The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-02 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

to establish thefact that the reductions hitherto 'elide in
the amount of 'commercial protection had not been inju-
rious to the interests relative to which those reductions
were made. `''With respect to our becoming independent
of foreign cotntries, he contended that the constant in-
crease in the, quantity of foreign corn taken into our home
consamptior was a sufficient proof that even under the
existing law we were not independent Of foreign supply.
The fact was, however, that we were dependent upon fo-
reigners fbr not only our food, but for the means even of
clothing and existence, as was evident'from a mere glance
at our cotton manufactures. What would become of our
manufacturing population if we wereto exclude the cotton
of America ? The same might be said of wool and other
articles ; and it was absurd, therefore, to raise the ques-
tion in respect to food exclusively, when it was, in fact,
equally applicable to the means of purchasing it. The
noble earl also adverted to the averages, which he said
gave a fictitious idea of price owing to the difference of
quality, as was evident from a comparison between the
price given by them and that at which you could really
buy 'the best wheat in the market. In fact, the contract
price at the Victualling-office, this year, was, for the best
red wheat £3 I Is., although the price given by the ave •
rages 'was only £2 10s. He concluded a lengthened
speech by a defence of the course pursued by the Govern-
ment, every member of which regretted that the attempt
of Lord John Russell to form an snlministration to carry
the measure had proved a failure. They would, however,
have been traitors to their Sovereign and to their own
convictions if they hesitated after that failure to act pre-
cisely as they had done, and -although they might be
doomed to bow before the indignation of their party, they
could at least stand erect before a higher tribunal.
The Duke of BEAUFORT next addressed the house in
opposition to the bill, but owing to the noise in the body
of the house he was but indistinctly heard in the gallery.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said it was painful to him
to have to force this measure upon the consideration of
the house, in opposition to the feelings of those with whom
he had been so long, and with such satisfaction to himself,
united in ties of friendship. The course he had taken,
however, he would be ready to take again to-morrow, if
called upon by what he conceived to be his duty to the
Crown. His own conscience was satisfied, and he could
only regret it if others did not take the same view he did
of his duty to his most gracious Sovereign.
The house then divided, and the numbers were—
Fox the second reading—
Present ......

Proxies

Total ,
For the amendment,

- 211

Present
Proxies

- 164

Majority for the second reading.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Sir R. PEEL stated, that on Friday after the recess he
would move that the house proceed with the estimates in
committee of supply. On the following Monday he would
move the second reading of the Protection of Life (Ire-
land) Bill ; and if that should be disposed of by Friday,
the 12th of June, he should then move the sugar duties.

Mr. J. O'CONNELL said that he would move an amend-
ment to the Protection of Life (Ireland) Bill on every
evening when the order of the day for its consideration
should be moved.

Mr. FIUME was surprised the right hon. baronet should
suffer this bill to interfere with the important business of
the country. He ought to postpone the measure until
the matters more immediately pressing should have been
disposed of.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then brought
forward his financial statement for the ensuing year in a
committee of ways and means, the chief points of which
were to the following purport. Last year an income of
£19,760,000 had been anticipated, but the amount realised
was over £52,250,000, independent of the money from
China, a strong proof of the beneficial policy of reducing
protective duties. The only great source of income which
had declined was that of the property and income tax,
but even this declension was to be attributed to repay-
ments made to parties who were entitled to such returns
of money previously paid into the Exchequer. He might
take the receipts of the ensuing year at £52,090,000, and
the expenditure at £49,400,000 in round numbers, leav-
ing a surplus of over £2,350,000. The Customs produced
last year £19,760,000. A reduction of duties had, how.
ever, taken place to the extent of £1,041,000. This re-
duction, however, he hoped would be counterbalanced by
the increased consumption which might not unreasonably
be expected. If, therefore, they to k the loss at two-
fifths of the whole sum repealed, the amount would
be about £400,000, leaving the amount to be antici-
pated from the Customs at .£19,300,000. He thought,
however, that the trade of the country was in such
a progressive state of improvement, that they might
calculate upon an increase which would leave the
sum to be really anticipated from the customs, after these
reductions, at £19,500,000. In the excise there had been
also large reductions last year, leading to a certain amount
of loss, but although some duties had been altogether re-
pealed, the duties fell only £lOO,OOO below what they had
been in the previous year. He anticipated from the stamp
duties about £7,400,000, being about £260,000 less than
last year, the deduction being estimated to accrue owing
to less transactions in railways. The assessed and land
taxes he would take at £4,230,000, and the property tax
at the same amount as last year, £5,100,000. In the post-
office department there had been a large increase of reve-
nue, but he would take it at £850,000 for the ensuing year,
being an increase of only £60,000. Including the revenue
from the crown lands the total receipts would be
£50,955,000, to which might be added a further sum of
over £700,000 from China. The total result would be
that the estimated income of the country for the ensuing
year would be, in round numbers, £51,650,000, while the
expenditure would be only £49,400,000, leaving a dis-
posable surplus of nearly £2,200,000—a surplus nearly
equal to that of last year, notwithstanding all the reduc-
tions in both customs and excise which had been carried
out. There were, however, certain additions to the esta-
blishments of the country, and more particularly in the
naval department and the armament of our shipping, which
would appropriate a considerable portion of this sur-
plus. The charge for the debt last year was £28,200,000 ;
this year it was only £28,10C,000; but this advan-
tage was counterbalanced by the increased charges
on the Consolidated Fund, arising from the advances
requisite to be made for the promotion of public works
in Ireland. There was an increase in the estimates for
the navy as compared with those of last year of between
five and six hundred thousand pounds. In the ordnance
estimates there was an increase of about £400,000, which,
with the additional charges in the miscellaneous estimates,
would make a total charge of about £20,198,000. This
added to the charge for the public debt, &c., would give
a total expenditure of over X 50,760,000. The result would
be, that there would be a surplus of only £776,000., of
which £700,000 was derived from China. The right hon.
gentleman then proceeded to show the advantages derived
by the country from the policy pursued by the present
government, which had not only placed the finances of
the country upon a firm and substantial basis, but which
had, while reducing customs and excise duties, in every
direction, actually reduced the expenditure by one million
and a half ! In 1842, when they entered office, the charge
on the consolidated fund for the interest of the debt, &c.,
was £29,567,000, while for this year it would not exceed
the sum of £28,129,000, a difference of no less than
£1,436,000. It was true that in the shape of property tax,
&c., the government had imposed burdens to the extent
of £5,600,000 ; but, on the other hand, they had reduced
customs and excise duties to the extent of over £8,200,000,
which left a balance of reduced taxation to the amount of
over £2,500,000, and all these results, from which the
country had derived such essential benefits, bad been
brought about without the slightest derangement of any
of the great interests of the country. The right hon.
gentleman concluded by moving the usual resolutions.
A desultory conversation ensued, in the course of which
Mr. F. Baring, Mr. Hume, Lord G. Bentinck, Mr. Card-
well, Mr. C. Wood, &c., gave their opinions of the finan-
cial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after
which the resolutions were agreed to.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

ARRIVAL OF THE_CAMBRIA..-WAR BETWEEN
MEXICO ANDiTIIIi UNITED STATES. -

The Cambria steamer arrived on Thursday in her usual
style, thus silencing the many absurd rumours regarding
her outward trip. She came up channel with extraordinary
speed, her commander, Captain Judkins, passing tele-
gragh signals that war had been declared between Mexico
and the United States.

The most prominent item of news by the Cambria is the
actual commencement of hostilities between the United
Slates and Mexico. The justly•irritated state of public
feeling in Mexico since she was despoiled by the " Model
Republic" of her fairest province, has all along led us to
suppose that war would be the final result, and that result
is now brought about.
We learn by this arrival that hostilities between the two
countries have commenced. In the first action now re-
corded only a small number of troops were engaged, but
the Americans suffered a defeat. It seems that a recon-
noitring party of United States soldiers approached the
Mexican camp, and were suddenly surprised by the Mexi-
can advanced guard. Some 13 or 15 of the Americans
were killed, six wounded, and about 50 taken prisoners.
This has produced a War Message from the President,
and a War Proclamation.

Congress has backed the President, and passed bills for
an increase of 7000 men to the regular army and volun-
teers to be enrolled, to a number not exceeding 50,000
additional. A sum of ten millions of dollars has also been
appropriated. The vote for these bills was almost unani-
mous in the Senate, there being only two dissentients ;
and the majority in the Representatives was also great.
In order to convey a more correct knowledge of events
we endeavour to give a narrative of events in order of
occurrence from the date of our previous advices. By the
last arrival we mentioned the fact that Colonel Cross, an
American officer, was missing from his camp. Since that
time his body has been found, and had apparently been
pierced by a lance. It was supposed that he had been
robbed and murdered. This, of course. the Mexicans
disavowed ; but as no steps appeared to have been taken
to discover and punish the murderer, the affair tended to
increase the hostile feelings between the parties.
The geographical position of General Taylor's camp, on
the left bank of the Rio Grande, is 90 miles distant from
the coast by the channel of the Rio Grande, but only
40 miles by the land route to Point Isabel. the mouth of
the Rio Grande (10 miles south of Point Isabel) has only
seven feet of water at the h gbest tide. In a heavy sea
the navigation is very dangerous, vessels often taking four
or five days to beat over the bar, and the Mexican shore
commands the channel effectually. The current of this
river runs at ten miles an hour in some places, and the
water is fresh nearly to the bar. His supplies by this
avenue would, therefore, be exposed to great delay, and
to the interference of the Mexicans, unless protected by
armed vessels. The entrance to Point Isabel, however, is
accessible for ships of large draught, at all seasons. The
coast in that vicinity is lined with small islands of sand,
thrown up by the sea, between which and the main land
are navigable sounds or bays called Lagunas. Point Isa-
bel is a high sand bluff projecting into the Laguna del
Madre, the gulf entrance of the latter being at the south
point of the Isla del Padre. The city of Mataaioras was
commanded by American batteries on the side of the river
opposite. _ _

We find, by reference to the official return of the Adju-
tant-General of the United States army. on the 26th of
November last, that the troops then in Texas under the
command of Brigadier-General Taylor consisted of the
2d Regiment of Dragoons, 10 companies,-16 companies
of Artillery, consisting of four companies from each of the
four Regiments,—and the 3d, 4th, sth, 7th, and Bth entire
Regiments of Infantry. This force consisted of commis-
sioned officers 346, non-commissioned officers, musicians,
artificers, and privates, 3733; total 4079. To make up
the whole complement of the several corps, 3G6 recruits
were required, showing the nominal force of this part of
the army to be 4445, which number, deducted from the
whole nominal force of the American army, leaves for the
strength of the corps now in Texas 4171 men. It thus
appears that more than half the army of the United
States is now in Texas. The force there had not been
augmented since the occupation of the country previous
to the collision with the Mexican troops. The Mexican
encampment at last accounts was in the vicinity of Meta-
moras, but the number of the army has been variously
stated. Before the commencement of hostilities, it was
estimated at about 4000 men, but since all accounts agree
that it was underrated. The latest New Orleans papers
furnish no accurate intelligence of its position or numbers :
the dread evinced by the officers of the American army
lest they should be cut off, would lead us to suppose the
Mexican force greatly superior.
For nearly a fortnight preceding the 24th April, the two
armies lay entrenched in their camps, watching each
other's movements. No open act of hostility was com-
mitted during that time. General Taylor is represented
to have been lulled into a false security by representations
that parties of lawless marauders, outlawed by Mexico,
infested the woods in the vicinity of his camp ; and the
disavowal of the murders committed upon several Ameri-
can officers, led him to neglect that watchfulness over the
enemy's movements which reconnoitring parties alone can
accomplish. Upon that day information reached him that
a large body of Mexican troops, variously estimated at
from one to four thousand, had crossed the Rio Grande at
Camago, a place about 2.) miles up the river, and report
instantly assigned their purpose to be that of intercepting
General Taylor's communication with his supplies at
Point Isabel. He therefore dispatched a detachment of
dragoons for information. This detachment was fired
upon, about sixteen were killed. and the remainder made
prisoners, at a distance of about twenty-two miles from
General Taylor's camp. With this statement our record
of facts ends.

We have no authentic accounts from the army of a
later date than the above. By this it will he observed
that the exact position of the Mexican troops had not
been ascertained, or if ascertained, not stated, up to that
date. It is not known in what force the Mexicans crossed
the Rio Grande, their destination, or object in crossing,
or whether it was merely a scouting party, an advanced
guard, or the main body of the Mexican troops, with
which the Americans had come in collision. All state-
ments of the position of the Mexicans going beyond the
above are matters of conjecture merely.
It appears that Brigadier Gen. Worth resigned his com-
mission in the army on account of some difference of opi-
nion on the score of rank. He has since been induced to
withdraw his resignation, and return to the seat of war.

The Mexican Government is said to have sold its two
war steamers, the Montezuma and the Guadalupe, to
Manning and Mlntosh, an English house. Ihe price is
said to have been 640,000 dollars. Various speculations
were indulged in as to the object of this sale. The steam-
ers were to proceed immediately to llavannah—some re-
ports say to bring over the Spanish prince destined to fill
the throne of Mexico ; others as confidently predict that
Santa Anna would return in one of them, and in a few
weeks, too. Another report is to the effect that the sale
is a mere sham, to protect them from the United States
cruisers, and that they would soon reappear as privateers :
at last accounts they atill remained at Vera Cruz.

The important intelligence of the commencement of
hostilities was received in New Orleans on the morning
of May the 2d, and produced great excitement. The
Governor of Louisiana soon issued his proclamation re-
quiring 2,500 volunteers, and many were soon in the
streets making active preparations for their departure.
But the ardour soon subsided, and at last accounts the
requisite number had not enlisted, and it was supposed a
draft would be made on the militia to supply the defi-
ciency. The cause of the hesitation appears to be the
dread of the sickly season on the banks of the Rio Grande,
and the tardiness of the government in paying the troops
which enlisted some time since for the same service.
With more than one-half of the available military force of
the country under his command, he is still in a position
which excites serious alarm all over the United States.

The American squadron in the Gulf of Mexico consists
of the flag-ship, Raritan (first class frigate), the frigates
Potomac and Cumberland; the sloops of war John Adams
and St. Mary's ; the brig Lawrence and schooner Flirt ;
and the steam-frigate Mississippi. The steam propellor
Princeton and other vessels were on their way to join the
fleet. On the west, or Pacific side of Mexico, are the
Constitution and Savannah, first-class frigates ; sloops of
war Levant, Portsmouth, and Warren ; the schooner
Shark, and store-ship Erie. The frigate Congress was
expected there about May 1.
A vigorous blockade was instituted off the port of Ma-
tamoras, on the 12th of April, by the United States brig
Lawrence and schooner Flirt. A number of vessels of all
nations have since been turned back, but we have the
names of the Americans only. Formal protests have been
made by British houses in New Orleans, before the Eng-
lish consul, as some of them bad shipped goods on board
the schooners Equity and Florida, which were among the
number excluded. It is confidently stated that the block-
ade was against all national law, and that claims for
damage will hold. A Mexican prize was sent into Port
Isabel, about the 26th of April.