The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-21 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-.WEDNESD&Y.

On the motion of Mr. WILSON PATTEN, it was ordered
that the time for making reports on turnpike-road bills
be enlarged till the 21st of June.
Mr. THORNELY presented a petition from English
Presbyterians near Liverpool, signed, among others, by
three magistrates, in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels
Bill.
The house was soon after counted out.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
Sir C. NAPIER requested the attention of the house to
the state of the Navy List, with reference to the expedi-
ency of establishing a retired list for a fixed number of
officers above 60 years of age. He recapitulated his own
former endeavour■ to get such a list established, and the
discouraging answers 'alai, iron time to time bad been

given to him. Thus baffled, be thought it his duty now
to press the subject once more upon the house. After
60 years of age a man was not generally fit for the com-
mand of a ship ; his strength was not sufficient to go
through the conduct of an action, and follow it up to its
full results. He gave a variety of instances from our
naval history of disadvantages which he considered as
having accrued from the advanced years and exhausted
energies of commanding officers. At this time there
were no officers above the rank of Rear-Admirals—and
only to even of that rank—who were under 60 years of
age. In order to facilitate promotion, he proposed that
old officers should be permitted to sell their commissions,
and that officers purchasing them should be allowed to do
so after a shorter term of service than might be required
from officers getting promotion without purchase. He
Filtered into a variety of professional details on the sub-
ject of promotion, and took occasion to mention the great
distinction which a son of Sir R. Peel had just attained
in his examination for Lieutenant.
Sir R. PEEL expressed his gratification at so flattering
a notice of a young officer from so eminent a man as Sir
C. Napier. Ile said that in the time of the late Govern-
ment the whole subject had been referred to a commis-
sion, upon which were two noblemen who had been First
Lords of the Admiralty, and three Admirals. They had
specially considered the proposal for a retired list; and
they had reported that it would not confer any public
benefit commensurate with the expense it would entail.
If the option of retirement were given to a certain number
of captains, it would have no effect in clearing the list
from old officers ; the oldest, being nearest to the chance
of getting their flag, would, of course, remain, and only
the younger captains, whose promotion was very remote,
would retire. He hoped the house would not express an
opinion which should fetter the discretion of the Govern-
ment on this subject.
Captain BERKELEY enlarged upon the disadvantages
arising from the great length of time during which an
officer's talent and experience must rust on shore before
he could obtain any promotion under the present system.
Sir G. COCKBURN observed, that the great number of
old officers now unemployed in the high ranks of the navy
was the natural result of the extensive appointment re-
quired by the war, and the necessary discontinuance of
employment during the subsequent peace. He thought
that when a subject of this kind had been carefully con-
sidered by a competent commission, it was inexpedient
to rescind the decision pronounced by them. He was
satisfied, from his personal knowledge of the navy (and
he had lately been serving in the Mediterranean), that a
fleet of 50 or 60 sail-of-the-line could be sent out at this
time as well manned as in his younger days. He was
favourable to the principle of purchase, though not with
a shorter term of service; but he had not pressed that
principle, because the commission had given their judg-
ment against it. . .

Captain PEcHELL supported Sir C. Napier's proposal.
He complained that under the present system all Boards
of Admiralty, whip or tory, were under an undue pressure
from political influences; and then went at large into
subjects of naval architecture, and other nautical matters
having no apparent connexion with the motion before the
house. The Government asked the house to let them
alone ; but he did not intend to do that. He believed
the present Board of Admiralty were very well inclined
to fulfil their duty ; but he thought they would do better
if they would follow the example of the Duke of Clarence,
who, when Lord High Admiral, saw every officer per-
sonally.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, that if they gave the op-
tion of retirement, they would have the old men on their
active list, and the young ones on their retired list. A
few years would make a great change, by the deaths of
very many officers now in advanced age; and in the mean
time it was not desirable to fix a peat expense on the
country, more especially when any plan that might be
proposed to please some of our officers was sure to be
very unpalatable to others. He hoped Sir C. Napier
would withdraw his motion. _ .

Sir C. NAPIER replied. He did not care for the com-
mission which had been quoted as so strong an authority;
it had decided one way one day, and another way the
next; there was nothing like it, except the late divisions
on Lord Ashley's motion. He admitted that the officers
at the very top of the list, who were near to getting their
flags, would not retire ; but between them and the young
ones there were very many who would. An old captain
of 70 could no more do his work as he did at 40, than a
fox-hunter of 70 could ride with the nerve of a youngster
at a five-barred gate. . .

The house then divided, when the motion was lost by
a majority of 71 to 28.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY.

The Bishop of EXETER introduced a bill, which was
read a first time, for the purpose of checking the facilities
for seduction in the metropolis.
A discussion arose respecting the progress of the new
houses of parliament, which resulted in a reference of the
whole subject to a Commission of the Board of Works,
with the supervision of the Lords of the Treasury. Their
Lordships adjourned soon after.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Mr. LABOUCHERE brought under the consideration of
the house the state of the cooperage trade, which was un-
able to compete with either foreign or colonial com-
petition.

Mr. GLADSTONE admitted that a strong case had been
made out in favour of the coopers, but was prepared to
prove that there was considerable exaggeration in their
statements, for their difficulties were to be chiefly attri-
buted to the present short supply of Baltic staves, and the
consequent temporary high price to which they had at-
tained.

After some discussion the house went into committee
on the Customs Duties Bill.

A discussion arose as to the policy of differential duties,
which Mr. EWART contended ought to be done away
with; but the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER insisted
that our colonists, as British subjects, were entitled to
share in the protection invariably afforded by the mother
country.
After some discussion, Mr. Ewart's proposition of re-
ducing the duty on foreign coffee to the same amount as
that on colonial was negatived by a majority of 39 to 28.
A discussion took place upon the abrogation of the
wool duties, but ultimately all the clauses in the bill were
agreed to with amendments, and the house resumed. The
report was brought up, and ordered to be received on
Monday next.
In committee on the Stamp Duties Bill, Mr. FOSTER
proposed larger reductions of the duty on marine in-
surances than those contemplated by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
A discussion ensued, and on a division the amendment
of Mr. Foster was negatived by a majority of 69 to 22.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

ARRIVAL OF THE ACADIA.

By the steam-ship Acadia, Capt. Ryrie, which arrived
in the Mersey on Wednesday morning, after a fine pas-
sage of ten days nineteen hours from Halifax, we have
received New York papers to the Ist instant inclusive.
The Acadia brought home 101 passengers, viz. :
From Boston.—Mr. C. Rollins, Miss M. Goodwin, B.
C. Morse, B. Bradley, Hector Morrison, J. W. Pierce,
Charles Falkner, Mr. Burke, J. Copeland Zigonala,
Rev. Dr. Cunningham, A. Comstork, John Hartley, R.
P. Kensington, H. B. Ferguson, A. Woods, Miss Smith'
J. M. llutton, Mr. Brown, Mr. M'Kee, R. L. Dawson'
J. Tryon, S. W. Bent, Geo. Atkinson, C. W. Thomas
B. 0. Vignald, Mrs. Buchan, Rev. E. L. Magoon, Mrs.
Mary Pares, A. J. Lewis, G. B. Brower, Lieut. Laure,
B. Graham, J. Moses, Mr. Cleveland, J. Hilliard, C. F.
Baxter, W. L. Beal, Autonis Salgado, Manuel Ose, and
servant man, W. Moore, J. A. Roberts, Louis Potestad,
Lady, Master Potestad, and servant man, Thomas Hill,
Peter Johnson, Joseph Blackwood, Stephen Crocker,
John Nicholson, George Urquhart and servant man, P.
Charman, E. C. Richards, S.W. Connell, Mr. W. Adgar,
Lady, child, and servant maid, Franklyn Scavers, Wash-
ington Scavers, Mr. H. Thompson, B. W. Roberts, C.
Oxley, J. C. Pickersgill, F. W. Franktykee, It. Salor,
F. Almy, Charles Clarke, C. Cartlidge, H. Q. Ferguson,
F. W. S. Coolidge, Z. S. Henry, D. H. Loudon, J. F.
Cole, P. Delata, Mr. Butterfield, E. A. Pierce, Lewis
George, C. F. Powell, R. B. Jay, and S. P. Williams.
From Halifax.—Mr. R. S. Allan, Mr. Pennington,
Mr. Satlock, Lady, and child, Capt. Middleton, Arthur
White, Mr. Reade and attendant, Capt. G. A. Bedford,
Lody, two children and servant, Miss Minchin, Mr. G.
Minchin, Mrs. Bagges, Mr. Sandon, and Rutherford.

The question of a treaty of annexation with Texas oc-
cupies the papers to the exclusion of almost every other
topic. The New York Post publishes the treaty and a
variety of accompanying documents ; and from that paper
we take the following extract :—" 1. The treaty cedes to
the United States the whole territory of Texas, to be an-
nexed as a territory, subject to the same conditions as
other territories. 2. The citizens of Texas are to be ad-
mitted to all the privileges of citizens of the United States,
as soon as qualified according to the federal constitution.
3. The United States are to undertake the settlement of
all titles and claims to real estate in Texas. 4. The pub-
lic lands of Texas to be subject to the laws regulating the
public lands of other territories. 5. The United States
assumes the public debt and other liabilities of Texas,
estimated not to exceed ten millions of dollars, to be paid
in successive instalments. 6. Four commissions to be
appointed to examine into the validity of certificates and
claims to lands." The remaining provisions are merely
formal.
A disgraceful affray took place in the United States
House of Representatives. Mr. Rathbun, of New York,
said, not in debate, but in conversation, tnat " we," him-
self and friends, could prove a certain assertion. Mr.
White, of Kentucky, who sat near him, sa!(_l, 'Ofo can
prove a lie, then ; swallow that—you!" course
a rencontre followed, both striking at each other. They
were instantly separated. Great confusion arose, which
was interfered in by a man named Moore, of Kentucky,
who is not a member of the house, and had no business
in it. Mr. M'Causlin, of Ohio, took hold of him, and
thrust him out of the ball, as he had been interfering with
the officers. As he went out, he fired a pistol at Mr.
M'Causlin, which missed him and hit Mr. Wales, one of
the police of the capitol, in the tbigh. The wound is
painful, but not dangerous. Moore was arrested.
Seseral motions were made in the confusion. Mr.
White, who gave the insult, requested to be heard. He
made a sincere and feeling apology to the house, express-
ing deep regret and contrition. Mr. Rathbun instantly
followed his magnanimous example, and the two shook
hands by a movement apparently spontaneous with each•
On the following day Mr. Barnard offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, the substance of which was, that the
act which had occurred met the unqualified reprobation
of the house ; that the house had listened to the apology
of thepartr
aso,
danthdotwiittnedsescro.retdbetirherevcioolnecoiolioatoiof reconciliation with
satisfaction
they had been guilty admitted of no palliation, and me-
rited and received the severest censure of the house.

Moore was ordered to be kept in the custody of the
Sergeant. at-Arms until further orders.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania aims to be quite as
dignified and peaceable a body as the United States Con-
gress. There was a row in the House of Representatives
at Harrisburg. Mr. Smith, of Berks, it appears, rose in
his place, and interrupted Mr. Cooper, of Adams, with
the remark "It is false " Mr. Cooper ddinanded whe-
ther the gentleman from Berks intended to apply the re-
mark to the evidence, or to himself. Mt•. Smith replied
that he intended to apply it to the gentleman himself.
" I pronounce you," said Mr. Cooper, " a scoundrel and
a coward ! " The Speaker with manliness and energy
then interfered, and compelled the gentleman from Berks
to apologise to the house, and the gentleman from Adams.
This settled the affair.
The accounts from Havana stated that more than a
hundred negroes had been shot at Matanzas for having
taken part in the late insurrection. A large number of
prisoners were still in confinement at Havana.
The New Orleans Bulletin says, the British ship Wel-
lington, Capt. AV Intyre, which cleared on the 29th March
for Liverpool, went ashore upon the Tortugas Shoals on
the 31st, and was a perfect wreck. Her cargo consisted
of 1642 hales cotton, 160 barrels lard, and 3 cases linen.
About 600 bales of the cotton were taken off by the
wreckers in a damaged state, and carried to Key West.
No lives were lost.
Judge Baldwin, one of the Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States, died at the Mer-
chants' Hotel, in Philadelphia, of paralysis.
There was a want of animation in the cotton market at
New York. Anticipating unfavourable accounts to be
received by the steamer to leave Liverpool on the 4th
instant, prices gradually receded, resulting in a decline on
fair and grades below, up to the 22d instant, of I tol a
cent. per lb., when it was announced that the steamer
Acadia had arrived at Boston, with accounts of a decline
in Liverpool of id on all grades below fair, and Id on fair
and the grades above, which being more unfavourable
than was counted upon, operations were suspended; but
on the day following a further reduction of lc. per lb. on
the grades below fair was submitted to, and 1000 bales
were disposed of at the decline, which being established,
purchasers had freely entered the market; and since the
announcement of the steamer's news to this date, 10,500
bales had been taken, principally for export. Fair Up-
lands are quoted at 8 to 34 cents per lb. as the extreme,
while New Orleans and Mobile command + to 4c. addi-
tional, being preferred particularly for shipment.
The stock of cotton at New York was about 170,000
bales.

EXECUTIONS IN ITALY.
(From Me Courier Francaise.)
A frightful event occurred on the 7th May, in Bologna.
Six of the persons capitally convicted by the military
commission as implicated in the political affairs of last
year, have been put to death, almost without the know-
ledge of the population, the sentence having been notified
to the condemned last evening at a late hour. This
morning, at sunrise, they were shot, in the centre of a nu-
merous square of troops, who surrounded the place of ex-
ecution, and prevented the people from approaching it.
Scarcely was that barbarous act known, than a cry of
genaral indignation was raised through the city. The
whole garrison is under arms, and the streets are traversed
by large patrols. A manifestation on the part of the peo-
ple is apprehended, and the fears of the government are
the better founded, as it has set to it a terrible example
of revolutionary measures.
The executions of this morning, carried into effect in
virtue of a sentence delivered by a special and purely mili-
tary commission, can only be viewed in the light of poli-
tical murders. They are contrary to legality and to the
provisions of our codes.
The following is the sentence, which has been posted
up on the walls of Bologna :
In the name of His Holiness Pope Gregory XVI., &c.
" The Military Commission sitting at Bologna, insti-
tuted by an order of his Excellency Cardinal Ugo Spinola,
legate of the province, under date the 26th of August,
1843, composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Feddi, Command-
ant of the Carabineers of the four legations ; Lieutenant-
Colonel Allegrini, Commandant of the Pontifical Dra-
goons ; M. Sampierri, Captain of Carabineers ; M.
Savacinelli, Captain of the Line; M. Martinelli, Captain
Commandant of Fort Urbino, and assisted by Councillor
Fontana, extraordinary commissioner and reporter, and
Dr. Piselli, Chancellor, has been convoked to examine
and try the case of insurrection and rebellion against the
Sovereign and the Government, in which the accused have
taken an active and culpable part :
" 1. In the armed band, composed of upwards of 60
individuals, which rose on the Bth of August, 1843, and
traversed the mountains of the province until the 24th.
" 2. In the engagement which took place on the 15th
of August between that band and the loyal force of the
Carabineers, and in which a captain, four carabineers,
and a volunteer were killed, and a sergeant of the volun-
teers dangerously wounded.
"3. In the armed band which marched from Bologna
towards Imola in the night of the Bth of September, 1843.
" 4. In the encounter on the evening of the 3d of Octo-
ber, 1843, at the Borgo San Pietro, between several
armed individuals and a patrol of Carabineers and Swiss,
three of whom were wounded.
(Here follow the names, age, and professions of the ac-
cused, all belonging to the class of the people.)
" Having examined all the acts relative to the case, and
heard the report and charges ofthe reporting commissioner,
together with the defence of the accused. presented by
Professors Giacomelli and Carlo Monti, the military com-
mission has pronounced ajudgment, by which 20 are con-
demned to the penalty of death, 13 to the galleys for life,
three to 20 years, two to five, and all to the confiscation
of their property."
By a sovereign rescript of the 27th of April, 14 of the
condemned to death have obtained the commutation of
their penalty into that of the galleys for life ; and as
respects the six others—namely, Ludovic Manari, Joseph
Veronesi, Raffaele Landi, Joseph Rabbi, Joseph Ming-
hetti and Joseph Gavoni, the sentence was executed this
morning at six o'clock, at the place called it Prato de St.
Antonio, where they were shot in the back.
Six others accused had been set at liberty pro tempore
for want of proofs. The contumacious offenders being
considered the chiefs of the conspiracy, the sentence
orders that the most diligent measures be adopted for their
apprehension. These are Count Zambeccari, the Mar-
quis Tanara, Count Biancoli, the Marquis de Pietramel-
lara, the two brothers Muratori, Turris, Maczari, Zanardi,
Lambertini, Giugni, and several others.
Councillor Galletti, who was arrested on the Ist inst.,
has been sent off to Rome under a strong escort.