The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

finperial Varliamtnt,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

The petitions of the Grand Junction Railway, for their
seven branches, were declared proved by the committee.
Mr. CLIFTON presented a petition, signed by 12,000 of
the inhabitants of North Lancashire, praying the House
to continue protection to agriculture.
Sir R. PEEL explained in relation to his reply to'the
Noble Lord's question the other night as to his answer on
the subject of the reduction of the corn duties, that he
could find no precedent for the Treasury sanctioning
the reduction of the duty on the receipt of the reports.
and that, therefore, he could not consent to anv reduction
on the corn duties until the proposed alteration should
become law ; but so convinced was be of the necessity of
proceeding with the alteration OR the corn laws at once
that he proposed to proceed with the measure for the
alteration of the corn-laws, in preference to any other
public measure, and to every otheralteration in the tariff,
until it should become law.

In reply to Mr. M. Phillips,
Sir R. PEEL said that if the debate should be adjourned
over Tuesday, there would be no alternative but to re-
sume the debate on Wednesday at twelve and finish it at
six. The right hon. baronet also explained that neces-
sarily there must be an interval between the first and
second readily, of the Corn Bill, during which be might
bring forward' other articles in the tariff, but thet he
would proceed with the Corn Bill with all the speed that
the forms of the house would permit.
On the motion that the order of the day for the house
resolve itself in committee being lead, a host of petitions
on the corn laws were presented, after which

Mr. PHILIP MILES rose to move the amendment
of which he had given notice on Friday last, viz.,
that the house resolve itself into committee that day
six months. He admitted the failure of the potato crop
in Ireland, but the oat and wheat crops were above the
average, and there was no fear of a famine. 11 there was
danger of that he would open the ports. If the pre-
miers opinions bad undergone a change, be should have
followed the example of the member for Dorsetshire.
He could not see where these changes were to lead, and
if these were agreed to, greater would follow which
would shake the public credit. (Hear, bear.) The
honourable gentleman then proceeded to take a review c•f
the history of our commercial policy since the accession
of Sir R. Peel to office, and contended that the
prosperity of the industrious classes had been owing
not to the free trade measures of the government,
but to the immense increase of our railway system,
which had created a demand for labour, and in conse-
quence of which the prices of iron had risen enormously
—to the cessation of war in India—and to the succession
of good harvests, and he believed that much of that pros-
perity would have taken place if the noble lord opposite
had been in power. He denied that the amount of
exports afforded a fair indication of commercial pros-
perity. Foreign markets were glutted with our goods.
It was the home trade which afforded the finest ele-
ments for the calculation of the actual amount of
our commercial prosperity. With regard to the corn-
laws, the law of 1842 ItPd worked well ; it had secured
steadiness of price, and he would not consent to its altera-
tion. The Right Honourable Baronet had said in 1842
that-56i was a fair price for the farmer. He would like
to know what he considered a fair price now. The Right
Honou.able Baronet said his proposed measure would not
lower the price of wheat : what then became of the argu-
-7112`20 of the cheap loaf ? Mr. Miles concluded by depre-
eating the stimulus sought to be given to manufacturing
enterprise, which had already reached far enough. He
then proposed, " that the Chairman leave tae chair that
day six months."
Sir W. HEATRCOTE seconded the amendment. He did
not join in imputing dishonest motives to Sir Robert
Peel, he merely thought the measure proposed a
visionary scheme. That scheme was also partial
in its operation, acting for the almost exclusive advantage
of those engaged in manufacturing pnrsuits.
The peculiar burdens to which the agriculturist was
exposed, rendered it difficult to afford him adequate com-
pensation. T:te colonial corn-growing interest was dis-
regarded by the proposed measure. Tile duty of sup-
porting Sir ROBERT PEEL as a Conservative Minister,
he admitted, ought to prevent any factious opposition,
but the responsibility of embarrassing the relationship
between Government and their supporters, properly lay
with him who had varied from his original policy.

Mr. LASCELLES denied that the- Government had
altered their policy. The speeches which Sir Robert Peel
bad delivered since his elevation to power had uniformly
pointed in the direction of Free-trade. The truth of that
theory had been made manifest by the constant results of
experience, and Sir Robert Peel had merited the gratitude
of the country by the measure he had proposed.
Lord NORREYS had refrained from condemning Sir
Robert Peel until his measures were published to the
Country ; his suprise and disapprobation were, however,
equal when he first learned the extent of these proposals.
It was incredible that the Minister, who in 1839 avowed
an unqualified adherence to the Protective System, shall
in 1846 propose an entire repeal of that system. His con-
duct was unfair to both his supporters and opponents.
Mr. B. COCHRANE denied that there was any compro-
mise of principle in the course pursued by Sir R. Peel.
He agreed to the dictum th " whoever proposed an un-
alterable law, was an unalterable fool." Parliament was
something superior to an assemblage of delegates. There
was real inconsistency in the Duke of Richmond and Lord
Stanley, who had co-operated to bring about the Revolu-
tion of 1830, now opposing the repeal of the corn-laws, as
a revolutionary measure. Lord North, Mr. Pitt, Mr.
Huskisson and Mr. Canning, had successively lent their
great names to the support of a free-trade policy. He
(Mr. Cochrane) should vote for this measure, because he
preferred legislation to agitation, and also because he WhS
favourable to the principle of genuine protection.
Mr. DEEDES regarded the measure proposed by Go-
vernment as an experiment upon native industry, fraught
with great injury to the country. It would certainly
cause the withdrawal of a large tract of land out of culti-
vation, and diminish the permanent supply of specie in
the national coffers. Upon these grounds he should offer
it his opposition.

r,
Sir Jows WALSH denied that the Corn-law question
was one of rent merely, though that was of no trifling
moment. The landowners were but a small class, hold-
ing in a very few hands large territorial possessions.
The landed proprietors amounted in 1815, according to
Mr. M'Culloch, to two huadred thousand persons.
This very numerous body would be affected by what-
ever injuries a Free-trade policy might inflict. The
protective system had been in existen a cotempora-
neously with a great increase in the population, and a
great progress in the commerce of the country. Results,
therefore, witnessed in its favour. It was only necessary
to guarantee security to agriculture, in order to elicit a
perfect development of its resources. He contended that
land was liable to peculiar burdens. There was no reason
to fear a great importation of corn from many parts which
at present contributed nothing to our supplies, and at very
low rates. The failure of the crops in Ireland had been
advanced as a reason for the present measure; but why
should a temporary calamity prompt so great and perma-
nent a change? The proposed measure would, if adopted,
ruin Irish agriculture, and destroy the Protestant Church
in Ireland. It had been brought about by an association
which every lover of order ought to oppose.
Mr. A. J. B. HOPE considered a preliminary inquiry
was, whether the existing parliament were morally as well
as legally competent to take cognizance of the question of
Free trade or Protection. They had been returned upon
principles very different from those which at present held
sway in parliament. A revolution in the commercial po-
licy of the country was being wrought, and the proper
persons to carry it would have been the members of the
Anti-Corn-law League.

Lord SAN DON startled the house by declaring that
though he disapproved of the scheme proposed by Her
Majesty's government, he had made up his mind to vote
in favour of it. After stating his objections to the mea-
sure at some length, he said that he felt that the country
must be governed. He found that when opinions hostile
to protection had been pronounced by the great leaders
on both sides of the house, and that it was now opposed
by all the gentlemen who had ever sat in the government
except two, it was no longer a matter for discussion; but
the only question was the way of doing it. He looked
upon it, as the French said, "un fail accompli"—it was
settled. It might be railed against, but the country must
be governed; and when the only persons who could go-
vern the country were of one opinion, the sooner it was
settled the better it would be for all parties.
Lord J. RUSSELL considered it a very impotent argu-
ment in favour of protection, to allege that it was sanc-
tioned by the decisions of parliament in former time. The
same might be said of various absurdities. The friends of
protection had affirmed that it was extended to all pur-
suits of native industry. Was this the case? Our woollen
and other manufactures competed with foreign fabrics
abroad ; they could therefore hardly benefit by protection
at home. The protective system was for the benefit of one'
class alone. If it were admitted that the system was erro-
neous, the great question was, how were we to abandon it ?
The results of past reductions in duties had proved bene-
ficial both to the revenue and to the producer. As Sir R.
Peel's measure proceeded upon the principle of non-inter-
ferencewith the pursuits of industry,he was prepared to give
it his cordial support. He then examined that part of the
ministerial scheme which ordains the gradual reduction of
the Corn duties. The Lclinations of the farmers were
in favour of immediate repeal, provided that repeal were
inevitable. He believed there would be less inconvenience
to the English farmer in the change occurring at present
than at a future period. This part of the plan he should
prefer altered, but at all events be would support the
measure. He recognised the principle of affording
compensation to the agricultural body for special tax-
ation Party motives• had restrained many from sup-
porting free trade measures when introduced by
himself, though they now supported them when pro-
posed by Sir Robert Peel. Had these influences not pre-
vailed, much misery throughout the country would
have been prevented, and Sir Robert Peel's consistency
preserved. He and his party intend to pursue a different
course, and by the aid they would render, the success of
the measure would be ensured,
Sir R. H. INGus congratulated Lord John Russell
upon the triumph he must have derived from the disunion
amongst the Conservative ranks. The great object to be
attained by a legislature in the matter of food, were a suf-
ficiency of supply and equability in price. There bad
been a remarkable equability in the prices of Corn in
England compared with other countries. He then
argued that the land was subject to special taxation,
and particularly in respect to the item of tithe. Sir R.
Peel's conversion had, he believed, beeq perfectly honest,
nevertheless the suddenness of it gave cause to suspect
the permanence of even his present convictions. The hon.
baronet concluded by expressing his intention to support
the amendment.
After Sir R. Inglis closed his address, Capt. FITZMAU-
RICE and Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT addressed the house,
the former opposing, and the latter in an able speech sup-
porting the propositions of Sir R. Peel, after which, on
tf e motion of Mr. S. O'Prien, the debate was adjourned.

HOVSGLWDS.-=TUFSDAY.

The Earl of ABERDEEN, in answer to a question from
Lord Kinnaird, respecting the cruelties alleged to have
been perpetrated on the Polish, nuns at Minsk, stated that
he had no doubt the persecutions in question were grossly
exaggerated ; and that, whatever might be the state of the
case, her Majesty's Government had no power to inter fere
in the matter.

The Scotch Turnpike-roads was then forwarded a stage

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY

The adjourned debate was resumed by Mr. Stafford

O'Brien, who complained that the government had not
yet thought fit to consult the agriculturists at all on this
measure. He had little hope of attracting the attention
of the house ; he had not changed, and therefore he bad
nothing to explain, but remained in the same state of bi-
gotry in which he had ever been. The law of 1815 might
have been the greatest error that the landed interest had
ever committed, but he would ask who had encouraged
them to persevere in that error ? Year after year the
hon. member for Wolverhampton had given them an op-
portunity of retrieving that error and year after year the
right honourable gentleman hall urged them to persevere
in it. He would not impute to•the occupants of the trea-
sury bench dishonesty, but this country had hitherto
been governed by party ; and ifTarties were to be broken
up in this way, he would ask how the government of the
country was to be conducted? 1-le had no hesitation in
avowing that he was a party man; and if ever there was
an opposition conducted by party tactics for party ends, it
was the opposition of the right hon. gentleman to the
late government. It was a bitter disappointment to find
him now eschewing all party. The right hon. gentleman
who spoke last night said that thelaw of 1842 had failed.
Had it failed to the Sidney Herbert of last year, or to the
Sidney Herbert of this year ? If the law had failed in re-
gard to the question of averages,[it must be a reason for
re-adjusting those averages ; and if he found the eliding
scale fail, that was no reason for giving up protection—
they had the sliding scale to fall back upon! If it had
been merely a question of duty, why had they raised such
an agitation on the subject ? It was not on a mere ques-
tion of import duty that the present government had dis-
placed the last. If the present government had changed
their opinions, let them avow the change, and give due
credit to those who had always upheld those principles;
bnt let them not deprive them of the credit due to them
by saibag that this was a mere question,of import duties.
He was not careless of the evils impending over Ireland ;
but a particular evil required only a particular remedy ;
and although the ports were opened to prevent a famine
in Ireland, yet there was no necessity for repealing the
corn laws. All the authorities in Ireland agreed that the
destruction of agriculture in that country would be its
ruin. He admitted the existence of the potato disease,
and if it had progressed he was convinced there would not
have been a potato left in Ireland. The rest had been
stayed, but had now recommenced, and he believed that
the government was prepared to meet the emergency ;
but he denied that the case of famine in Ireland would be
met by the proposed alteration in the corn law. He be-
lieved that the landowners in Ireland were greatly respon-
sible for the distress existing in the country, bnt he de-
nied that a repeal of the corn laws would provide a re-
medy for the distress.

Mr. S. 'Crawford, Mr. Bailey, Lord Clements, and Mr
Gregory spoke in favour of the government measure, and
Mr. Lefroy, the Marquis of Granby, and Lords Brooke
and Clive against it, several of the members requiring a
fresh appeal to the country.
Lord WORSLBY challenged the recollections of the go-
vernment respecting the last election. The predominat-
ing motto then was, " Peel, the Farmers' Friend." The
opinions various members of the administration had ex-
pressed on this subject, up to a very recent period, coin-
cided. Even withi❑ the three years during which they
declared their conversion had been effected, Sir Robert
Peel had professed his adhesion to protectionist principle.
It was said this measure would settle the question. This
he denied ; a fresh election before 1849 would again agi-
tate the question, and the farmers, wiser from past expe-
rience, would exact pledges from their representatives for
the repeal of the measure, while the other party would
seek an earlier consummation of free trade than was pro-
posed by the government. He should vote for the amend-
ment.

Sir J. GRAHAM protested against degrading the ques-
tion into one of mere finance, much less of personality.
He avowed a change in his orations, and that avowal
would at once dispose of all citations from former
speeches in favour of protection. Referring to the cir-
cumstances of Sir Robert Peel's resignation, he owned he
thought it would have been better for the country and
for the character of public men, had Lord John Russell
proposed the free trade scheme instead of Sir Robert
Peel. (Hear, hear.) The members of the cabinet had
been taunted with adopting opinions upon the corn ques-
tion altogether inconsistent with those they formerly en-
tertained, but extracts which he read from their speeches
dis. roved this statement. Circumstances had precipi-
tated the change which otherwise he would have preferred
to be gradual. The peculiarity of the harvest of last year
had caused the corn law of 18-12 to prove more stringent
than the law which it had succe:ded. The potato disease
in Ireland had also contributed to hasten a legislative
change. His own opinions bad been influenced by the
disordered state of the manufacturing districts in the year
1842. Those disorders he had satisfactorily traced to the
difficulty of gaining subsistence. He then read several
statistics to prove that the rate of wages varied univer-
sally with the price of food. Exaggerated apprehensions
had been entertained respecting the fall in price which the
contemplated measure would occasion. It would benefit
the consumer principally by the guarantee it would pro-
vide against extreme price in the event of a deficient har-
vest. A settlement of this question was manifestly
needed. Certainty and peaceful enjoyment were great
objects to attain, and they would be encompassed by the
measure proposed by government. The valuable ends
now sought to be effected would be cheaply purchased by
any reduction of rent, and be for one would, if necessary,
have consented to such a sacrifice.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY

Petitions were presented in favour of a ten hours' bill;
;ainst repealing the corn-laws; and against calling out
ie militia.

In a committee of the whole house upon the piers and
harbours of Ireland, a resolution was agreed to that the
sum of £50,000 should be granted for their improvoment.
Lord G. BENTINCK moved for a return giving the num-
lo?rs of the importers of foreign grain now in bond in the
Queen's warehouses in Great Britain and Ireland, toge-
ther with the quantities held by each individual. He en-
tered into some calculations in order to show that the
course proposed by the government with respect to corn
would deprive the revenue of half a million in order to put
it in the pockets of two or three hundred corn merchants.
—Agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS,-THURSDAY

The Earl of DALHOUSIE brought up a report from the
select committee on railways, which was laid on the table,
and ordered to be printed. His lordship said the object
of the resolutions contained in the report was to assimi-
late the practice of their lordships' house to that of the
House of Commons. His lordship also intimated that
the competing lines would be grouped together and pro-
ceeded with as soon as each group should be completed.
In answer to a question by Lord KINNAIRD,
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that the report of the
gauge commission had been that afternoon placed in his
hands.

Lord MONTEAGLE gave notice, that in the event of
the motion of Lord Beaumont, which stood for Monday
next, for the appointment of a select committee to inquire
into the burdens on real property, being carried, it was
his intention to move the addition of these words :
"and also to inquire and report on the legislative exemp-
tions from the pecuniary liabilities proved by law in re-
spect to the taxation affecting real property."
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for a return of
all murders, or attempts to commit murder, in Ireland
since the year 1842. Crimes, he declared, prevailed to an
extent almost unprecedented ; and he accused the govern-
ment of very great remissness in not having taken earlier
measures to repress the system of combined outrages,
which are now more general than had ever been known,
and given efficient protection to honest men in their ho-
nest callings. He referred to her Majesty's speech as
justifying the expectation that energetic means would be
instantly adopted, and described a number of outrages
wl-ich had recently been committed, and which proved
that there was no longer any safety for the pro-
perty of the rich or the life of the poor. He exposed the
absurdity of attempting to improve the agriculture of Ire-
land while no man was allowed to pursue the system which
be preferred. It was said that people should not submit
to such intimidation, but the government itself had recom-
mended submission in one remarkable instance, which he
cited.

Lord ST. GERMANS offered no opposition to the mo-
tion, and informed their lordships that such a bill as Lord
Clanricarde bad described would be submitted to their
consideration on Monday next.
Lord FARNHAM bore testimony to the firm support he
had received from Government in one of the most dis-
turbed districts of Ireland; and Lord Grey, while agree.
ing that at whatever cost security of person and property
must be attained, urged that the opportunity should be
taken of considering the state of Ireland generally, and
accompanying 'any coercive bill that might be necessary
with measures of another kind, and having more compre-
hensive reference to the evils which have so long affected
Ireland.

The motion was agreed to, and their lordships adjourned

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MuRsDAy,

The adjourned debate was commenced by
Mr. COLQUHOUN, who entered into an explanation of
his vote in 1838, in support of Mr. Villiers's motion for a
committee to inquire into the propriety of repealing the
Corn-laws. Sir R. Peel had entirely mistaken both his
past and present opinions. He had never entertained the
opinions so consistently entertained by Mr. Villiers; and
he had never passed from them to the doctrines of high
protection. He had always considered the question of the
Corn-laws a most anxious and perplexing question ; and
in 1841, not being in Parliament, and having much leisure
time, he bad studied it with all the diligence and impar-
tiality he could command. He had come to the conclu-
sion that protection was necessary for the interests of agri-
culture ; and having come to that conclusion, he bad de-
clared himself an advocate for a fixed duty on corn. After
the occurrences of the past six months, it seemed proba-
ble that his notion of a fixed duty, had it been adopted,
would have now been deemed preferable to that of a slid-
ing scale. After applying himself to refute Sir R. Peel's
arguments respecting prices and wages, he proceeded to
comment on the speech delivered by Sir J. Graham on
Tuesday ev,.n;ng. Sir J. Graham had then disposed very
summarily of all his former arguments on this subject;
and bad said that as he confe4sed that he had changed his
opinions, there was an end of his former reasonings. No,
there was not an end of thcm ; fur a statesman who spoke
like Sir James Graham, with eloquence and genius,ought
to recollect that his words were winged shafts which

stuck deeply in men's hearts. They had made many con-
verts, and had influenced and were influencing thousands
of his fellow-countrymen:; -and he (Mr. Colquhoun) was
of opinion that Sir Jamees explicit recantation of his im-
mortal words would not convince the country that he could
raise wages or exalt the financial condition of the labour-
ing population by his present measures. He was afraid
that those measures would bring on the country evils of a
kind to which its attention ought to be, yet had not been
called. What would be-their effects on their colonial in-
terests ? The protection on timber and sugar would not
long survive the protection of corn ; and then the manu-
facturers of England wontlfind themselves no longer in pos-
session of the advantages which they now possessed in the
colonial market. Under such circumstances, what would
be the condition of the country if, in addition to a failing
harvest, it should have to struggle, as in 1840, against a
falling revenue? But what reason was there to induce
the house to give their consent to a commercial code
which even Mr. Villiers could not recommend to his con-
stituents as a perfect code, as it still enforced protection
on silk, on sugar, on timber, on copper, and various other
articles. If, then, protection were left on some fabrics,
why was all protection to be taken from that manufacture
—for corn had been justly called by Lord F. Egerton a ma-
nufacture—which was of all others the most precarious in
its course, and the most uncertain in its returns ? He
regretted that ever since he had taken his seat on the mi-
nisterial bench agricultural protection bad never received
from Sir R. Peel anything like a sincere defence. Last
year Mr. Villiers bad called Sir Robert's speech on the
Corn-laws a dexterous evasion of the whole question, and
had warned the country gentlemen that they would soon
be called upon to surrender the protection they enjoyed.
He was sorry to observe that on all the great institutions
of the country Sir It. Peel followed a similar course of
dexterous evasion. He had no antipathy to him, and a
very sincere regard for many of his colleagues; but his
oppsition to Sir R. Peers administration would in future
be openly avowed and steadily adhered to ; for as long as
Sir Robert declined discussion on all the great questions
which agitated the minds of Englishmen, so long he should
not promise him any adhesion nor repose in him any con-
fidence.

Mr. HEATHCOTE did not come forward on this occasion
to attack the consistency of others, but to maintain his
own. He had resisted a measure similar in principle to
the present when proposed by his own political friends;
and he felt bound to offer the same resistance now, when a
measure ten thousand times more mischievous in degree
was proposed by his political opponents. He explained
at some length the reasons why he considered this measure
a rash, ill-timed, and hazardous experiment, and observed
that it was not recommended to his mind by being accom-
panied with changes of opinion hitherto unparalleled in the
annals of political tergiversation. They had turned out a
government for proposing a fixed duty of Bs. a quarter on
corn ; and they were now themselves proposing a fixed
duty of 4s. a quarter, to expire at the end of three years.
The compensation which they proposed for the injury
which they were thus going to inflict on the agricultural
interest was utterly inadequ ite and disproportionate.
Monarchial Europe and Republic America had both their
corn laws. Why was England to deprive itself of a simi-
lar code? Holland had once made the experiment of ab-
rogating such laws ; but the experiment had altogether
failed, and Holland, like ourselves, had now the benefit of
a sliding scale. _ _

Mr. W. C. MARTIN contrived to eat up his former
professions in favour of protection, and then declared
himself an emancipated free trader.

Mr. T. BARING indignantly repelled the hollow cant
made use of by Sir J. Graham respecting the starving
people of Ireland, and boldly expressed his belief that
the greatest want under which the country laboured at
present was the want of ministers, and the most appalling
scarcity was that of statesmen, who would consent to sit
together in the same cabinet. Neither in the effects of
our previous relaxation of protective duties nor in the
present circumstances of the country, could he see any
justification of the sweeping change now proposed.
Lord MORPETH next addressed the house in favour of
the government propositions, as also did Mr. ROEBUCK.
Mr. GASKELL spoke eloquently in favour of the amend-
ment, and the debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Several members addressed the house on the govern-
ment commercial scheme, pro and con., and amongst the
rest Sir Howard Douglas, whose admirable speech we
give elsewhere. The debate was again adjourned to Mon-
day.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL

UNITED STATES

The mail steamer Hibernia, Captain Ryrie, arrived at
this port on Saturday evening, bringing New York paper,:
to the 31st ult.—thirteen days later than the previous
advices.

The proposition in the London Times for the settle-
ment of the Oregon question had attracted some atten-
tion—viz., to take the 49th degree of North latitude as
f,r as the sea as the boundary line, reserving to Great
Britain Vancouver's Island, the harbour of St. Juan de
Fuca, and the free navigation of the Columbia. The
Washington Union, the organ of the government, has
spoken of this offer in a spirit of peace. The question is
now so much narrowed that (says the Herald.) it is next
to impossible that war can grow out of the negotiations,
unless the negotiators go mad. The movements in Con-
gress are, so far, conciliatory and peaceable. No vote
has been taken of a warlike nature, and Mr. Calhoun and
Mr. Benton have indicated by their speeches that they
anticipate no rupture. Even General Cass, though he
thinks the news from England would not justify an inter-
mission in preparation for defence, has bated down the
offensive meaning that had been attached to Mr. Polk's
anti-colonisation doctrines. It is yet questionable whe-
ther the tariff of 1844 will be disttrbed. The subtreasury
bill has a better chance of succeeding, though commercial
men consider it will be injurious to the trade of the
country. The effect of the news from England, being
more pacific than was expected, had had a highly favour-
able effect. News had been received from Mexico of
another revolution, and that country was in a most un-
settled state. The new party, headed by General Paredes,
is understood to be hostile to the United States.

The Money market continued tight. Though the war
panic had subsided, the banks, in order to present as
strong a position as possible i❑ their quarterly statements,
had curtailed their discounts, and money was consequently
scarce.
In the Senate ti.e proceedings had been somewhat in-
teresting, though not tending to any specific result. To
the resolution offered by Mr. Crittenden, to the effect
that no notice should be given to the British Government
relative to the Oregon territory till after the present
session of Congress, in order that time may be afforded
fer amicable settlement, which was generally considered
as inviting conciliation and compromise, Mr. Magnum
gave notice of an amendment, to the effect that the said
notice, when given, be accompanied by a proposition from
the United States Government to submit the dispute to
the arbitration of competent persons, whose decision shall
be binding. The amendment was ordered to be printed.
A notice by Mr. Allen on the 20th ult., for leave to in-
troduce a resolution declaratory of the principle by which
the United States will be governed in regard to the inter-
ference of foreign powers with the independent govern-
ments of America, was laid on the table, by a vote of 28
to 23. Mr. Allen brought the subject forward again on
the 26th, when a warm discussion ensued, in the cot.rse
of which General Cash made another of his flourishing
war speeches, and Mr. Allen attacked Mr. Calhoun, who
replied temperately, showing the effect which such a de-
claration, uncalled for at the present time, would have on
the European powers, with whom it was, in consideration
of their position with respect to England, important to
cultivate friendly relations. The resolutions were ulti-
mately admitted by a majority of twenty-six to twenty.
one, and were referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations. It is believed that the committee will return
them, and that they will be laid on the table, on the
ground, as a writer in one of the papers shrewdly:observes,
that the United States are not in a position at this junc-
ture to declare war against all the nations of Europe.
On the 21st, a bill, introduced by Mr. Fairfield, to aug-
ment the navy by appropriating 5,625,000 dollars to toe
'building of ten war steamers, and for other purposes, was
brought forward. It was rejected as a war measure, but
again brought up on the 27th, and discussed with anima-
tion. According to a statement from the navy department
it appeared that the United States had only two sea-going
steamers, and this was urged as an argument for the bill.
Mr. Benton opposed the bill vehemently. He said there
was every indication of peace; but Mr. Dickinson, of
New York, while he admitted that the late intelligence
was pacific, advocated the bill as a peace measure. The
question was resumed on the 28th, and was contested with
still more vehemence, the war party still insisting cn the
necessity of the addition from the immediate prospect of
contest.

The subject of the negotiations with England relative
to the Oregon territory was before the House on the 26th,
but without result. Mr Speight (" the tallest, man in
Congress ") made a sensible speech in favour of peace
and economy, and declared that the failure of Lord John
Russell to form a Cabinet, on the express ground that
Lord Palmerston, who was hostile to America, was ob-
noxious to Lord Grey, was news which it made his heart
glad to hear. This single fact regarding the attempted
change in the Cabinet, he said, was conclusive of peace.
In the House of Representatives the question of the
notice to England on the Oregon territ,:ry had been dis-
cussed in a desultory manner, as though i s interest had
subsided. A motion that the Oregon resolution be taken
out of committee on the 7th February. was lost by 84 to
52, as it required a vote of two.thirde. Mr. Hal es, in
a long and able speech, contended, from a variety of data,
that the United States had no claim to the Oregon which
was not equally held by this country.
A writer in one of the papers, of the 31st, in concluding
a review of the state of parties in Congress, says, " The
probable prospect of the present state of things at Wa.-h-
-ington is highly favourable to a peaceable termination of
our difficulties with England, of the success of liberal
principles in commerce and currency, and the probable
triumph of the measures brought forward by Mr. Polk."
Rumours were prevalent that Mr. Buchanan, secretary
of state, has resigned, and that the seals would be resumed
by Mr. Colhoun.
The weather had been very severe. At Utica on the
20th, the thermometer stood at 20, 23, and 21 degrees
below zero.
The advices from Canada are to the 27th ult. Contracts
for the erection of fortifications at Kingston have been
declared. The works will cost £60,000. The papers state
that despatches had been received announcing the appoint-
ment of Lord Cathcart as Governor-general.
The express from the government Of the United States,
bearing to the authorities of Texas the accepta;.c, of her
constiiution by congress, reached Galvestm; C;. the 12'1,
ult.. when Preside.,t Jones immediately is,oeil a pi ocla-
mation convening the legislature of the state to meet at
Austin, on the 16th instant, to organise a state goverh-
ment.
The news from Mexico is to 3d January, three days

later than that brought by the West India Mail. It fully
confirms the intelligence of the new revolution, under
Paredes. That revolution was complete. Paredes had
entered the city of Mexico, and was forming his Ministry
or Cabinet. There were reports that Mr. Slidell, the new
American Minitter, had been murdered by a Mexican
bandit, but they are disbelieved.

WEST INDIES

The Royal Mail steam-ship Trent arrived at South-
ampton on Monday, with the West India mail. Among
the passengers is Lieut. Peel, (son of the premier,) who
is the bearer of important despatches from Vera Cruz.
There is no particular news from Jamaica. The
weather had been somewhat unsettled, rains and severe
storms having been very frequent. Lord Elgin had pro-
rogued the House of Assembly in a very friendly and ex-
cellent speech on the 31st of December. The Spanish
Town Railway was realising the expectations of every one
to the fullest extent. Other lines had been determined
upon and sanctioned by the legislature, which will, it was
confidently anticipated, give increased stimulus to the
commerce of the island.

Fine weather had prevailed in the Windward Islands.
The crops throughout were very favourable, and much
good was expected to result from the various railroads in
contemplation.

Sir Charles A. Fitzroy has been gazetted Governor of
New South Wales.

Information has reached from the west coast of Africa

that the Hydra steam-sloop, Commander Young, has
captured a slaver, on board of which were 1,100 slaves.
ALGERIA.—The news from Algeria, which is of a dis-
couraging character, occupies the French prints. One of
the journals says :—" A great mortality reigns at present
among the French troops in the three provinces of Al-
giers, Oran. and Constantine. The hospital are crowded,
and more than 600 soldiers sank under the effects of fever
and dysentery in the province of Algiers alone, during the
month of December last."

IBRAHIM PACHA'S SUGAR REFINERY.—The Egyp-
tian correspondent of the Times says—" It is confidently
expected that Egypt will derive great benefit from Ibra-
him Pacha's visit to Europe, and that he will introduce
many improvements in the country on his return. After
inspecting the sugar refinery of the Marquis Forbin Jan-
son, at Marseilles, finding, on inquiry, that the per ten-
tage of refined sugar obtained there was greater than that
obtained at his own works at Rhoda, his highness wrote
to order an investigation of the cause to be made, and
also engaged three Frenchmen to superintend the press-
ing and refinery. Ibrahim Paella's sugar manufactory at
Rhoda, in Upper Egypt, produces annually about 700
tons of sugar, which is all consumed in the country, and
his highness is now setting up a second one at Farchout,
near Keneb, which he expects will produce the same
quantity. A fine species of dark cane, from Jamaica, has
lately been introduced into Egypt, and thrives remarkably
well."

INCREDIBLE STORY.—" A letter from Hamburgh of
the 30th ult.," says the Paris Constitutionnel, "details
the following adventure, which lately took place at the
Court of Berlin The King of Prussia having ordered
a grand hunt to be organized between Berlin and the for-
tress of Spandau, all the sportsmen of the Court ac-
cordingly assembled at the place of rendezvous at three
o'clock on the day fixed. At the head of these was
the Prince Royal, brother of the King. His Majesty not
arriving, the Prince showed signs of impatience ; and,
after waiting for an hour, ordered the grand hunts-
man to commence the hunt. The latter, however, ven-
tured respectfully to point out to his Royal Highness
the risk he would run of incurring his Majesty's dis-
pleasure by so doing. The Prince replied that he would
take the responsibility on himself, and the hunt accord-
ingly commenced. The King shortly afterwards arrived,
and, highly indignant, sent for the grand huntsman
(master of the hounds). Arrived in the royal presence,
he was about to explain that it was in accordance with the
orders of the Prince Royal that he had acted ; but before
he had time to open his mouth, he experienced from the
King the most flagrant outrage—His Majesty spat in his
face. The first movement of the grand huntsman was to
place his hand on his sword, upon which the King drew
back. The huntsman then took a small pistol from his
belt, and placing it to his own head, blew out his own
brains.' " _ _

A NEW PROJECTILE.—Mr. M'Cartey, who is con-
nected with the navy-yard at Brooklyn (U.S.) has in-
vented a new species of artillery, which will discharge
thirty balls in a minute, or one every two seconds, for
hours together, in succession, and this by mechanical
power alone, without gunpowder, chemical substance, or
any other preparation. It is effected by merely putting
the balls into a hopper, and letting the ordnance throw
them out with immense momentum at the rate of one
every two seconds. On one occasion, Mr. M'Cartey ex-
hibited the operation of this in tte navy-yard. From
twelve to twenty pieces of solid timber were united to-
gether, forming one compact body. Against this piece of
wooded breastwork Mr. M'Cartey opened the battery of
his piece of ordnance, and in less than ten minutes the
whole solid breastwork was utterly demolished and
shivered to splinters by the powerful and rapid succession
of discharges upon it. The simplicity of this invention is
one of its most singular features. The principle of this
new invention is simply a modification of the principle
of the sling, applied to machinery, in connexion with a
tube or gun, throwing out a discharge of balls. The ma-
chine is so constructed that on putting in at one end the
balls to be discharged, a rotary motion is produced by
means of a crank, and, by a few rapid revolutions, each
ball receives a force and momentum equal to that com-
municated by any quantity of gunpowder. When this
has been done, a slide starts and allows each ball to escape
in succession from the chamber into a tube, when they
are thrown to almost any distance, and with unerrine aim.
For this invention a patent has been taken out at Wash-
ington.—New York Herald.

INDIA.—The mail from India, via Marseilles, long
overdue, brought no letters or despatches from the Go- I
vernor-General. It is known, however, from the most I
unquestionable authority, that the advanced guard of the
British army was attacked, on the evening of the 18th of
December, by the Sikh troops. The enemy was repulsed
and driven back for upwards of three miles, with the loss
of 17 pieces of cannon. This affair occurred at Moodkee,
a place about twenty-two miles to the north-east of Fero-
zepore. The next day the British troops advanced to-
wards Ferozepore, an. 3, having opened a communication
with Sir John Littler, who commanded at that post, and
having been joined by the corps under that officer, at-
tacked the enemy's entrenched position at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon of the 21st. The first line of intrenctiments
was carried ; but the night was so dark that further ope-
rations were suspended. At daylight, on the 22d, the
second line of entrenchment, was attacked, and all the
enemy's defences were, in half an hour, taken in reverse,
and the guns captured. On the afternoon of the 22d the
enemy advanced with their infantry, and hordes of camels
carrying swivels, for the purpose of retaking the guns
they had previously lost. All the attacks, however, which
they made were repulsed ; and after a cannonade, which
had no result, they withdrew, and retired to a place called
Sultankbanwalla, about ten miles from Ferozepore, where
they had still some heavy artillery. The British army
would be joined by two battalions of native infantry,
which were not in the previous actions, and the enemy's
position at Sultankbanwalla was to be attacked on the
24th. No accounts have been received of the specific loss
on either side, nor is the name of any officer mentioned.
The captured guns amounted to 65 counted, and there
were some more in the village on the British right.
DISCOVERY OF COPPER MINES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
—By the last arrival, which brings papers from Adelaide
to the 7th of October, it appears that valuable copper
mines hive been discovered in the colony of South Aus-
tralia. A special survey of 20,000 acres has been secured
by the combined efforts of a number of the colonists, who
have paid £20,000, in terms of the last act, for regulating
sales of land in the Australian colonies. By this purchase
a district of that extent has been obtained singularly rich
in copper ore. A scientific report given in the Colonial
Gazette says, " We found a continuous outcrop of gray
sulphuret of copper exhibited on the surface, averaging
about eighteen feet in breadth, and extending over the
brow of the bill, and down again to the south eastern base
or gully, more than a mile in length. Where this dis-
appeared in the gully, we saw a broad and beautiful dis-
play of azure-blue carbone of copper, intermixed with
quartz, cropping out through the surface, and traceable
for upwards of 200 paces, exposing an average breadth of
about fifteen feet. At this place we opened the ground
about three or four feet, and found the most favourable
indications of a large and regular lode being near at hand
—abundance of " gossan" presented itself, and masses of
spar, containing highly crystalline carbonate of copper,
were frequently encountered. We then proceeded higher
up the hill, and found, at different elevations, three other
distinct and well-defined traces of ore : indeed the hills
appeared to be full of it !—almost every stone we picked
up betrayed, either directly or inlerentially the presence
of rich copper lodes. A fragment, struck off at random
from the corner of a large quartz boulder, exhibited no
less than three varieties of ore—the gray sulphuret, the
blue carbonate, and the copper pyrite's ; and we could
scarcely move a step without observing some kind of
mineralogical evidence, indicating the proximity of metal•
liferous veins." The Colonial Gazette remarks: "We
are aware that in this country it is considered an unfa-
vourable symptom when metallic lodes crop out on the
surface of the ground ; but in South Australia it is other-
wise. Short as has been the experience of the colonists
in mining operations, it has been sufficient to show that
this rule of judging does not apply to the minerals in that
country." The South Australian Gazette, of the fol-
lowing week, in closing a long article on the subject,
says, " It would be ridiculous to assert, that all the cop-
per ores found within the district are of equal value ; but
we are assured that the very worst surface specimens have
on assay never yielded less than 32 pi r cent. of pure
metal."

SPOTTING INTELLIGENCE.

HEREFORD GRAND STEEPLE CHASE,
THURSDAY, FEB. 12.
The Handicap of 25 sovs. each, with 100 added, was
won by Mr. Preston's Brunette, beating Cracksman and
Little Tommy.
A Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, 3 miles, was won be Mr
G. Moseley's Jerry, beating Gipsy Queen and the Mer-
chant.
The Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each were won, in three
heats, by Mr. Turner's Brewood beating Delamore and
two ()thus.

Foor RActi.-03 Monday, a foot race I);!.;‘,%cen Pet: r
i Melrose and the Young Sportsman came Moffat the (.Ira; et,.
120 varN. 13. lore