The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY,

Mr. HAYTER, in answer to Mr. G. Scott, stated that no con-
tract had yet been executed for steam communication with
the Australian colonies. The subject was still under consi-
deration.

Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply to a question, stated that the
government had under their consideration the subject of intro.
clueing a bill for taking the census for 1851.
In reply to Mr. D'lsraeli, Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that
the Danish government had not refused to renew the armis-
tice of the 10th July last. In the absence of Lord Pelmerston,
he could not give any further information.
The house then resolved itself into a committee, when Lord
J. RUSSELL made his promised statements with regard to the
Irish Unions, and the measures he proposed to take in respect
to the advances made by this country. The noble lord recaps-
tilated all the loans and grants made to Ireland since 1839,
which amount in the aggregate to .4,453,000, and he proposed
that this sum should be converted into consolidated annuities,
repayable in forty years, with interest at the same rate as was
charged under the different acts of parliament making the
maws. He next proposed that the additional sum of .e 300,000
s4ould he advanced, to enable the guardians of the Poor-law
Unions to pay off debts contracted for food and clothing during
the last few years. The noble lord concluded by expressing
his conviction, founded on the increase of pauperism, that Ire-
land was not in a state of progressive improvement.
The resolution was then put, and, upon the question that the
report be received, a lengthened debate took place. The
speakers were Mr. Bright, Mr. Grattan, Mr. Muntz, Lord
Illtas, Mr. M'Cullagh, Sir W. Somerville, Mr. Herbert, Lord
C. Hamilton, and several others, and the resolutions were
agreed to without a division.

-The Party Procession (Ireland) Bill was read the second
time.

The Court of Chancery (Ireland) Bill was read the second
time, after a long and uninteresting discussion.
IN the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair for the
hduse to go into a committee upon registry offices in bank-
niptcies, which is a bill for abolishing sinecures and uniting
two offices,
'Air. HENLEY moved tin amendment to refer the bill to a
select committee.

This was opposed by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL and others,
biit on a division the numbers for the amendment were 61 ;
against it, 57 ; majority 4. The ministers were consequently
defeated, a result that was received with much cheering.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

GREECE

RAPIENZA.—Letters from Athens of the 28th and 31st
ult.'contain news of the highest importance. Sir Thos.
Wyse and Admiral Parker are inexorable in their de-
mands, which the government of Greece are determined
to resist. The instructions of Lord Palmerston to coerce
thp latter to yield to the claims made by England have
eibited the most bitter feelings of hatred against the
British Cabinet, while, on the other hand, the people are
rallying around their King, and offering him their services
and .their property against the violence and oppression
by which his Majesty is now surrounded. The opposi-
tion members in the Chamber warmly espouse the con-
(Met of the government, and the whole of the officers of
the Greek army have renounced their pay, so long as his
Majesty shall be engaged in the present struggle. Two
of the Greek islands have been seized by Admiral Parker.

A seditious movement has broken out at Palermo ; it
was at once suppressed.
Lola Montes left Cadiz a few days ago on board an Eng-
lish steamer, to proceed, it was supposed, to England.
Letters received from Bahia of the 18th December
state that yellow fever (of which that city had hitherto
been entirely free) was very prevalent, and the mortality
exceedingly great, particularly among foreigners.
Little tragedies occur occasionally in California. A
recent journal chronicles an inquest :—" Also, in Happy
Valley, on the body of a Portuguese, who committed sui-
cide by running a sword through his neck !"
-A duel lately occurred at Madrid between two young
ladies ; one was ultimately shot in the leg ; and the com-
bat ceased pro. tem.; finally, a reconciliation was effected
by the gallant senhor, whose charms had evoked the dis-
cdrd.

Three prisoners, in attempting to escape from the Con-
ciergerie, Paris, tried to burn a hole through the ceiling,
and caused such a fire, that only for its timely discovery,
not only the prison but the courts of law might have been
destroyed. _

SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN.—The Copenhagen journal, the
Flying Post, says the Danish Government has notified to
Lord Palmerston that it cannot accept his proposition for
prolongation of the armistice with Prussia, without con-
ditions as to its duration, and a guarantee that it will be
perfectly executed.
. .

- The Paris Moniteur of Friday announces that the Pre-
sident of the Republic has received a letter, by which his
Majesty the Emperor of Russia notifies the birth of a
Grand Duke, a son of his Imperial Highness the Grand
Duke heir apparent Alexander Nicolaiwitch. This
Prince received the name of Alexis at the baptismal font.
LISBON.—Much excitement prevails respecting Count
de Thomar's conduct in an action for libel against the
Morning Post. The Chamber of Peers was in the greatest
disorder during the debate, which resulted in its being re-
lieved, by a majority of 27 to 22, from stating whether he
had not made the affidavit respecting the Queen of Por-
tugal.

POPERY IN AMERlCA.—According to the data fur-
nished by the Roman Catholics themselves, they have in
the United States three archbishops, 24 bishops, 1,081
priests, and 1,073 churches, or, including California and
New Mexico, 1,141 priests, and 1,133 churches. The
Roman Catholic population is computed at 1,523,350
souls.

An idea of the extent of the mischief committed during
the days of February may be formed from the fact that
the Court of Liquidation of the civil list is about to sell
by auction 50,0001 b. of broken glass and crystal belonging
to the furniture and services of the Old Palais National.
Broken porcelain has been already sold for 6,000 f.—
Galignani's Messenger.
A PRIMA DONNA DRIVEN DELIRIOUS.--Otl the sth
instant, at Madrid, after an interval of eighteen months,
the Opera was opened, and was crowded. The company
was, however, one of the worst that has ventured to sing
in that capital. A tremendous row ensued. The prima
donna, frightened at the energetic oaths directed to her
person, fled the stage, and, fainting in her dressing room,
was sent home delirious. Another singer supplied her
place, and the crowd, after joining in the choruses, and
affecting other harmless breaches of decorum, went
peaceably home.

MATRIMONY ON THE SILENT SYSTEM.--..9.n interesting
ceremony, of very rare occurrence, if not unprecedented,
hi Lyons, attracted a few days since a large concourse of
spectators to the church of St. Nizier, a deaf and dumb
couple there receiving the nuptial benediction at the hands
of Father Charles, of the order of the Capuchins, and
Chaplain to the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Lyons.'
The venerable priest, preparatory to performing the mar-
riage ceremony, addressed the bride and bridegroom in
signs, and afterwards had the courtesy to translate his
harangue into oral language for that part of his auditory
who might not have completely seized is meaning.—
Constitutionnet.