast,
Sept. 21': • Since Monday the reports as to the state of
the Potato crop are farirom satisfactory, and it is to be
feared that large supplies of Indian Corn will again be
required t) meet the deficiency in this crop.; and it is also
admitted that we must import largely of Wheat, as the
yield and quality of our own is below anaverage.—Cork,
Sept. 23: The weather, was fine up to-the 20th, since
which.it has been broken. On the cold high grounds a
good deal of Corn is still uncut, and will require a full
fortnight to bring it to maturity.—Limerick, Sept. 23 :
With the exception of one dav, we have had fine harvest
weather for the past week. Wheat comes forward in fair
supply, but the condition is as yet not-much improved.
Potatoes are daily getting worse.—Youghal, Sept. 23:
The weather is very fine, and I should say the harvest
operations are now completed.
The PROVISION trade generally displays a want of ani-
mation.

Holders of Irish Butter, although the demand has been
limited, have realised full prices on prime fresh parcels,
owing to our stock not being on the increase; and ls.
advance has been obtained on favourite marks for ship-
ment, though stale or middling qualities are nearly un-
saleable. Bacon is 3s. to 4s. per cwt. lower for all de-
scriptions.
American Butter is is. to 2s. lower._ The demand for
Lard has much fallen off, and to effect sales lower rates
would have to be submitted to. There is very little doing
in other articles.

The accounts of the hurricane in the-West Indies, re-
ceived to-day, of which a summary. will be found else-
where, have caused an advance in the price of sugar of
6d. to ls. per cwt. There is a good demand for Rice, and
prices are on the advance. In Saltpetre there is not much
doing, the trade waiting the large sales _advertised.
—The London markets have been again dull during the
week. The sugar market opened with extreme heaviness,
and experienced a further decline. During the last day or•
two, however, there has been. more animation, and the
rates are now about equal to those previously obtained.
The demand for Ashes is good, the sales of the week
embracing 300 barrels, principally Pct 3 to arrive at 285.,
and rather higher for those in store. Pearls command
extreme rates. 25 hhds. first Philadelphia Bark brought
9s. per curt. Bees' Wax. is very dull, and the retail sales
have been at £6 per cwt. fcr,good quality. 30 tons. St.
Petersburg clean Hemp sold at £3l 10s. to £3l 15s. per
ton ; Manilla commands £36 in small lots. Jute in-good
demand, the sales reaching 2700 bales at £l5 1. for
common, up to £2O 55.. per ton for fine. 300 qrs. Bengal
Linseed realised 41s. to 425., and 100 qrs. Bombay 435.
per quarter. Linseed Cake is in steady demand at £8 to
£8 Ms. per ton for American. 700 barrels of good rough
Turpentine sold at 9s. to 9s. ld. per cwt. 25 tons good
Spirits brought 375. per cwt. Rosin commands-full rates,
owing to scarcity. Tar is wanted, and would realize very
extreme prices. Tallow meets a fair demand-at 48s. to
48s. 6d. for P. Y. C. and 475. to 475. 6d. for Odessa;
20 casks fine North American brought 475. Gd. per cwt.,
being an advance of ls. on the week.
Owing to the extensive transactions this week in PALM
OIL, amounting to 800 tons at £29 10s. to £3O 10s. per
ton, higher rates are now demanded.
Looking at the prospects of the hum trade generally,
(although some branches are depressed.), we speak advi-
sedly in stating that we regard them as wearing a healthier
aspect than for some time past. The present prices for
Scotch Pig Iron are, however, lower;; i.e. for good brands
535. sa. net cash ; Gartsherrie No. 1, 555. 6d. to 565.
The amount of business actually transacted in the mining
share market has been rather limited ; notwithstanding,
there has been an active inquiry for shares in many of the
leading mines, but sellers will not conform to buyers'
prices. _ _ .

- By the last returns from the Bank of England, the
amount of notes in circulation is £17,687,370, being a
decrease of £157,295 ; and the stock of bullion in both
departments is £13,822,681, showing an increase of
£156,199, when compared with the preceding return.
We learn by the Overland Indian Mail, which reached
London yesterday, that the import market at Calcutta
had been one of steady and progressive improvement,
though scarcely a satisfactory one to the importer, while
exchange was on the level of a bullion remittance. The
demand for Manchester cottons had been large, and Glas-
gow light goods remained depressed. The money mar-
ket had gradually assumed a more favourable appear-
ance. The supply of tonnage continued abundant, and
at the latest advices, the average rate of tonnage was for
sugar, £4 to both London and Liverpool. At Bombay.
the increased activity in the import market continued.
Money continued easy, and Government securities had
advanced in price. Cotton wool remained unchanged in
value. Opium had advanced in an unprecedented manner,
owing to the advices from China, and the very small stock
on the spot. The price of the day was 1,550 rs. 1,600 rs.
per chest. As the price of cotton offered no inducement
for shipments to England, rates were nominal. The chief
part of the vessels loading were going to China, and in
consequence of the 411141ber on the berth the rates conti-
nued depressed,