The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-05-21 00:00:00

LABOUR AND TIM POOR.

CONDITION OF LIVERPOOL, BY THE MORNING CIIRO-
NICLE'S COMMISSIONER.

The first number of the series of letters giving an
account of the sanitary and social condition of Liverpool,
appeared in the Morning Chronicle of yesterday ; and its
interest is enhanced by the circumstance that the inquiry,
of which this is a portion of the result, has been conducted
by a most intelligent and able man—Dr. Mackay—known
as the author of "There's a good time coming, boys,"
and several stirring English ballads and other poems of
great merit. The subject treated upon in this letter is
" The burdens upon towns—lrish pauperism :" and it
contains a very striking exposition, but too true, of the
penalty which Liverpool pays for her proximity as a port,
to pauperized Ireland, an infliction which the commissioner
suggests goes far to neutralize the advantage which we
possess, in being the principal highway for the commerce
of the western world. _ _ _

Our readers will recognise at once the truth of the fol-
lowing description of our position:—
"This rich, enterprising, and increasing town is oppressed
with pauperism, and contains moreover a large population of
working men but little removed above pauperism, in daily
danger of sinking into it—discontented with their lot—living
precariously at most times—dependent upon the wind for the
chance of procuring a subsistence; and forming a class which,
though naturally laborious, honest, and well-inclined, needs
but little provocation, of ill-treatment on the one band, or of
severe distress on the other, to become dangerous. Liverpool
is furthermore oppressed by a grievous, if not intolerable,
burden, which bears with almost fatal weight upon the middle
classes, who form the great majority of the ratepayers, and
with much severity even upon the richer class of inhabitants.
Though not the neatest, it is the most convenient, and by far
the richest port; towards Ireland. The consequence is that
the wretched people of that country, to whom a shilling a day
is high wages, swarm into England by way of Lirerm 1, and
inflict the injury of their presence upon that town in the first
instance. They stay as long as they can in search of work or
charity, thence spread themselves through England when work
fails, and ultimately return to Liverpool to be maintained as
paupers, or to be reconveyed, at the expense of that town, to
their own country. A great deal has been said lately of the
burdens upon LAND. Without entering upon that question at
all, I shall endeavour to show, in the sequel of this letter, a few
of the burdens upon this town consequent upon its proximity
to Ireland, to say nothing of any other burdens of which it
may reasonably or unreasonably complain. Liverpool in this
respect is peculiarly unfortunate, and shares with Glasgow the
distinction of possessing a larger Irish population than any
Irish. town—Dublin, Cork, and Belfast excepted—and with
Bristol as well as Glasgow, the unenviable distinction of being
compelled to maintain an amount of Irish pauperism, or to
pay charges on account of Irish paupers, almost equal in
amount to the sums which it is called upon to expend on its
own poor."
The actual cost of the infliction will be best understood
by the following statistical account, the items of which,
we believe to be, in the main, correct :
"The population of the parish of Liverpool, in 1841, was
223.054. and at present is calculated at 270,000. The nett cost
of the in-door pauperism of this large parish for the six
months ending the 24th March, 1849, was £6,451 ss. 6id. ;
and for the six months ending on the 2nd of September, in the
same year, £5,405 12s. 80.; making a total for the year of
£11,856 18s. 3d. From the quarterly summaries, drawn up
by the governor, I learn the proportion of Irish paupers in the
workhouse at four different periods of the year. Of 2,370 pau
pers in the house at the end of the first, or Lady-day quarter,
1,066 are entered as Irish, Scotch, and foreigners. Of 2,308
in the house at the end of the Midsummer quarter, 1,052
were Irish, Scotch, and foreigners. Of 2,194 admitted be-
tween Midsummer and Michaelmas, 1849, the number of Irish,
Scotch, and foreigners was 878. In the last quarter of the
year, out of 1,798 paupers, 742 were Irish, Scotch, and fo-
reigners. These figures give a total for the year of 8,670 ad-
missions of which 3,738 were Irish, Scotch, and foreigners.
The Irish, therefore, form a fraction more than 43 per cent. of
the whole number. The number of Scotch and foreign paupers
was very small, not amounting to 3 per cent. ; but calculating
it at 3 per cent., it will leave 40 per cent. composed entirely of
Irish. It will follow, therefore, from these figures, that two-
fifths of the expense of the in-door poor of Liverpool is incurred
for the support of the Irish people—born in Ireland. If the
calculation were extended a little further, it would be found
that, out of the remaining three-fifths, a large proportion con-
sisted of children born in Liverpool of Irish parents, and that,
on the most moderate calculation, it might be estimated that
fully one-half of the cost of the Liverpool Workhouse is
rendered necessary by the constant influx of a distressed Irish
population."
In a further portion of the letter, the commissioner
shows the evil working of the system, upon which the
parish medical staff of Liverpool has been regulated, and
the impositions practised upon the town by the female
Irish. Happily, the system, which led to these imposi-
tions has been remodelled. The remaining portion of
the letter is principally occupied in an exposure of the
vagrant shed system, which, as encouraging systematic
vagrancy, and sheltering the vicious and demoralized, the
commissioner considers to have a very evil tendency.
The whole of the letter, however, will doubtless be exten-
sively read, and deserves to be. The paper can easily be
bad from Messrs. Gaqkell and Lowry. agents for this town.

NUPTIAL FEAST. - Last night the clerks and ware-
housemen, in the employ of Mr. John Baxter, of Derby-
buildings, met by invitation from Mr. Baxter, at the
George Hotel, Dale-street, to celebrate the event of his
marriage with Miss Habershon, of this town. Mr. Berry,
principal clerk of the establishment, occupied the chair,
and Mr. Francis Rae, chief warehouseman, acted as vice.
Host Castle catered for his guest in his wonted style; and
all present enjoyed a happy evening. The health of their
respected master, and his amiable lady, was toasted in
flowing bumpers, and their long life and happiness prayed
for, by those who. hope (as the worthy chairman very
feelingly expresss,l it) to spend many comfortable days in
their services; and who evidently appreciate the kindness
and consideration of their worthy employer.

EARL GREY AND ins TENANTRY.--A curious docu-
ment has been circulated during the last few weeks
amongst the tenantry of Earl Grey in this county. The
document referred to is a circular or memorandum in
explanation of his lordship's views in respect to the
" present low prices of agricultural produce, and the
pressing demands which are, in consequence, made to
most landlords for an abatement of rent." His lordship's
views, it is well known, are favourable to free trade in the
abstract, and the result of his practice upon the farm of
West Learmouth is yet to be tested ; but, from all that
can be gathered either from the circular just issued or the
circumstances under which the " model farm" of the
county has fallen into his lordship's hands, there is rearon
to suppose that ample ground will be afforded for a change
in his lordship's " views" before long. At present, Earl
Grey looks only at his " bond," and is determined to
enforce the " pound of flesh" with the utmost degree of
rigour, in all cases where the lettings were made after the
beginning of 1846. In respect to farms so situated he
will grant no reduction whatever of rent ; but, in respect
to farms let before that period, and held on unexpired
leases, he proposes to make an abatement of the rent
equal to the difference between the present value of a
rent-charge of £lOO, under the Tithe Composition Act,
and the value of the same rent-charge at the time when
the farm was taken. Suppose a farm taken in the year
1841, when the rent-charge of £lOO amounted to
£lO2 12s. 54-d., then the value'of the same charge in the
present year, 1850. being £9B 16s. 10d., his lordship will
make a reduction from the rent of the said farm to the
amount of £3 15s. 6FI. per cent.: Extraordinary libe-
rality. Most worthy of the Greys ! ! Why, the average
price of wheat in 1841 was 645. 4d. per quarter ; it is now
little more than half that amount ; yet, with a reduction
of nearly 50 per cent. in the price of wheat and other
agricultural produce in proportion, this liberal nobleman,
who has contributed to confiscate the property of the
tenant farmer by the great "experiment" of free trade,
offers to make a return of 31 per cent. of the rent which
that tenant had been induced, by representations which
have been grossly falsified, to contract to pay. We can
only pronounce Earl Grey's offer to reduce his rents as a
mockery and an insult to his tenantry.—Newcastle
Journal.

WHITSUNTIDE EXCURSION TRAINS.-With the in-
creased number of railways, the provision for the transit
of holiday-makers from the scene of their daily avocations
to others possessing the attraction of novelty, has also
greatly increased. The magnitude of the scale on which
the cheap trains have been arranged this Whitsuntide
greatly exceeds the efforts hitherto attempted. The
whole net-work of lines in our district has been rendered
subservient to the high behest of contributing to the ra-
tional enjoyment of myriads of toil-worn artisans. Be-
fore ten o'clock yesterday morning our streets were
everywhere thronged by admiring crowds of gazers, who,
from a well-known peculiarity in their exterior, could
readily be set down as the homely, and somewhat coarse,
denizens of Manchester and its immediate district. About
four thousand of these invaded us by means of the East
Lancashire Line: the Lancashire and Yorkshire contributed
about 2,000, and several thousands arrived at Lime-street
station. In the course of the morning, to enable these
persons to extend their visit to the neighbourhood of
Chester, the Chester Line will be available, at an exceed-
ingly low rate of charges, throughout the week. By this
means the poisoned factory operatives of Manchester,
Stockport, &c., will have an opportunity of passing a few
days on the magnificent mountains, and in the picturesque
vales, about Llangollen. The advantages, however, have
not been all on the side of the manufacturing districts.
On both the Yorkshire and Lancashire, and the East
Lancashire Lines, cheap trains have been despatched
from this town, affording to numbers of the rural popula-
tion in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, as well as to
those residing in the town, facilities for exploring the
" notabilia" of Manchester, or of enjoying the freshening
breezes to be inhaled on the beach at Southport. The
excursion train to London too, conducted by our friend
Mr. Marcus, presented a strong inducement to a vast
number of Liverpolians to indulge their visuals with a
glimpse of the Monument, and the other " Lions," ani-
mate and inanimate, of the great metropolis of this great
empire, upon which the sun never sets. Mr. Marcus's
catering for popular enjoyment has not been limited,
however, to the metropolis : he has extended his excursion
trip to Paris, and we doubt not that he will give that ge-
neral satisfaction he has hitherto been enabled to do, and
receive, in return, the universal acknowledgements of
those whose gratification or annoyance was dependent on
the degree of intelligence and ability he should bring to
bear on the vast undertakings for which he is now so well
known. Saturday and yesterday he conveyed about 3,000
persons out of the town. Arrangements havelikewisebeen
made by the several steam-packet companies for convey-
ing. at a cheap rate, passengers to the Isle of Man, Bri-
tannia Tube, Menai Straits, Glasgow, Dublin, Edinburgh,
Windermere, and, in short, to every place at all attrac-
tive. The excitement apparent throughout the town in
the early part of the day did not in the slightest degree
diminish at any subsequent period : the streets continued
very crowded, and the various outlets from the town were
likewise thronged by strangers. But perhaps the most
animated scene was to be viewed on the landing-stage.
This stupendous platform was literally covered with a
compact mass of human beings throughout the entire
day. The rapid arrival of the boats, and their equally
speedy departure, with a heavy living freight, apparently
operated but slightly in thinning the expectant crowd,
who eagerly pressed forward, to enjoy the pleasure of a
marine trip, and a sight of the southern bank of the
Mersey. One extraordinary attraction was the Tranmere
sports, and another the celebration of a similar rural
festival at Wallasey yesterday. The Messrs. Willoughby's
boats probably conveyed more passengers on that day
thau they have done for any ordinary week.

THE AMERICAN STEAM-SHIP, ATLANTIC.

By the kindness of Messrs. Brown, Shipley, and Co.,
the consignees of this noble vessel, the first of American
construction which has visited our port as a mail convey-
ance between Liverpool and New York, we were enabled
yesterday to pay her a visit of inspection, of too hasty a
nature, however, to enable us to do more than describe
the accommodation which she affords for passengers, and
the general character of her internal arrangements. The
first distinguishing feature which struck us on going
on board, was the ample width of the space available for
a promenade. In part this is caused by the saloon, which,
in the Cunsrd line of steamers, occupies a considerable
width of the after-deck, being provided below the chief
engineer's and chief officer's apartments, an ice-house,
&c., occupying a narrower portion of the space, with a
detached smoking room further astern. The deck fittings
are throughout neat and compact. A further advantage in
the promenade consists in the bulwarks being of a less
height, although they appear to us to possess quite suffi-
cient altitude for alluseful purposes.
The space below appropriated for the cabin passengers,
is beautifully arranged, and decorated with lavish mag-
nificence and the most luxurious taste. The after-part is
fited up as a drawing, or lounging-room. Splendid mirrors
adorn its sides, each surmounted with a device of sterling
gold, and the compartments are filled up with oval bosses,
composed of papier mache, or some similar composition,
on each of which is painted, with a finish equal to enamel,
the arms of one of the States of the Union. The fur-
niture consists of sofas, ottomans, and chairs of carved
rosewood, the cushions covered with velvet tapestry ;
and the floor is covered with tapestay carpet, manufac-
tured at Bradford, Yorkshire. We may mention that
the whole of the upholstery, carving, &c. of the furniture
has been executed by French workmen in New York,
superintended, however, by a London artiste.
Out of the lounging-room is the ladies' cabin, a most
tasteful and splendid apartment, extending to amidships.
Further forward is the dining-saloon, a spacious apart-
ment calculated to dine 200 persons at once ; and in the
bows is the card and reading-room, which, however, can
be added to the dining-saloon, if required. The pantry,
plate-room, and hothearth, where, according to American
usage, the joints are carved, are placed between the sa-
loon and the ladies' cabin. The most complete arrange-
ments are provided for warming the cabins by means of
steam-piping. The state-rooms are very spacious and
complete; and, in particular, we were struck with the
commodiousness of a portion of those in the after-
cabin, provided for small families, or married people. A
particular object of admiration in the cabin and other fit-
tings of this vessel is the fine woods of various descriptions
introduced, most of which are completely beyond the
reach of the British builder. The second cabin, below,
we had not time to visit; but we are informed, awl can
well believe, from the nature of the entire arrangements
of the ship, that they are very complete.
We have omitted to mention, as a peculiar feature in
the construction of the cabins, that a passage extends on
one side the entire length of the ship, thus enabling the
passengers to go from the fore cabin to the further end,
without, as is the case in most English steamers, having
to go on deck. The Atlantic was visited during the day
by numbers of ladies and gentlemen, the elite of the town
and neighbourhood.

CONCERTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASSES.

We have frequently noticed of late the paucity of con-
certs suited to the convenience. taste, and means of the
middle classes of this town. The Saturday evening con-
certs, though an honour to the town, are held on an
evening when tradesmen and shopkeepers are too busy
closing the labours of the week to leave their business ;
and, among the few who might be able to afford the time,
there are many who would be unwilling to endure the in-
convenience of an overcrowded room. The Philharmonic
maintains the aristocracy of high charges to such an ex-
tent that few, except the more opulent tradesman, could,
in these times, afford to pay the terms of admission. We
have often been surprised that so important a class of our
fellow-townsmen should be so much neglected, and to
this we chiefly attribute the increase of marrow-bone and
banjo music, which has flourished so much of late.
One of those concerts we would wish to see much more
common, was given on the 10th instant, at the Assembly
Rooms, Great George-street, by Miss Emma Stott. The
music was all English, the performers residents of our
own town, and we were happy to see that the public ap-
pealed to responded by presenting a tull house. Though
Miss E. Stott was suffering from severe indisposition, she
sang with great taste and feeling, and deserves every en-
couragement as a rising vocalist. With the singing of
her sister, Miss Stott, we were both surprised and de-
lighted. This young lady possesses a voice powerful,
rich, and of uniform quality, from the lower notes of the
contralto to the highest of the soprano voice. Her exe-
cution is easy, rapid, and graceful, and her taste, such as
could only be acquired by much study, long practice, and
great care. After listening from time to time at the
Philharmonic, to second-rate performers brought from a
distance to take the soprano parts in the late concerts,
we were surprised to discover that the society had, buried
in the midst of its vast chorus, a voice and abilities,
quite equal to any ordinary occasion. We have no hesi-
tation i• saying, that Miss Stott would suffer nothing by
comparison in taking any of the parts usually assigned to
Miss A. Williams, or Miss Poole. We believe it is a cause
of much complaint on the Orchestra of the Philharmo-
nic that local talent is not encouraged, and we are inclined
to think that this circumstance, and the fact that the
middle classes are virtually excluded by high prices from
the Philharmonic Hall, may partially account for the
strong language frequently used against this society. In
faking leave of Miss E. Stott's concert, we cannot help
referring to the enthusiastic reception of Mons. Wehli,
the pianist. His performance of the National Anthem,
with the left hand only, was a wonderful piece of execu-
tion. The notes of the air rose distinct and clear from
the midst of an incessant volley of accompaniment, and
many of the audience rose to their feet as if to see whe-
ther or not the performer's left hand did not carry more
than the legitimate number of fingers allotted to human
beings.

The salons of Paris have been in commotion owing to
the appearance of a negress from Madrid, whose voice is
said to be of most extraordinary power and agility, and
whose talent for singing the real Spanish ballad is most
remarkable. . .

AN INFORMER OUTWITTED.—The driver of a coach
which journeys between a distant city and Bath, last week
received a hint from the ostler of an inn in the suburbs of
the latter city that a common informer was seated on the
roof of the coach. Conscious that he had exceeded his
licensed number, the knight of the whip resigned the
ribands to the ostler, and hastened to the magistrates,
laid an information against himself, was fined £5, and re-
ceived back one-half (£2 103.) as the informer's fee.
Great was the chagrin of the common informer on presen-
ting himself before the bench, for a summons, to find
that he had been forestalled.—Bristol Mercury.
THE COUNTY COURTS EXTENSION BILL.—A deputa-
tion from the London Committee appointed to promote
the amendment of the law of debtor and creditor, from the
Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, from the Manches-
ter Guardian Society, and from the Manchester Society
for the Protection of Trade, accompanied by Mr. Master-
man, M.P., Mr. Henry, M.P., and Mr. Kershaw, M.P.,
waited upon Lord Brougham to explain the injurious
effect which would be produced on trade by Mr. Fitzroy's
bill, if it became a law. The Weekly Chronicle states
that Lord Brougham said he felt satisfied that the bill
was in a very different state to that which he understood
it to be. If it passed the House of Commons this session,
he would move that it should be referred to a select com-
mittee of the House of Lords, where all its provisions and
its bearing on trade would receive most ample considera-
tion. _ _ _

ADDITIONAL GRANT TO MAYNOOTTI.—OR Thursday
last, the attention of the House was called by Mr.
Frewen to a nice little pro-Popish job in the Miscella-
neous Estimates. In addition to the parliamentary grant
of £30,000, there appears in the estimates for " Public
Works and Buildings" the following item :—Royal Col-
lege, St. Patrick's, Maynooth, maintenance and repairs,
£1,240 10s." The hon. member for East Sussex having
inquired of the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it
was his intention to include that sum in the vote to be
taken on Friday, Sir Charles Wood made one of those
convenient ministerial replies which are " inaudible in
the gallery." We have reason to believe that the reply,
was in the negative as to the day on which that portion
of the estimates would be gone into, but not as to the in-
tention of the government to bestow this additional grant
on the Jesuit Seminary. Surely, the country will not
submit to this. _

DE SPERATE AFFAIR WITH ROBBERS.—The Essex
Herald relates the following desperate occurrence :—On
Friday, about midnight, Mr. Tofts, of St. John's College
Farm, was awakened by the barking of his dog under his
window. He sprang from his bed, looked out, saw
nothing, and was about to retire to sleep again, when his
shepherd, who, with another man, sleeps in his master's
house, came to Mr. Toft's doer and said, " Master, there
are thieves in the henhouse ; I heard them strike a Luci-
fer, and saw the light proceeding from it." Mr. Tofts
dressed himself, provided himself with a gun and a six-
barrelled revolving pistol, and with his two men went to
the henhouse. It was dark, and just as the three came
up to the henhouse a report took place, and Mr. Tofts
exclaimed, "I am shot," but instantly fired his gun in
the direction he saw the flash proceed from. Brickbats
were now hurled from the henhouse, and Mr. Tofts
(though neither party could see each other) fired his
pistol. The pelting was then discontinued, and the
thieves inside sprang up to the tiles, knocked them off,
and were preparing thus to make their escape, when Mr.
Tofts called out, " I have a six-barrelled pistol here, and
the man that attempts to escape dies." At that moment
a crash was heard, the portion of the building on which
the men stood fell, and both were precipitated to the
ground. Mr. Tofts and his men rushed in, the robbers
were secured, and, a light having now been got by the
women of the house, the men proved to be two labourers,
of Coton, a village three miles distant. One of them was
found to be bleeding profusely from the head and face,
one eye being entirely destroyed ; the other was not
injured. Mr. Tofts was shot in the breast and arm, but
the thickness of kis coat and waistcoat rendered the
wounds comparatively harmless. When seated in the
house, the robbers asked to be supplied with beer and
tobacco. Mr. Tofts refused them, and they got up, say-
ing they would not stay ; but Mr. Tofts levelling his,pis-•
tol, again said, "He who attempts to escape dies!' A
messenger was sent to the police-station, and the men
were eventually taken possession of by the police. The
wounded man said, " I would sooner have been shot
dead than lost my eye and punished in this manner ;
an arm lopped off would be nothing to it." In.tke hen-
house were found nine dead fowls. The pistol fired at
Mr. Toffs was found in the kitchen, the fellow who fired
it having managed to get rid of it wbile in the house.
They have both been committed foe= attempt tQ mur-
der, aua fowl atealint

THE tivgiloot STANDARD.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY REPORT.

Monday Night.
The Sharemarket has been quiet all vteek, without any
material alteration in prices. It sustained a slight shake
on the news of the recal of the French minister; but the
sales thus induced were altogether by speculators, which,
from there having beet no real stock brought to market,
have to-day only tended to give increased firmness, and
advanced prices to a point higher than they were before
the intelligence arrived. We do not remember any time
when there were greater indications of a rise in this mar-
ket, and, as far as we can collect their opinions, the
knowing ones generally agree with us in this. The quo-
tations of this day's business are—Leeds quarters, 16-k d ;
Leeds fifths, 10 1/3 d ; West Ridings, 81 d ; London
quarters, 1 6/3 + d ; Midland halves, 28 d ; North
Union, A, 2324 ; Newcastle preference, 64 d.
The political accounts from the continent are not re-
assuring of peaceful intentions, The Danish question
seems likely to be re-opened, and yet to be settled by the
sword. It is also well understood that the Russians were
at the bottom of the Greek dispute, and that they are
now behind the scenes in Paris, using their best endea-
vours with the Orleanist party to ferment a quarrel between
the French and this country, In this we hope they will
be greatly mistaken. The impression here is that the
French Minister for Foreign Affairs has acted with impe-
tuosity and indiscretion, and that his cabinet will be
broken up in consequence ; that the President has been
completely tricked in this matter; and that he will pre-
sently set things right, by reinstating his ambassador at
our court, provided it be apparent, upon further examina-
tion, that Lord Palmerston has acted in an honourable
and straightforward manner. At all events, it ought to
be a lesson to the financial and peace brawlers, that war
is not an impossibility, even where arbitration is resorted
to. This unfavourable news has thrown a gloom over our
markets, as might be expected, and the sales of produce
since Thursday have been limited. 250 hhds. of West
India and 1500 mats Mauritius Sugar have been sold at
former rates. Rice is quieter. Jute maintains the ad-
vance. Coffee and Tea continue dull of sale.
The Cotton market is quiet from various causes—the
steamer being due, the unsettled state of our foreign rela-
tions, and th advent of Whitsun week. Saturday's 'owl-
ness was limited, and the trade were the sole purchasers ;
4,000 bales changed hands at previous rates. To-day also
4,000 bales was the total amount sold, including 1,000 on
speculation and for export;: prices ruled steady atlFriday's
quotations.
At this season of the year the Grain markets are in-
variably under the influence of the meteorological tables ;
and the recent rains, attended by a gradual elevation in
the temperature, have produced a material change in the
value of Wheat throughout England. At Manchester,
Wakefield, Leeds, and Wisbeach, lower terms have been
acceded to ; and in all the other markets, although pre-
vious prices are quoted, sales have been limited, and in
some cases made with difficulty. The Irish and Scotch
reports come again higher, owing to the reaction in
England not having reached in time to alter their cur-
rency. We see by our foreign circulars that in most of
the continental markets, in consequence of the glowing
accounts received from this country, holders of Wheat
have considerably enhanced their demands, and this leads
us to a subject of great importance to the corn merchant
at the present moment. We have before us the imperial
averages for the week ending the 11th Msy. Now we
had rising markets reported during the week ending with
that date, ditto the week ending May 4th, ditto April
27th, and ditto April 20th, the weekly advance varying in
many cases between ls. and 2s. per quarter. But we like
to stick to the averages, and they shew that an advance of
11d. was the total advantage acquired, during the four
weeks, over the lowest point. Now it seems pretty clear
to us that the English markets must have been unduly
puffed, that the foreign merchants have raised their prices
proportionately, and, although some holders may have
reaped a trifling advantage, they have so helped to increase
the value of Wheat while in the hands of those parties
from whom they must purchase it, as materially
to reduce their own margin for profit. The trade
has not been so active here since Friday last, and prices
generally are again rather tending downwards. This
alteration may, perhaps, be attributable to the favourable
change in the weather, and the lowering tone from Lon-
don and the inland markets. Transactions in Wheat and
Flour have been only to a moderate extent, at some
slight reduction upon the quotations of that day. Indian
Corn, however, continuing in extensive demand for Ire-
land, as well as on speculation, combined with the im-
proved accounts from the other side, has further advanced
3d. to 6d. per quarter, prime yellow realizing 335. to
335. 6d. Other articles remain nominally the same. Our
exports of Indian Corn to Ireland this week amount to
19,718 quarters, and not a single arrival of that grain has
come to hand since this day week. We have received
5000 quarters Wheat from Europe and Egypt, and 1580
quarters Beans from the latter place. There is nothing
whatever to report from the United States, and the arri-
vals coastwise and from Ireland are quite insignificant.
In Wines a fair business has been done, low-priced
ports, of direct importation, are much sought after, and
the stock here being very bare, holders are asking better
prices, which, in some instances, have been obtained.
Pontacs have also been inquired after. In Brandy and
Rum our market has shown a little activity this week.

Our Wool market this last week has been very quiet
in consequence of the public sales which have been held
in London having taken up the attention of the trade,
These sales were brought to a close on the 17th instant,
the attendance of home buyers was very numerous,
while, owing to the still uneasy state of continental
matters, but few foreign buyers were present, the quantity,
therefore, taken for export was much less than on former
occasions. Our public sales are to take place here on
the 13th proximo. when there will be a very choice assort-
ment of Buenos Ayres and Entre Rios brought forward,
besides other low wools.

A second edition of the Time& states that they have
received a telegraphic despatch from their commissioner in
Paris, to the effect that Lord Normanby was to leave that
city, on his return to England, this (Monday) morning.
This is a bad feature, if true, as it is too probable that his
departure is the result of an unpleasant interview with the
president.

THEATRE ROYAL.-FRENCH OPERA
COMIQUE.

By the liberality of the management of our Theatre
Royal, we have been provided with three more perform-
ances of this excellent company, the first of which was
given last night, when Herold's opera of " Zampa, ou la
Fiancee de Marbre," was introduced for the first time in
Liverpool. The story of the opera in some measure re-
minds us of one of the incidents in the opera of " Don
Juan." Alphonso de Monza, Monsieur Soyer, is upon
the point of marriage with Camille, Mademoiselle
Charion ; but, on the eve of the eventful day, is
summoned away from the chateau of his betrothed's
father by the artifice of Zampa, a pirate or bandit,
and kept in his custody, as are her father and the priest
who was to have performed the ceremony. In their
absence Zampa appears upon the scenes, and by threats
and misrepresentations as to the situation of her lover
and parent, she is induced to promise her hand to their
oppressor as the condition of her release ; Zampa, how-
ever, it appears, has previously seduced a young lady,
who having fled from him, took refuge in the Chateau
of Camille's father, and there died. Her statue, which
is placed in the hall, is recognized by one of the
pirate's companions ; and in the heat of a debauch,
Zampa blasphemously proposes to appease the manes of
the dead by marrying the statue, upon whose wedding
finger he accordingly places a ring. After a while in
attempting to pass to the chamber of Camelle, he is hor-
ror-struck, as well as the whole of his band, by the statue
raising its arms in a threatening gesture, as if to deter him
froii) his purpose. The remainder of the story based upon
this fiction may be imagined. Zama is discovered to be the
soutlawed brother of Alphonso de Monza, who at length
succeeds in making his mistake, and appears again upon
the stage. The conclusion gves the union of the lovers ,
Zampa, like Don Juan, being carried off to the nether
regions in the arms•of the animated statue of his former
victim.

The opera was most efficiently put upon the the stage.
Madlle. Charton, as Camille sang delightfully. Her
scene in the first act " qui ce bouheur extreme," was a
fine effort, and was deservedly applauded. Throughout
the opera indeed, both her acting and vocalization were of
a high character. Monsr. Chatdaufort as Daudols was very
clever. His making up, especially, was good. As a
buffo performer he cannot be surpassed by many of our
present race of actors. Monsr. Devaux's part was also
well given ; and Madlle. Guichard made a very excellent
chatterbox of a waiting-maid.
On Wednesday " Fra Diavolo" will be repeated ; and
on Friday, the new opera by Ambroise Thomas, "Le
Caid," will be played for the benefit of Madlle. Charton.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS.
—Mr. Barry Sullivan is performing a round of characters
in leading dramas at this theatre, aided by the usual
effective company. This evening it will be seen the per-
forniances commence with the drama of " Damon and
Pythias," the new drama of " Hearts are Trumps,"
and ." Lurline."

TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. R. OWEN.—Last night,
deputation consisting of Mr. W. H. Richard, and a few
of the congregation of St. Paul's, waited on the Rev. R.
Owen, the Welsh lecturer at St. Paul's Church, at his
residence in Smithdown-lane, to present their much be-
loved pastor with a valuable testimonial of the esteem in
which he is held by the flock for whom he has so affec-
tionately and industriously laboured. The testimonial
consisted of a watch, and a purse containing a handsome
sum, of money. An address was also presented to the rev.
gent. expressive of the feelings of the congregation on
separating from him. Mr. Richard delivered an eloquent
speech on presenting the testimonials, and Mr. Owen very
feelingly replied.
AN EXTRAORDINARY BAROMETER IN THE HIGH-
LANDS.—The remote glen of Abriachan can boast of a
barometer, which can be more relied on than even
the Torricellian experiment itself. It consists simply
of a, stone, inside the wall of a house occupied by the
honest tenant of Achacuilinn, which, three days be-
forehand, prognosticates wet weather with mathema-
tical precision. This barometer's sign is, that it oozes out
drops of water. The natives hold that this wonderful
stone has been of incalculable service to them. In harvest,
when the crop is cut down, but still unsecured, every
eye in the glen is turned towards Tomas an Acachuiliun,
and whenever he begins to gather in the stooks, there is
a simultaneous movement throughout the glen. Indeed,
it is not unusual to see such a scene of hurry and bustle
as takes place on the finest day in harvest, and when no
ordinary philosopher could say there was a cloud of rain
in the sky, Usage has transferred the 11843 t) barometer
from the stone to the owner ; so that, ice, that and sur-
rounding districts the worthy tenant of Achacuilinn is
familiarly saluted as thQ Abriacl4ln. barolneter."—ln.
Yemen Courier.