The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY.

Sir G. GREY, in reply to Mr. Hume, intimated that
Captain Maconoehie's system for convict discipline had
been approved by the government, but that it was found
impracticable to carry it out in all its details.
Mr. HAwEs, in reply to Mr. Scott, stated that a bill
mould ha itstwaAnnad wkorvi, aoae;oan, Cow tha vpnco
of giving a constitution and the elective franchise to the
inhabitants of the colony of New South Wales.

The Usher of the Black Rod having intimated his pre-
sence in the usual form, by knocking at the door, he ad-
vanced to the table and summoned the Commons to the
House of Lords, the Speaker responding thereto by im-
mediately proceeding thence ; and on his return, having
read the Royal Speech, Parliament was prorogued until
the 2d of November.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL,

DENMARK.

The ratifications of the armistice between Denmark
and Prussia were exchanged at Lubeck on the Ist instant.
The following are the terms of the armistice :—ln the
first place, seven in lieu of three months were conceded
by the Prussian Commissioners. 2. It is determined that
all acts emanating from the Provisional Government since
the establishment of that government shall be annulled.
3. Schleswig and Holstein are to be divided politically, and
the nexus socialis thus declared now existing. The troops
in the former will acknowledge the King of Denmark,
those in the latter the King of Prussia ; Lauenburg to be
placed in the status quo ante. 4. The Provisional Go-
vernment to be formed of five members, two to be chosen
by the King of Denmark, two by the King of Prussia,
and the fifth by the four others or by the King of Prussia.
The blockade ceased from the day of ratification.
It appears, by the latest advices, that the Central Go-
vernment of Germany have refused to ratify the armistice,
and the greatest excitement prevailed in consequence.

FRANCE.—The forthcoming elections are exciting a
great deal of interest. Louis Napoleon Buonaparte has
expressed his firm resolution to take his seat if elected.

SPAIN.-It is stated that an insurrection was expected
to break out at Seville before the confinement of the
Duchess of Montpensier. A column of 500 infantry and
100 horse, commanded by General Lersandi, was about to
march from Madrid against the faction of Pico, in
La Mancha.

At Smyrna the cholera is raging with violence, and for
some time had carried off 50 or 60 victims a day. More
than 30,000 persons had quitted the city, which presented
a most desolate appearance.
The Montreal Gazette states that Lord Elgin is about
to return to England, in consequence of the continued
ill-health of his lady.
In Mexico, government had completely put down in-
surrection, and order was fast being established. Paredes
was, however, still at large, having evaded the pursuit of
the government troops in search of him. A revolution
had taken place at Mazatlan, headed by one Miranda.
Government had forwarded troops to put down the revolt.
MINERAL WEALTH OF CALIFORNIA. —By accounts
recently received from this quarter, mines of quicksilver
of extraordinary wealth have been discovered, the rich-
ness of which is almost incredible. In one mine, owned
by an English house in Mexico, named Barron, Forbes,
and Co., a few workmen, with the rudest description of
mining implements, and an expense very trifling indeed,
have been for some time past procuring quicksilver to the
value of three hundred dollars per day.
It may not be uninteresting tonotice the change effected
in public opinion with respect to the Pope, as expressed
by the Italian journals, which are all unanimous in
blaming his conduct, while some attack him with a viru-
lence which appears very strange in a Catholic country.
The spirit of the Italian journals in other respects is ex-
tremely warlike, all recommending the resumption of hos-
tilities, though their belief in French intervention is con-
siderably shaken.
_ _ _

Austria has accepted the joint mediation of England
and France in its dispute with the King of Sardinia.
Such, we are assured, is the fact, though not as yet offici-
ally made public. The information reaches us from such
a quarter that we can entertain but little doubt of its
truth. All the reports, therefore, of the French troops
being in momentary expectation of receiving orders to
cross the Alps, with a hundred other lying rumours, may
now be estimated at their real worth.
SPREAD OF THE TRUTH.—In the extracts of corres-
pondence published by the British and Foreign, and also
by the Scottish Bible Societies, the most gratifying proofs
are given of the opportunities now afforded for promoting
the kingdom of our Lord on the Continent. The re-
newed power of the Jesuits, which had been operating
most prejudicially in France, has been checked, and col-
porteurs and preachers are enabled without molestation to
circulate their Bibles and proclaim the Gospel. The let-
ters of MM. Presensee and Roussell are in these respects
most satisfactory. On- the other hand, letters from Ger-
many, and particularly from the agent of the Edinburgh
Bible Society, Mr. Oncken, inform us, that even in Aus-
tria he has been enabled to preach the Gospel, and that
several converts from Popery have already testified to the
blessing attending the reading of the Scriptures and the
preaching of the word, in Italy, too, there is a growing
demand for the Bible, and we trust that every effort will
be employed to make the best use of an unexpected, and
what may be a brief opportunity. Very recently we learn
from a correspondent in the Mediterranean, that applica-
tion was made on behalf of Sicily for 2,000 Bibles at the
depst of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and shortly
after another demand followed for 5,000. It is to be la-
mented that neither at the Bri ish and Foreign, nor at the
Christian Knowledge Scekty's depot were there Bibles to
supply these demands. We hope, therefore, that no time
will be lost in sending out an adequate supply by the
steamers.—Record.
AN AMERICAN EXECUTION.—The Newhaven Herald
gives an account of the execution, in the past year, of Lu-
cien Hall, at Middleton, Connecticut. Some of the details

sound strangely to an English ear. The number of per-
sons admitted within the goal, and indulged with the view
of the hanging, did not exceed 25 ; of these about a third
consisted of the relations of Mr. Lavinian Bacon, whom
the convict had murdered—her husband, her brother-in-
law, her two sons, and her four brothers were of the num-
ber. The murderer was dressed in a long white robe and
a white cap. When the sheriff asked him if he had
anything to say, he replied, " I have a good deal to say,
but do not feel as if could say it." Seating himself as
he spoke lie groaned aloud, but shed no tears. He then
called for some water with comphor in it, which was
brought him. He looked round him rather sulkily, and
said, " I think it strange that any one should want to see
a man in this situation." After a short pause he conti-
nued, "I do not feel as if I could die, after all." Here
he raised the knot of the rope and raised it against his
left ear. He then said, " I suppose there is no getting
away from this at any rate," and he looked over to the
front to see how far it was to the ground. It was now
about ten minutes before two. The sheriff told him he
would give him whatever time he wanted before the rope
was cut. He replied that he would like to have 15 minutes,
and requested that he might be told five minutes before
the time expired. He read awhile in the Bible and Prayer
Book, and then, looking at the preparations being made,
said. " Give me slack rope enough, Mr. Arnold. Ido
not think I have enongh." By this he meant that he
might have as much fall as possible, that he might be the
sooner lout of pain. In two or three minutes he said
again, " I do not want to be particular, but I want more
slack rope." The cap was then pulled down over his face,
when he remarked that it was tied too tight. The fifteen
minutes were now expired, and he was now to be thrown
off, when he said, " I thought you would tell rue five
minutes before the time expired." The sheriff said, "We
will give you five minutes more." One of the officers then
called out each minute as it expired—one, two, three, &c.
He here remarked that the rope was not properly fixed,
and that the knot ought to be nearer to his chin. As the
time now rapidly approached, he exclaimed—" Oh dear !
I bid you farewell." " Four" was now called, which told
him he had but one minute to live. Just before the last
minute expired, he exclaimed, " Oh, dear me ! God
Almighty have mercy on me." These were the last words
he gave utterance to. The rope was cut, the platform
fell, and, with a single exclamation of " Oh !" his spirit
was released from the tenement in which it had been
defiled. His remains were delivered to those who stood
by him as friends. The crowd outside the prison had now
increased to about 2,000, all anxious to see him, as they
could not be present at the execution. His friends took
the coffin out into the middle of the street, laid it on
chairs, and the crowd passed by between the ranks of the
military, to gaze upon the face of the murderer. Even
ladies were there from a distance.