The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-12-05 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

TRADE PROSPECTS.

[Bankers' Circular.).

We see no reason to alter the view which we ventured
to take last week concerning the immediate prospects of
temporary improvement in trade in the manufacturing
districts—that word temporary may mean four, six, eight,
or ten months, according to individual impressions, and
we would not fix on the shortest of those periods. Con-
sequently, although we have been censured for presenting
a too sanguine view—a censure not specifically neutralised
by an opposite—yet we adhere firmly to what we have
said, because some of the most cautious and considerate
merchants have commended it for moderation, and for
not passing the boundary which the facts and circum-
stances of the case, as they come under their own obser-
vation and experience, would completely justify.
The mannfacturing and mining affairs of this country
are, however, in so peculiar a condition, so liable to in-
terruption from political causes, or from a policy likely to
be pursued by the best customers of England, which is in
direct antagonism to that which is, or rather has been, for
seven years in vogue here, that we think it right on the
present occasion to extend our views beyond a short
period of comprrative prosperity, for the purpose of en-
deavouring to ascertain what is likely to come after that
temporary period of relief. We hold with an overwhelm-
ing force of conviction to the opinion that we have been
for many years reiterating, viz., that the operation of the
existing free trade policy of England, with the existing
monetary system of England, will produce effects so un-
bearable, that one or the other, and we think both, will
be changed with'n two years from the present time.
When we say changed, we do not mean changed to their
opposites: judicious currency regulations, which the Acts
of 1844 and 1845 aimed at but did not accomplish, are
requisite; the removal of obnoxious import duties which
teased and perplexed without yielding revenue, might be
necessary : but we mean that the uncircumspect head-
long measures which have been forced onward on an in-
dividual anthority, will be wisely modified and be placed
on a foundation not incompatible with the welfare of the
people, and that within two years. * * * *

We have dwelt long on our distant prospects and their
ultimate results ; it is a prolific theme of deep interest for
us. Our immediate prospects for immediate demand and
more employment for the people are, however, improving,
and are exhibiting symptoms of endurance which could
not be discerned last week. The French are showing a
willingness and a capacity to buy and pay for imported
goods. For nine months they have imported no spetter ;
they are now buying fair quantities in Hamburgh at im-
pro"ed prices. They are also importing more copper.
They are, moreover, beginning to import and work up
more cotton and other raw materials. And a fact seated
in the Morning Chronicle speaks emphatically con-
cernine the restoration of confidence and the power of
consumption in Paris. It is this :—" The prOsperity of
Paris is generally in proportion to the amount of the
octroi duties. \TV hen they are low, Paris suffers; when they
are high, Paris prospers. It now appears that the octroi
duties of last month are, for the first time since the revo-
lution, equal to those of the corresponding month of 1847.
In October, 1847, the amount of octroi duties collected
amounted to 2,916,420 francs ; in October, 1848, they
amounted to 2,608,983 francs. The uroduce of the first
fortnight of November amounts to 1,575,819 francs. The
produce of the first fortnight of November amounts to
1,575,819 francs, which is at the satisfactory rate of
105,053 francs per day."
.

For these and other reasons (to which we may advert
on another occasion) we hold to the opinion we expressed
last week concerning the prospects for trade in the manu-
facturing districts, which we repeated on commencing
these observations. The volcano that has burst out with
such fury in Germany will, we trust, be stopped, and it
certainly would have been some months since if an extra-
ordinary degree of energy had been exercised by the go-
vernments. A great majority of the middle and higher
classes of the people are on their side—especially in Prus-
sia ; and all would be so, if a moderate degree of intelli-
gence and liberality, combined with inflexible firmness,
characterised the administration of their rulers.

eentral Altorellann.

---.100.--

The barque Arrietta, from Cuba, for Swansea,. with
ore, was wrecked in Swansea Bay on Monday night.
Parliamentary notices may in future be forwarded
through the Post Office, under certain regulations.
Shrawberries and violets are now growing in the open
air, in a garden at Strangeways-terrace, Truro.
Mr. Steegman,.a German, has been elected to the office
of Sheriff of Nottingham.
A farmer's pocket was picked of £350 at the Monmouth
fair, on Wednesday week.

When Jenny Lind visited Bristol Cathedral on Sunday
week she was honored with a seat in the Bishop's throne.
The Corporation of Durham have resolved to petition
against the introduction of the provisions of the likalth
Act into that city until the local acts are found insufficient.
A female prisoner in Gloucester gaol died last week in
consequence of exhaustion, from having persisted in tak-
ing insufficient food.

THE LYME PARK CATTLE.—A fine well-fed wild bul-
lock was slaughtered last week, at Lyme. and a hina-
quarter forwarded for presentation to her Majesty.
"An Appeal to the Public," is the title of a small
affair produced at the Lyceum, which exhibits the bustling
talent of Mr. Charles Mathews to advantage.
On Friday night the Southwark Flax Mills, belonging
to Messrs. Chapman and Co., were destroyed by fire.
The loss is estimated at £2,600 and the firm is not insured
fora penny.

On Friday a destructive fire took place in the premises
of a Mr. Powell, optician, Gray's-inn-lane, London. A
man and woman lodging in one of the upper rooms were
suffocated.

At Kirriemuir, Scotland. lately, a girl about 9 years of
age, died of suffocation, from a dose of turpentine which
her father was attempting to pour down her throat for
worms.

Dr. John Stewart, of Cumnock, Scotland, died recently
from inflammation and fever, produced by a slight burn
on the wrist, by the accidental dropping of some melted
sealing wax upon it a short time previously.
During the course of a trial at the Central Criminal
Court, on Monday. the Recorder intimated that a publican
clearly connected with a Derby Sweep lottery, is liable to
a penalty of £5OO.

Last week the chapel erected in the Duke of Buc-
cleuch's grounds at Dalkeith was broken into, and a num-
ber of valuable articles used in the service of the church
Were stolen.

We (Daily News) could point to one church, not many
miles from Guildhall, in which there are as many as five
lecturers appointed who preach to congregations varying
in number from five to thirteen !

A Hull paper describes a full-grown crab. bearing on
its back two score and a half oysters, apparently as firmly
imbedded in its shell as if they constituted a proper part
of it.

THE CASUAL POOR.—According to the official returns
it appears there were 17,500 casual poor relieved in the
the workhouse of St. Martin-in-the-fields, London, during
last year.

At the Criminal Court, London, on Saturday, the Ba-
ronness St. Marv; was found " not guilty" of the charge of
having stolen two rings, value £4O, the property of Sir J.
Hare.

One more of the last frail links by which hope hung in
the matter of the party who have so long disappeared with
Sir John Franklin has given way. The latest of the whal-
ers have come in—and brought no tidings. Floating or
camping they have seen no trace of the lost expedition.
A few days ago, a pensioner at Carlisle cut out of his
left arm a flattened piece of lead, about the size of a six-
pence, being a portion of a ball which shattered the upper

bone Of the arm at the battle of Waterloo, he beii

time in the 73d Regiment,

The great clock-for the Victoria Tower of the new
Houses of Parliament is to strike the hours on a bell of
from eight to ten tons weight, chime the quarters on
eight bells, and show time on four dials of thirty feet in
diameter.

The Queen Dowager has ordered an agent at Cowes to
distribute among the widows and poor the two months'
supply of coals furnished to the houses which her Majesty

engaged for that period, but which she on.

y occupied

as miny days.

The bha'rtist trials in Edinburgh, closed on Saturday,
when the court, by a majority of four, Lord Cockburn
alone dissenting, repelled the objections to the sufficiency
of the verdict. The sentence upon each of the prisoners
was four months' imprisonment.
At a vestry meeting held last week, at Barnard Castle,
it was resolved, by a large majority, to support, by legal
proceedings, the right of the parishioners at large to ap-
point the sexton ; and it was also determined to levy a
rate to meet the expenses.

A good deal of eicitement has been created at Gorbals
during the last few days, from the circumstance of a man
named George Johnston, a master baker in Thistle-street,

having absconded with 'a
sum of money amounting to
nearly £lOOO, which belonged to a
Society, of which he was treasurer

A large meeting of dissenting clergymen and laymen
Glasgow, on :Tuesday, for the purpose of op-
)roposed endowment of the Roman Catholic

posing the

priesthood, and also in opposition to exist

of every description. :
was called to the chair.

A. Hastie. M.F. for the city,

SCARCITY OF COPPER COlN.—Such was the extreme
scarcity of copper money in the town last week, that it

was quite impossible to get " change for sixpence." One
individual, of somewhat more than ordinary perseverance,
contrived, after s search of some hours, to get a four-
pcnny-piece:and twopence.—Banff Journal.
GUTTA PERCH A.—This article continues to be imported
in very large quantities in order to meet the extensive de-
• mands which are made for it. A vessel just arrived in
t London from Singapore has' largest

=ugh
f 3,294

ne , unporta
packages, 710 lumps

PALTRY SPITE.—The Board of Guardians of the
Andover Union have withheld their advertisements from
the Times, in consequence of that paper expressing an
opinion on their proceedings. We talk of the freedom
of the press in England, but is not this infinitely more
tyrannical than any continental censorship ?
HONOURABLE CONDUCT.—A dinner was given on
Tuesday night, in London, to ➢Zr. J. B. Graham, by the
creditors of his late father, in testimony of their approval
of his conduct in liquidating the claims not only of his
deceased father, but those upon the firm of which Mr.
Graham, sen. was a partner.

A RELIC OF OLD TIMES.—A golden bracelet, of the
intrinsic worth of about £2O, which is thoueht to hay/

at the tim

_ .
Romans and the sons of the British king, Cunobelin, was
lately found by a ploughman on the estate of Mr. It.
Fox, near Wendover, Bucks, and is to be presented to the
British Museum.

SHAM GENEVA GLOD WATCHES.—The public must be
on their guard in respct to a beautiful imitation, in base

metal, electrotypes

of the small Geneva watches, with a