The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-04 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS

On Tuesday, at three, p.m., the French Chambers were
opened by the King in person. In that part of the Royal
Speech which relates to Internal Affairs, the Nation is
congratulated on the improved condition of the country as
to subsistence, and several measures of improvement in
the Administration of Affairs are suggested. The follow-
ingare the only passages which relate to Foreign Politics :
" My relations with all the foreign Powers give me the
confidence that the peace of the world is secured. I hope
that the progress of general civilization will be everywhere
accomplished by a good understanding between govern-
ments and people, without impairing internal order and
the good relations between states.
" Civil war has disturbed the happiness of Switzerland.
My Government had corno to an understanding wits the
Governments of 11 ngland, Austria, Prussia. and Russia, in
order to offer that neighbouring and friendly people an
amicable mediation. Switzerland will, I hope, acknow-
ledge that•respect for the rights of all, and the maintenance
of the Helvetic Confederation, which can alone insure to•
her thoie enduring conditions of happiness and security
that Europe wished to guarantee to her by treaties.
" My'Government, in accordance with that of the Queen
of Great Britain, has just now adopted measures which
must at length succeed in restoring our commercial rela-
tions on the banks of La Plata."

The frost has set in at Hamburgh, and the trade with
the Baltic is closed ; there can be no more importations
of grain thence till March.

The office of justice of the peace has lately been con-
ferred upon a black gentleman residing at Boston, who
is said to be the first coloured magistrate that has ever
been appointed in the United States.

A pifent has been taken out in America for dispensing
with sewing in the manufacture of shirts, collars, and
linen articles. The pieces are fastened together by indis-
soluble glue.
The Queen of the Belgians has sent a package of dresses
and millinery to the Queen of Portugal, and as Donna
Maria was recently obliged to compound with her private
creditors, it will doubtless prove an acceptable present.
The Jenny Lind mania runs so high at Stockholm that
tickets for her performances are disposed of by public
sale, on the stage of the theatre, and have been sold at
from £2 up to £9 each. The total receipts on one night
amounted to £2,219.

In conformity with the copyright treaty lately con-
cluded between Prussia and England, two editions of the
German translation of Bulwer's " Lucretia" have been
seized at Berlin, and the publishers prosecuted. There is
an appeal before the court of Berlin.
_ _ _

The Crane packet arrived at Falmouth on Monday from
the Brazils. The news of commercial depression in Eng-
land, which had been taken out by the Crane, put quite a
stop to business, for the moment, at Rio de Janeiro ;
confidence had, however, returned, and the course of
exchange maintained its former position. The coffee
market, which had been brisk, had, nevertheless, come
to a stand-still, though it was hoped a revival would
speedily take place. Freights had ruled 755. to 80s., but
it was thought next charters would be obtained at 60s.
The South Australian Register, of the 11th of August,
states with reference to the point raised on the subject of
royalty in connection with the working of mines, that
" the royalties impositions appear to be virtually aban-
doned, as the Advocate-General has not taken any pro-
ceedings at law, as threatened, against the companies for
the recovery of Crown dues, and the time for so doing in
order to try the question during the ensuing term has
expired." In the same paper is advertised the " third
dividend "of the South Australian Mining Company. It
is £5 per share, which is equal to 100 per cent.

FASHIONS FOR JANUARY

(From the "London and Pa; is Ladies' Magazine of Fashion.")

The warm and comfortable douilette has re-appeared
this winter, in Paris, in an improved form, ornamented
by quilting. In patterns for oyening social parties they
are made in pink and niais satin, trimmed with'ermine,
and small mantelet to match. The style of trimming
redingotes is no longer confined to the tablier form ;
many have trimmings encircling the skirt, particularly in
quilting. Cloth dresses are worn, dark blue and claret
being the favourite colours ; they are embroidered in
soutache, intermixed with embroidery en relief, the tight
back of the corsage being equally ornamented with the
front; they are also accompanied by mantelets embroi-
dered and festonne ; some have merely a single wide
galon velonte,- or four very narrow ones divided by but-
tons. The gimp trimmings continue an indispensable
accessoire of most toilettes' and not only for robes and
manteaux, but also bonnets and caps are frequently orna-
mented by them ; fringes, oudes and crepe are much
used on ball dresses.

Walking and carriage dresses are made tight and high,
with long sleeves, closing at the wrists ; for evening wear
the corsages are low, tight and pointed, many having dra-
perie on the top ; pretty little mantelets are made for
evening use, of lace, or plain tulle trimmed with several
rows of lace ; the rich lace scarf is, however, more ele-
gant. Flowers are very much used on ball dresses, either
in bunches or wreaths forming moutants, or cordons so
small as to form the headings of flounces ; those of foliage
are particularly pretty.
The velvet bonnets are mostly of dark colours, black,
royal blue, vanilla, but they are lined with a contrasting
colour, and ornamented with much taste inside ; plumes
of small feathers are fashionable, the last falling low, but
the most elegant ones have a single ostrich feather none,
with marabouts, or a bird of paradise ; gimp is also used
on velvet bonnets, in a kind of resille covering the crown.
Velours epingle is very fashionable this season, in all
shades of grey, fauvette and deep blue. The pardessus
were never prettier than they are this winter; the forms
are various, whether in velvet, satin de chine, casimir, or
drap cachemire ; those for young ladies, of satin a la
reine, are with sleeves, and made close to the waist.
Manteaux de visite reach very low, and have several rows
of trimming. Very pretty little caps are made of narrow
blonds, and narrow velvet, with lappets of blond ; ve-
lours epingle, and stamped velvet, form numerous coif-
fures, mixed with black lace, and the half squares of lace
are much in favour, confined by a bouquet of Sowers or
velvet muds.