The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-08-01 00:00:00

STATE AND PROSPEC rs OF THE CORN
TRADE.

Since we last referred to this subject, a fortnight ago,
we have had some weather of a description calculated to
favour the speculations for an advance in prices ; and the
result has been a considerable rise in most of our leading
corn markets. The seasonable weather of the last week
has, however, abated those fears which had begun to be
felt for the safety of the coming harvest ; and investments
in grain of all descriptions can now be made upon more
favourable terms, the market having reached the summit of
price to which, without a great adverse change in the wea-
it is likely to go. 'Still, the moderate quantity of wheat
available for consumption will, in all probability, prevent
any material and sudden decline ; whilst it is probable
that the stocks on hand will be offered in sufficient abund-
ance to ensure us an adequate quantity for the wants of
consumers.
As a proof that such will be the case, we notice this
week a considerably increased supply from Ireland, brought
forward, no doubt, by the improved prices here and the
favourable prospects of the harvest in that country. We
have also an arrival of 1700 quarters of wheat from the
United States ; and we understand that some cargoes
from the Baltic have this week been imported into Lon-
don. It is probable too, that, with a continuance of fine
weather, we shall see many stocks of duty-paid foreign,
held over from last autumn, come into the market, which
must have the tendency of keeping prices easy. It is
always to be remarked that the cry of scarcity, so readily
raised to further the purposes of speculators, is practically
refuted so soon as it has achieved the end in view—au ad-
vance of price; and that supplies come upon the market
which it was never deemed were in existence. The opinion
of disinterested parties here is that we shall find no defici-
ency of such demonstrations this year.
The greatest advance in price thus far appears to be
that which has bee❑ noticed in the Wakefield market,
where, however, as here, the excitement is subsiding ; and
it is said to have been caused less by over speculation at
this particular time than by the natural reaction from a
state of commercial prostration to that healthy confidence
which the limited amount of the stocks in hand fully jus-
tified. At the last Done ester market it is reported that
" more wheat, by three times, belonging to farmers, was
shown than for many weeks previous."
The prospects of the coming harvest are almost every-
where represented as being extremely favourable, and in
this immediate neighbourhood every kind of crop is look-
ing well. In the country adjoining the estuary of the Dee
the farmers talk of cutting in a fortnight; and with fine
warm weather we shall see the sickle actively at work on
every side of us in, at the utmost, three weeks from this
time.

THE NEW RECORDER.—On the news of the blevation
of G. Henderson, Esq., to the recordership of this town,
reaching Walton-on-the-Hill—so much and deservedly is
he held in respect by the parishioners of his native village,
that they testified their delight by a merry peal of the
church bells, firing of cannon, &c.
On Sunday the 23d ult., the Lord Bishop of Chester
held an ordination for his own diocese, in the Cathedral
Church of Durham. Among those admitted to holy
orders was Mr. A. Hume, A. 8., T.C.D., of the Colle-
giate Institution, in this town, for the curacy of St. Au-
gustine's.

FALL OF A HOUSE IN OXFORD-STREET.—AbOLII eleven
o'clock on Saturday night week, the inhabitants of the up-
per part of Oxford-street and Abercrorriby-square were
alarmed by a severe shock, and loud rumbling noise, re-
sembling the effects of an earthquake, or the sound of
distant thunder. On inquiry, it was ascertained that one
of the houses now in course of erection, and nearly com-
pleted, on the south side of Oxford-street, and im-
mediately below Grove-street, had fallen. Had the acci-
dent happened in the day time, in all probability some
serious injury would have been inflicted on the work-
men, or others passing the building. It appears to us
that the materials used in the erection of these dwellings
have not been of a sufficiently substantial character, more
especially as the fronts were faced with stone, and the
buildings carried to a great height.
GRAND GALA AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The
first exhibition of the grand gala of the season took place
last night, and went off with the greatest eclat. We do
not remember having seen on any former occasion so nu-
merous and fashionable attendance, there being some
thousands present, all of whom appeared to be highly
gratified. The grounds were enlivened, amidst the
numerous sylvan promenades by beautiful divorces in
variegated lamps ; and there was a splendid Bude light on
the tower attached to the centrifugal railway, which
emitted a blaze upon the company almost as bright
as the sun itself. After the " Siege of Amoy,"
which was slightly shortened to make way for the
other sights of the evening, the fireworks commenced, and
were the finest we have yet seen. The wheels were ex-
ceedingly rich and varied, in colour and effect. Even
many of those who have been accustomed to witness the
effects of the first pyrotechnic artists in London, and on
the continent, expressed their astonishment ; and the
rockets were of the most costly and beautiful kind.
There were thousands of spectators congregated on the
roads and fields round the gardens, who equally enjoyed
the sight of the last which rose " high in air." A car-
riage with fireworks also passed along the centrifugal
railway, and was much admired.
THE EXHIBITION AT THE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION.

—This extensive, highly valuable, and interesting exhibi•
tion is on the eve of being closed ; and that, too, when its
merits are but, we may say, beginning to be duly appre-
ciated. There are but two more days—to-day and to-
morrow; and those who have not visited it would do well
to avail themselves of an opportunity of seeing a collec-
tion which, whether in vastness, or in the talent displayed
in science, art, or mechanism, is, we will venture to say,
the finest ever brought together in any country. There
are also many pleasing adjuncts, in real manufactures and
trades, living animals, a variety of working models, &c.
Amongst other curiosities is the egg-hatching apparatus,
by which chickens are daily brought out of the shell by
the regular appliance of heat alone. The concerts are
also a great attraction, and the building is one of the
largest and most magnificent in the kingdom. We may
state that vocal music has been introduced, and, so far as
the attendance of last evening enables us to judge, with
great success. The concert, considering that there had
been no opportunity afforded for rehearsal, was creditable.
Miss Stott and Mr. Armstrong were encored in "When
a little farm we keep," and the Messrs. Allwood in their
beautiful duet on one violin. The programme for this
evening is rich in solos, duets, trios, and quartets, in which
the Misses Stott, M. Swain, and Messrs. Ityalls and
Armstrong will appear, and the Messrs. Allwood willgive
several of their extraordinary performances on the violin.
The attendance during the last three weeks has been im-
mense. The receipts up to Saturday night were considera-
bly above £4,000. The charge up to five in the afternoon
is but ls.; after that hour only 6d. When we state, too,
the funds are for the benefit of the institution, which is
for the sound religious and secular education of our young
townsmen, we need scarcely add no more to induce a nu-
merous attendance during the last two days.
THE LATE FIRES.—The subject of preventing, and of
extinguishing fires when they occur, has, during the last
calamitous year, occupied much of the attention of the
leading scientific men of this town, many of whom have
exerted themselves more particularly to devise some means
by which an abundant supply of water may be obtained,
apparently overlooking the fact that, in many cases, a few
bucketsful, if speedily applied, when a fire is first disco-
vered, would save a whole building. We may instance
the great fire at Messrs. Fawcett and Preston's foundry,
some months ago, where, had the firemen been on the
spot a quarter of an hour sooner, there is little doubt hut
that it would have been confined to the room in which it
commenced, with but trifling damage. The plan now
acted upon in this town to convey information to the fire
police of the situation in which any fire occurs is by " pas-
sing the word," as it is termed ; and as many of them are
not on the edges of their beats, they require to be alarmed,
and delays consequently ensue. Now, in America—in
New York, for instance,- where fires are so frequent, yet
so generally soon extinguished, there are two alarm bells :
one (as here) by continued ringing denotes that a fire has
been discovered ; and another, of a louder tone, at inter-
vals of a few seconds, designates the number of the ward
in which it has appeared. No time is lost, and as every
fireman is furnished with a map of the wards, he can reach
the spot in generally half the time that would be occupied
by the usual way of giving the alarm. The same principle
will apply to the men having charge of the water-plugs,
so that a speedy, if not a large supply of water is obtain-
able in the first instance. This plan, or a modification of
it, might, we think, be beneficially adopted here.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—The usual meeting was held on
Thursday. There were present Messrs. Sands, (chairman,)
Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Smith, Aiken, Bulley,
Royden, Bold, Shand, Ripley, and Chilton.—The Marine
Surveyor recommended that a barometer be placed on
board of the light-ships and on board of the Liver tender.
•The Chairman considered it a very excellent recommen-
dation; it was also suggested, by Mr. Aiken, that the
parties on board should keep a meteorological table.—The
Chairman stated that Mr. Brown having addressed a letter
to the committee on the difficulty which he imagined there
would be with respect to the insurance of the new ware-
houses, he had since forwarded another letter, stating that
he is now satisfied that they can be insured. The Chair-
man also remarked that he had a conversation, when in
London ,with Mr. Tight, who was connected with one of the
insurance offices, and he assured him that the charge for
insuring the warehouses would be as low as upon any
warehouses in London. In London the sailors live on
board the vessels, and have fires and lights when they
please; they are more afraid there of the shipping setting
fire to the warehouses than the warehouses causing a fire
amongst the shipping. The Chairman said he had felt
confident himself that such would be the case, but he
mentioned these circumstances in order to remove any
doubt which might exist in the minds of others. He was
also happy to inform them, that the new bill for the
measurement of vessels, &c. had been read a third time
in the House of Commons, and there would be little if
any difficulty in passing it through the Lords. The Chair-
man stated that the following gentlemen would cease to
be members of the committee after the next meeting, their
term of servitude having expired, namely, Messrs. Smith,
Martin, Tobin, Bold, Molyneux, Nicol, S hand, and Roy-
den ; the first four are elected by the ratepayers, the others
are appointed by the Council. There being no further
general business, the committee proceeded to the consid-
eration of financial matters, and soon afterwards adjourned.
The lovers of literature and admirers of one of the
greatest living ornaments wili be gratified to learn that
Washington Irving has succeeded to a large fortune, which
has been bequeathed to hirer by one of the Society of
Friends, to whom the distinguished Atnerienn author was
reii.onally unknown. Mr. living, in consequer.ce, intends
itnn-,erliately to relikquisli his al pcintinent as American
Minister at Madrid ; we tar, his has set-
nweriadv sirren his rceent e,itienee in !hat ca,,ital.
—111(‘)-wlny CI, ("nick. r. 1 r5lnS 11 al a resident
ter vool, :,141 Lk first and le. t rk tithes " by Geoffrey
C. i1y4,11" trig rally appeLrt d in a snail lord pubheAtion
called the Kaleidoscope, published at the Mercury-office.