The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-30 00:00:00

na tone in which the or

hard-street and the Stock Exchar

has of late treated the too just complaints of the
ruined farmers of Great Britain, can only be
accounted for on two grounds. Either he wishes
to drive these classes to desperation, and to hand
over the soil of the kingdom from its present hold-
ers to the possession of the moneyocracy—the usu-
ers in bonds and mortgagees ;—or,
Conscious of the growing inability of his patrons to
rebut the strong facts which are being day by day
brought before the world, exhibiting the ruinous
operation of free trade, he takes refuge in railing as
his only available weapon. In his publication of
Thursday last we had a specimen of his powers in
this line, which in coarseness of language and fee-
bleness—indeed utter absence—of arguments, sur-
passes most of his previous productions.
On the preceding evening, in the House of Lords,
the Earl of Malmesbury, in moving for the produc-
tion of returns, with a view of shewing that, not-
withstanding the unremunerative prices for foreign
grain, which it was alleged wavy weeks ago would
put a stop to importations, cargoes had kept
steadily pouring into the conntry and going at
once into the hands of consumers, drew a powerful
picture of the ruinous consequences which were
impending over the British agriculturist. The
noble lord appealed in eloquent language to the
various sections of the house, calling upon them to
stay the destructive flood before it I,ad utterly pros-
trated the country. In repealing the corn laws, he

rious traffict

said,—
" They fancied that a genial stream of food would come
in, and not an overwhelming torrent. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer had recently said that he did not expect as
low prices as those which had recently taken place. He
accepted the admission of the noble marquis the President
of the Council, that free trade measures were an experi-
ment, and he protested against the doctrine which some
held, tint the policy pursued during the last few years
was final and irrevocable. It was an insult to the common
sense and good feeling of the psople to speak of an act of
Parliament—and particularly a fiscal one—as final. Prices
were still falling."

And he reminded the house of a fact, which every
man possessed of opportunities of observing the
tendency of the agricultural mind will be able to
confirm :

" Perhaps the most melancholy result of the free-trade
measures was the change which they had wrought in tht,
feelings of the farmers. They were now beginning to find
fault with the constitution and the form of the govern-
ment under which they lived. By the acts of the legisla-
ture their property had been depreciated one-third. Be-
fore the late change the price of wheat was 585., it was
now 38s. But the farmers were now called upon to pay
the same taxes as before. (Hear, hear.) What you had
done was equivalent to raising the taxation of the country
from £40,000,000 to £67,000,000. The farmers were be-
ginning to ask this question,—" Is it fair to ask us to pay
the same amount of fixed saiariee and annuities as we did
before our property was depreciated ?" Another question
also was being asked by them, and it was this :—" Is it
fair that we should pay the same rate of interest to the
public creditor as we did before ?" (Loud cries of
" Hear.") Such questions as those must cause capitalists
who had been instrumental in bringing about the repeal
of the corn laws to ponder whether they had acted wisely

or not."

Equally forcible and incontrovertible were the
remarks of Lord Stanley during the same debate.
His Lordship said :
" If the present low prices of agricultural produce should
prove not to be exceptional but permanent, as he believed
they:would, the government must admit that the experi-
ment had failed, and might be expected to retrace their
steps. But he wished to know how long this frightful
experiment was to continue? (Hear, hear.) How many
more hundreds of our fellow countrymen must be ruined
before the government would be convinced of its failure ?
(Hear, hear.) He was disposed to allow the government
reasonable time for consideration, but some limit should
be put to the sufferings which the country would nndergo
whilst the experiment was being tested. (hear.) At the
commencement of the session the noble marquis assured
their lordships that the then low prices could not continue
—that no persons would be so mad as to import with such
prices ranging in this country—that speculators in corn
were all ruined, and March was pointed to as the period
when the averages would rise. But the ides of March
had come and passed ; April also had almost passed, and
still there was no rise of price. (Hear, hear.) We were
within three months of the harvest, and vet importations
were increasing instead of diminishing, and we had falling,
not rising prices."

The reply of the Marquis of Lansdowne to these
striking facts was most puerile and tame. Be
doubted having admitted that free trade was an
experiment only, lie re-asserted that the present
state of prices was an exceptional one; and pro-
mised to be prepared to defend the policy of the
government when a motion upon the subject was
brought regularly before the house. He wanted
cramming, evidently, with some of Mr. James
wilson's statistics, and Messrs. Caird's and Hux-
table's experiences of the advantages of high farm-
ing and the valuable effects of pig manure, before
he could meet the unanswerable facts and argu-

The only

" Till 1,

plaint, u

s it bet

the yield w

ket is t

but even during

an Euro

act wisely for

latter year w

abundance, e
and that

M%iftiftiMe

ments of his noble opponents. The Times accor-
dingly stepped forward to throw his brazen shield
in front of the poor maudlin minister, anti opened
the vials of his abusive wrath upon the devoted
heads of the two noble lords and the Duke of
Richmond. They remind him, he says, of Quince,
Snug, Bottom, 4.c., in the comedy of Pyramus and
Thisbe; and he adds :
" To be sure, they all of them do a little of the lion.
Lord Malmesbury roars at officials, annuitants, and the
public creditor ; the Duke of Richmond at the right rev.
prelates, and titheowners in general. Lord Stanley
threatens us with the discontinuance of agriculture. Lord

Beaumont in the same breath terrifies the farmer with
the inexhaustible Baltic, and the British public with :an
universal famine. But in the midst of all this roaring they
take care to assure us that they will not do anything
Ord Stanley claims a spe-
ig as often and as

present;
of barking without. b

a privilege which we feel sure the

be only too

happy to a'

They are " mendicants," too, " of the worst class ;"
men who " obtrude themselves upon the compas-
' and more in the same strain.
hal'porth of bread," in the shape of
" to all this villainous quantity of sack,"
)e found in the followinu

sion of the publi

arvest ther,

was really no ground for com

considering the pre

ry fair average price for wheat,
t value of money. Since the har-

A for many years

t year proved the best and the
Never was
Never

'ot in ; and we very much qu

The present

ito of the mar-
ich a harvest ;

t was in 1835, under a rigorous Corn Law.
It peculiar to this country. All Europe
is an European abundance, and, of course,

ion of the markets

The allusion contained in the two lines marked
in italics is rather a dangerous one. Might not the
farmer rejoin, that eighteen millions per annum is
a very fair interest for the fundholder " considering
the present value of money ?" The Times would

s patrons in Lombard-street by

teering it little wide of this

zndant hary

And with

of last year, his

rtion that such a harvest is always

e the pre

nt, and his reference

a state of thin
to the harvest of 1835, we may remind him that the
the third of a series of good har-

en was

)endent of foreign supply ;

coma

prices

tural distress

cl€Tgy,

I reliinci,

s our cor

ans of the Irish

ious duty of all persons.
hat he in all

he power

a duty to

d being

National System of

nt administered, it is not,
mity even with the inten-

dve,in

and is,

by the

'troduction of controversial hooks into t

ilools,

lated to exasperate instead of healing

highly injuriote3 to the reformed religion, and an
(stack to the unrestricted use of the word of God ; wo
d them God speed in the endeavours which they are
aking to spread the reformed religio❑ and promote the
trestticted use of the word of God, and join with them

it.to error. It may be thought that this opposition will
give way to the prevailing influence of government; but
it is too firmly founded on religious principle to be over-
come. In a case of religion, the notorious abuse of that
influence will be a motive of more determined resistance.
One great impediment no instance can remove; the
solemn offices of consecration and ordination cannot be
expunged from the Liturgy. These will, from time to
time, influence the minds and consciences, and raise up
new opponents to the national system of education in
Ireland. The resistance of the Protestant Church of
Ireland cannot be overcome, nor will the Protestant
Church of England fail to acknowledge that the cause of
Protestantism in England must be maintained by sup-
porting the Protestantism of Ireland."

WHATEVER may be the difficulties which sur-
round the present President of the French Republic
and his Ministers, it must be admitted that his sway
has been characterised throughout by paternal con.
sideration for the true interests of " the people."
By this term we refer to the industrious masses—
the friends of order and steady progress=not the
dissolute and brawling mobs of Paris and the large
towns, who arrogate to themselves the privilege of
being exponents of the popular will. These men
seek to reap a harvest only from confusion and
anarchy, to benefit their followers by pulling down
their superiors to their own level. The vast majo-
rity of the people, however, we firmly believe, are
heartily sick of emeutes and demonserations, and
anxious only to settle down into habits of patient
industry to maintain themselves by the work of
_ their hands and the exercise of their skill and en-
d on whether I terprise.

Such a paternal consideration on the part of the
President has been especially manifested in the cur-
rency measures adopted since the voice of France

ed him to occupy his present high position. He
found the commercial and manufacturing classes
groaning beneath the burthen of excessive taxation,
and paralyzed by the want of an efficient circulating
medium, and he promptly gave them ease by a
large increase of the paper circulation of the
country based upon undoubted security, and judi-
ciously regulated by the bank of France. The
result has been strikingly apparent in the increased
.cial and manufacturing activity of the
country, which offers a peculiar contrast with the
followed by i st

gnation of our own. It is true that as yet con-
fidence in France itself has not recovered from the
shock it sustained by the revolution. The home
trade especially, as with us, is languid, owing to
of produce, and consequent agricul-
t. A large foreign trade, however, has
which is rapidly raising France to the
position of a powerful commercial power. The
Times' Paris Correspondent, under date the 22nd
inst., says :

In consequence o

the low price of

agricultural pro-
nake their usual
are enabled to

the looms in

Tiff; LIVERPOOL STANDAR&

prices. The west':

POLITICAL,

COMMERCIAL

and every account receive(

for the shipper than this,

UoRN-

t appoin

without change

tendency is upwards

from t

at quotations of Tuesday last

a. d.
Manchester 37 8

Preston.. 37 10 38 0
Wakefield.. 38 1 37 34
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 36 5 34 11
Spalding. 34 9 33 3
Bristol 38 4

THREE DAY'S LATER FROM AMERICA.

(By Eleitric Telegraph from New York to Halifax)

IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON.

We have just received our extraordinary telegra-
phic despatch from New York, New Orleans, and
Washington, via electric telegraph to Halifax,
bringing news and dates considerably later than
those brought by the regular files and advices per
steamer. By this means of communication our
advices extend to New Orleans, April 18, 5 p.m. ;
New York, April 19, 5 p.m. ; and from Washington
to the evening of the 18th.
The letter of our Halifax agent is s follows :

Commercial Telegraph-office, Halifax, N.S.,
April 19, 1850, 11 o'clock p.m.

We have received through the Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, and Halifax lines, exclusive in-
telligence from all parts of the American continent,
two and a half days later than is embraced in the
letters or papers that go to England by this week's
steamer, a brief summary of which is herewith
forwarded :

In the senate of the Un'ited States, on the 17th,
during a debate on California and slavery, a vio-
lent altercation occurred between Brenton and
Foote, in the course of which Foote drew a pistol
and aimed at Brenton. Foote was immediately
disarmed, and a committee of
appointed

investigation

On the 18th a resolution was passed in the
Senate, referring the whole question of California
and the Territories to a committee of 13, to report
a plan for compromise.

The committee is
It is settled the Cabinet will not be dissolved

New York, April 19th, evening

COTTON.—The sales of the two days past amount
to two thousand eight hundred bales, at very full

ie south is disas-

trous as regards the prospects of planting

reach two million bales ; and the country will hold
over the balance of the present crop.
A decline of one fourth cent is anticipated on re-

ceipt of the steamer's news from Europe of the 6th

The New Orleans market was active last even-
ing, (18th April.) Sales eight thousand bales

eleven one quarter to three eights cent for

southern markets are higher

FLOUR.-Our market for Flour is very firm at

—Has advanced to 60 cents for yellow,

to 10 dollars 25 cents per cwt. Other articles are

Sterling Exchange 91c to 9c premium, and the

Government Securities (American) are very firm

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY REPORT,

Monday Night.
There have been no fluctuations of moment in the
Share Market during the past week. Of business done
there has been rather more than the average, and on the
account being arranged this day stocks generally are
scarce

-some very scarce, (Great Westerns,-Dovers, and
Midlands), so much so that a considerable advance might
have been expected within the next few days, were there
not depressing influences at work to counteract the effect.
The news by the American packet to-day is rather against
an advance, the account of the cotton crop being likely to
draw the attention of speculators to that article for a
while; and there are also some rumours current in the
clubs in London which are unfavourably affecting prices
in this market just now. It is said that there is about to
be an exposure of some not very reputable jobbing trans-
actions, by some of the officials connected with a leading
company which, though not in any way injurious to the
stock of the company, will, when known, still further
shake public confidence in the present system of railway
management. Our quotations of the day's business are :
—Leeds, sths, 104 dis. ; Leeds Stock, 331 ; London
Stock, 101, 4-shares, 1 18 9, 2 dis. ; Dover, No. 3, 13,
No. 4, 4 8 9 ; South Staffords, 4 16 3 dis. ; Newcastle
preference, 64, 13/9 dis ; Midland Stock, 321, 1-shares,
274, 6/3 dis.

Some time ago there was a great stir made with respect
to the advancement of the cultivation of cotton in India,
in order to lessen the danger of dependence upon the
American crop, and government was blamed for not tak-
ing a more active part in this matter. The great answer
given at the time, by parties conversant with the subject,
was, that Manchester men never ghve East India cotton
a fair chance, and would not pay a fair price for it when
it did come ; and the following statistics clearly demon-
strate that manufacturers at the present time, instead of
holding out some inducement for the production of this
article in our colonies, are taking American cotton at an
additional relative price in preference:—

Difference.
20th April, 1848.-Middling Surat
20th April, 1849.-Middling Surat
, New Orleans 40. / '
27th April, 1850.-Middling Surat
New Orleans 61d. 1
By the packet we learn that there was a falling off of
511,800 bales in the receipts of Cotton at the ports, which
a telegraphic despatch from the South had increased to
550,000. The weather had been very bad generally, there
had been a severe frost, and a good deal of injury done.
A large breadth of land was under water, which ought to
have been in a state of cultivation ; and all these things
cansidered, there is no doubt that cotton will go up, the
only question is as to what extent. An advance of *d.
was obtained to-day, and the sales were extensive,
amounting to 12,000 bales, 3000 Brazils, 700 Egyptian,
and 1,500 Surath included: half were taken on speculation
and for export. On Saturday the market was firm, and
10,000 bales were disposed of at extreme prices.
Business in Sugar to a fair extent, but no improvement
in prices ; at the same time there are few buyers at pre-
vious rates. The sale consists of 200 hhds. West India,
chiefly to refiners, at 355. 6d. • 1,500 bags Madras; 2,000
bags Bengal, at 345. to 355. /or date kinds, and 38s. 6d.
for good middling white Benares. 200 puns Barbadoes
molasses sold at 165., low rice is in more request and a
few sales have been effected at a slight advance. Jute
is in brisk demand ; good and fine sold at extreme prices.
The American accounts received to-day have tended
still further to flatten the iron market. In fact, the opinion
is becominc, general that Iron must undergo a further
fall. Scotch Pig Iron is quoted at 425. 6d, mixed num-
bers, f. o. b., at Glasgow ; Bars, £5, f. o. b. ; Nait Rods,
£6 ; Hoops. £7 ; Sheets, £7 10s.
The only influence which the arrival of the packet is
likely to exercise on the American provision trade is,
that as stocks are getting into few hands, a slight im-
provement in value of most articles is anticipated.-The
quotations to-day for American Bacon range from 28s. to
369. ; Trish ditto, long middles, free from bone, new, 38s.
to 425.-American Lard 31s. 6d. to 325,; Irish ditto, (fine
keg) 355. to 365.-Irish new Butter ; Waterford, 82s. to
86; Carrick, 84s. • Limerick, 78s. to 80s.
The Wool market has been rather quiet this week.
Holders are firm. Our public sales commence to-morrow,
and will consist principally of low Wools, such as Buenos
Ayres and Mediterranean sorts. The London sales take
place on 2d May, and will comprise between 20,000 and
30,000 bales Colonial. The attendance of home and Con-
tinental buyers is expected to be large. Imports for the
week ending 29th April-Foreign 1,080 bales ;
31; Scotch, 7.
_ _

We prefer facts to arguments, and, therefore, subjoin a
continuation of those averages of the price of Wheat
which come under our immediate notice. It will be
found that, during the fortnight which has elapsed since
we last presented similar data to our readers, the value of
this principal article of the Corn trade has considerably
decreased, and that at Spalding, which is an agricultural
market, it has reached the unprecedentedly low price of
335. 3d. per quarter. The following figures are extracted
from letters received respectively on
Wednesday r,( This
week ""morning,

Dec. In

s. d. d.
2 5

- 2
9i -
1 6 -
1 6 -

Wisbeach. 35 U 34 4 1 7
Leeds.. 37 31
It is but fair to add that, at the last market-days, which
generally took place after these averages were taken, the
English markets were somewhat firmer, and it remains
to be seen whether future averages will be in any way
affected by the change. Hitherto these efforts towards
better prices have proved merely evanescent. The
Scotch markets, of which reports have come to hand,
are lower where any alteration has taken place ; and in
Ireland there is little to mention, except that Indian Corn
is held for more money. The weather, throughout the
United Kingdom, although changeable, is generally con-
sidered of a favourable character. Potatoes are rather
dearer in Ireland, owing to the large quantity used for
seed.

In consequence of the upward taaterneat in the English

markets generally at the close of last week, and the ad-
vance of ls. in London in Wheats of the first quality, we
have had a firmer trade in Brunswick-street to-day, at
rather higher prices for the principal articles of the trade.
The American advices also tend to improve our market
here, as prices there are too high to admit of exports to
this country. There is scarcely anything in this week
either Coastwise or from Ireland, and very little from
abroad, beyond about 7,000 quarters of Wheat from the
various ports of Europe, and 852 sacks of Flour from
France. Our imports of! Indian Corn stand 5,064 qrs.
from the States, against upwards of 21,000 qrs. exported
to Ireland.