The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Sir R. PEEL moved that the house at its rising should
adjourn to Thursday, the sth of September.
Mr. SHEIL adverted to the case of Mr. O'Connell, and
said that if the forthcoming decision should be in his
favour, it would tell badly in Ireland that be should have
been kept three months in prison. Under these circum-
stances he put it to the right hon. baronet (Sir R. Peel)
to consider whether it would not be well to act generously
towards the prisoners, and liberate them at once, without
waiting to ascertain whether the lawyers should have
succeeded in picking the lock of Richmond Penitentiary.
He warned the government of the necessity of adopting
a course calculated to conciliate the people of Ireland,
and to soften the growing antipathy to this country which
recent events were calculated to deepen and increase.
Mr. WYSE besought the government, if they meant to
do anything towards conciliating the people of Ireland,
to do it in time.

Lord J. RUSSELL then took a review of the proceedings
of the session in conformity with a practice which had of
recent years grown up, although he did not think that it
was altogether a good one. He contended that the go-
vernment had not in its foreign policy sufficiently vindi-
cated the honour and dignity of the country, and in its
domestic legislation it had neglected to improve the con-
dition of the masses of the working population, who had
not shared in that progressive advance which had marked
the condition of the middle classes. He also censured
the government for neglecting the condition of Ireland,
and intimated that if the government should bring in no
measures of general improvement, he would, during next
session, take up the subject himself.
Sir R. PEEL was glad that the noble lord had discussed
the matter with so little of party spirit, but contended
that the present session was a more fruitful one in mea-
sures of general improvement than any for many years
gone by. The right hon. baronet then enumerated the
various measures of the session, claiming credit for the
Government for the uprightness of its intentions in pro-
moting the welfare of the country both in this country
and in Ireland, and insisting that the state of affairs, com-
mercial as well as political, was far more cheering and sa-
tisfactory than they were when the present Government
took office in 1841. _ _

After some further discussion, in which Mr. Hume, Mr.
B. Cochrane, and Mr. Villiers took part, the motion for
the adjournment was agreed to.
In reply to a question from Mr. HAWES,
Lord STANLEY said that the disturbances in Dominica
arose from a misapprehension as to the object of the
census ; but a large number of the rioters were in prison
awaiting their trials, and the island was restored to a state
of tranquility.

The amendments of the Lords to several bills were
,aken into consideration, after which the house adjourned.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

WEST INDIES.
By the Medway, steamer, we have received the latest
intelligence from the West Indies. The amount of re-
mittances for the Mexican dividends is 44,807. This is
the official statement by the committee of Spanish Ame-
rican bondholders.

The West Indian papers continue to debate the ques-
tion of the reduction of the duty in favour of free labour
sugar with a great deal of spirit, and not the least remark-
able feature in the meetings which have taken place on
the subject is the attendance of black freemen, who, hav-
ing become proprietors of the soil, take an active part in
expressing their opinions on this subject. The papers
generally allude in very satisfactory terms to the regular
passages now made by the royal mail steamers ; and it is
remarked that the regulations of the company having got
into steady play, there is every prospect of the line ful-
filling the expectations previously formed. Business con-
tinued much in the same inactive state as represented in
previous advices. and at Jamaica there was extreme dul-
ness in the markets for island produce. Sugar had sold
at 235. to 275. 6d. Rum had advanced, in consequence
of a large export demand, and the expectation of a short
supply. Purchases had been made at 3s. 10d. to 45., bu 4
4s. Id. bad since been refused. Bills on London were at
par.
The weather in Demerara had been somewhat more
propitious to agriculture. Several dry days had been ex-
perienced, the effect of which would prove very beneficial,
but it is said some time must elapse before the plantations
could recover from the consequences of their recent soak-
ing. Immigration was quite at a stand, and the office of
agent-general was so thoroughly a sinecure, that it was now
held in conjunction with the post of stipendiary magis-
trate by one and the same person. Bank exchange
was 475 dols. per £lOO at 90 days' sight, and private 470
dols. per £lOO.
The Barbadoes and Trinidad advices give nothing new.
The crop of sugar at the latter had nearly concluded, and
it would prove nearly one-third short of the estimate in
consequence of the heaviness of the rainy season. Sugar
was quoted 5 dol. to 5t for 1001 b., and molasses 22/
cents per gallon. Bills at 90 days' sight were at par.
Freights were as low as 2s. per cwt., and several vessels
had left with part cargo, and some empty.

TAHITI.—The Favourite, South Sea whaler, lately ar-
rived. brings news fourteen days later from Tahiti. A
skirmish had taken place between the French and the
natives. A number of the natives, who now live in en-
campments up the mountains since they have been ex-
pelled the town, were seated taking a quiet meal, when
some Frenchmen came upon one party, consisting of two
chiefs and their wives, and seized hold of the women,
whom they attempted to drag on board their boat, then
lying moored on the beach a short distanca off. The
chiefs resisted this aggression, and were immediately shot.
A third chief then rose up and exclaimed, " What, are
we dogs, that we are treated thus? We are a quiet peo-
ple, and wish for peace, but you will not let us have it."
Whereupon the French fired at him, but missing their
aim, he gave the signal to the natives for an onset. At
the first charge fifteen Frenchmen were killed or wounded ;
but a second attack almost immediately taking place, be-
tween thirty and forty more of their number were killed
or disabled by the Tahitians.
OVERLAND MAILS TO 1ND1A...--The arrangements
made for extending the communications with India and
China, alluded to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on
Friday, are understood to be as follow :—There is to be
a communication with Bombay, as at present. The East
India Company's steamers are to leave Bombay on the
Ist of every month, with mails, &c., for Suez, and the
government is to provide steamers to convey them from
Alexandria to Marseilles. This portion of the mails will
arrive in London about the 3d and 4th of every month.
Another or intermediate line of communication is to be
performed by the steamers of the Oriental Company, un-
der contract with the Board of Admiralty. This line will
arrive at Suez in about twenty-five days after leaving
Calcutta. From Suez the mails will be carried across
Egypt to Alexandria, where they will be embarked in the
Oriental Company's steamers, the Oriental and Great
Liverpool for Southampton_, where they will arrive about
the 21st of every month. There will thus be a communi-
cation twice a month with India, one via Bombay, and
the other to Calcutta direct. With the Calcutta line a
monthly communication with China is to be connected.
A line of steamers is also to be provided by the Oriental
Company to run between Ceylon and Hong Kong, and
to touch at Penang and Singapore. These will take from,
and deliver to the Calcutta steamers at Ceylon the China
mails. By this arrangement, the correspondence will be
transmitted between London and Calcutta in forty to
forty-two days, and between London and Hong Kong in
forty-eight days. The Calcutta mail service is to com-
mence in January next. In connection with this subject
it may be mentioned, that there is a report of a conven-
tion with Mehemet Ali for the safe transit of the mails
being speedily settled.

IRELAND.

The Duke of Devonshire left Ireland on Wednesday
last, and arrived at this town on the following day.
Tuesday last, the 6th instant, was Mr. O'Connell's
69th birthday. _ _ .

THE STATE TRIALS.-It is expected that the judges
will deliver their judgment on the writ of error on the
27th or 28th instant.

EXECUTION.—On Wednesday last, at Roscommon,
Catherine Brien and Bridget Langan (two sisters, the
latter married) were executed for the murder of their
brother-in-law. The latter admitted that she was the
actual perpetrator of the horrid deed, and the former that
she knew all that wes going on.
LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.—Mr. Joseph Martin
(brother to the late member for the borough of Sligo) and
his wife were drowned on the first of this month, while
crossing to their lodge on an island at the mouth of the
river that runs into the bay of Sligo. They were in a
jaunting-car, and the unfortunate gentleman was driving.
They have left five young children to lament their loss.

THE ROYAL INFANT AND O'CONNELL.—AS Tuesday
last, the birthday of the royal infant (the Duke of York),
happened to be that which completed Mr. Daniel O'Con-
nell's 69th year, the repealers already presage great events
from the coincidence—amongst others, an amnesty for
the state prisoners; but whether to be realized or not,
must for the present remain a mystery.
PERILS OF A JURY IN TIPPERARY.—After the trial
and conviction at Nenagh assizes of William Feehily, for
shooting at Mr. Carden's steward, at Barna, his brother,
Michael Feehily, who was twice tried for the murder of
Mr. Byrne, of Lissenure, pulled out a pistol in the street,
and threatened one of the jurors who tried the case in
which his brother was found guilty.
THE REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—At the weekly meeting
of this body on Monday last, J. L. Arabin, Esq., Lord
Mayor elect of the city of Dublin, took the chair. There
were five members of parliament present, viz., Messrs.
Grattan, Powell, Kelly. O'Brien, and Sir V. Blake. A.
letter from Lord Wicklow was read, in which his lord-
ship, alluding to a hope expressed, that he might ere
long become a member of the association, said—" Before
that period can arrive, my opinion of the intentions, be-
nevolence, and powers of the United Parliament must be
much changed indeed. I must also have forgotten all that
I have ever learned of the conduct of the Irish parlia-
ment. I now believe that there exists amongst the
British people an anxious desire to do justice to our coun-
try, and to atone in every way in their power for the evils
of former misgovernment. 1 cannot believe that we
should find in a domestic legislature the same honesty,
integrity, and ability to promote our national interests,
and the welfare of the empire at large."—The amount of
the repeal rent for the week was announced to be
£1396 9s. 7d.
ROMANIST INTOLERANCE, AND OUTRAGE. —The
Cork Constitution of last week gives another specimen of
the spirit which possesses the unhappy population of that
town and country. During the forenoon service arfit.
Nicholas's Church on the previous Sunday, the congrer
gation were disturbed by the yelling and hooting of a
crowd that collected in and about the church-yard, so
that it was difficult to hear the clergyman's voice. Capt.
White and other gentlemen went out, and, with the aid
of the police, cleared the church-yard and passage leading
to it, to allow the congregation egress ; but the ladies
were alarmed by the wretched rabble around them. It
turned out that these misguided persons had collected in
consequence of a man, previously a Romanist, having
that day for the first time entered a church. The pre-
sence of the magistrate and the police saved him from
personal injury—perhaps from murder ; for the mob
looked furious, and (as usual with Cork mobs) the women
were the worst. Finding their hands restrained, they gave
full fling to their tongues, and poured out the foulness of
their filthy hearts, to the disgust and annoyance of all
within hearing. On the intended victim this had no
effect, and, declining the protection of the police, he
walked manfully through the shouting and shrieking
crowd. Captain White, however, apprehensive that they
might close in upon him, sent the police to accompany
him. All along to his house the windows were thronged
with vociferous Romanists, more ferocious than savages.
The controversy between the churches had for some time
engaged his attention, and his joining that of England
had been the result of a diligent study of Scripture, and
a conscientious comparison of the claims of both. At the
evening service a crowd again collected, and as soon as he
appeared they followed him, shouting and screaming, and
reviling him by the most opprobrious epithets. Several
of the parties, including some women, were afterwards
apprehended, identified, and committed for trial. An
escort of police was required to accompany the man to
the police-office to give his evidence, as he would proba-
bly otherwise not have reached it alive. While he was
in church on Sunday evening, his wife was beaten and her
clothes torn. The police remained in the neighbourhood
till a late hour, as apprehensions were entertained, from
threats uttered, that his house would be set on fire. The
victim of this outrage supported himself comfortably by
means of a school, and had 70 scholars, nearly all Roman-
ists. On Monday, as had been anticipated, he was with-
out a pupil, the mob declaring that not even a Protestant
child should enter. He was removed by the police next
day to lodgings in the city, neither his life nor that of any
of his family being safe in the neighbourhood where he
lived ; for up to the time of his removal his house was
surrounded, and the mob kept up a constant shower of
stones against the door. "This," concludes our contem-
porary, " is a land of liberty, and this an age of `progress'
and improvement!"