The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-20 00:00:00

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Monday Night.,
The West India question has been the most engrossing
topic on 'Change to-day, and the most conflicting opinions
have been expressed as to the probable efficiency or inef-
ficiency of the government measures. The Free-traders
have taken the alarm, and protest against the conduct of
Lord John Russell as being retrograde, as of course every
proceeding will be considered by them which does not tend
to the utter annihilation of our prospects of colonial re-
generation. On the other hand, only one opinion pre-
vails amongst those best acquainted with the nature of
our West Indian connexions, which is that of most un-
qualified disapprobation, as puerile and inapplicable, of
anything yet put forth by the premier for the amelioration
of the existing embarrassments. Meanwhile the produce
market is stagnant, waiting the issue of to-night's parlia-
mentary proceedings, on which account also the West
India mail has been further detained, letters for which
will be in time to-morrow morning. Business gene-
rally is very depressed. The cotton trade seems in-
capable of recovering itself; prices having again receded,
are lower than ever. The funds have also lost their up-
ward tendency, and from 843 on Tuesday last, declined on
Wednesday to 823, from which they recovered a little be-
fore the close, and on the following days. On Satur-
day the market opened at previous prices, but there was a
tendency to dulness until the news was received of the
calmer state of Paris, consequent en the resignation by
Prince Louis Napoleon of his seat in the Assembly. The
first quotation for the opening was 83i. to 4, and they.
closed at that price, after having temporarily receded to
833 to I.
SHARES have been very dull all the week, and prices
have varied very little. London Stock and Midland Stock
have declined each Ll since this day week ; other cre-
ations in like proportion. London 1-shares, which have
long been too high, are fast declining to a discount; these
once quoted £l7 pm. are to-day unsaleable at 17s. pm.,
and are dear at this, seeing they pay only 4 per cent. on
calls, while Midland -1-shares, paying 5 per cent., are Ok
discount (.El5 paid)—the latter line, too, is the more
likely of the two, to maintain a steady dividend. Of our
local Stocks we have only had an inquiry for Royal As-
surance; these are quoted a fraction higher, and much
wanted. Fire and Life Shares and Gas Shares are a drug
just now ; both though are very cheap at the prices at
which they may be had. Bank of Liverpool are in good
demand, and more than the nominal price would be given.
The TIMBER trade continues in a depressed state, and
the country demand is very limited, with very little pros
pect of an immediate improvement. The arrivals since
our last are three vessels, 1728 tons, from British America.
The sales consist of a cargo of good St. John's yellow pine.
la} inches average, at 17d. per foot, with a bonus to the
purchaser equal to about ?ed. per foot ; a cargo of smaller
average, at 161-d. per foot ; a small cargo St. Stepherrs
spruce deals, at £8 ss. per standard ; a large cargo of good
specification, at £8 ss. ; and a smaller one at £8 per
standard ; an old cargo of Quebec yellow pine, at 134-d.
per foot, and one of last year's import at 14d. per foot.
There continues a disinclination on the part of the
holders to sell Sugars. and the sales since Thursday last
are but trifling, say 200 hhds. Barbadoes, 50 hhds. Anti-
guas, and a few Bengals ; to-day rather more business
might have been done at previous prices, but merchants
will not sell unless at an advance. The measure proposed
by government has given generally great dissatisfaction.
Rum and Molasses very quiet. Jute continues to meet
with a ready sale ; 650 bales, by auction, went at
£l4 2s. 6d. to £l5 7s. 6d., being full prices. Rather
more inquiry for Saltpetre, 500 bags 5 0-0 refraction have -
been sold at 265. 3d. per cwt.—The amount of busi-
ness transacted in the London markets has been
less than usual, owing to the uncertainty as to the•
intentions of Government on the West India ques-
tion. The sugar market has been very moderately sup-
plied by the importers, while at the same time the grocers
and refiners have shown considerable disinclination to
' purchase. British Plantation descriptions have in all in-
stances been very firmly held, and full prices have been
obtained by the importers; but with respect to foreign,
some few parcels have been realised at a reduction of-
about 6d. to is. per cwt.
The Corroer Market has again been characterised br
great dulness during the week, and although there bas
been a better demand for export, purchases for the trade
have fallen off, and we must report a reduction generally
in American of kel. per lb., and in Brazil of Zd. to id. per
lb. ; Surat and Egyptian without alteration. The mar-
ket TO-DAY, however, has been rather firmer, although no
quotable variation in price eventuated ; the sales were 5000
bales, of which 1000 Americans and 500 Pernambucos were
taken for export, and 3000 for speculation. The import
for the week ending the 16th iustant was small, amounting
only to 13,876, which, with the stock nreviously, deduct-
ing 25,800, the sales of the week, makes 500,779 present
stock, which is 1536 bales more than at same time last
year. The stock of American is 346,235, being 23,145
less than at this period last year.
In our report of the Wool. Market last week, although
the whole of our information was derived from authentic
sources, a partial error was inserted. 'We stated—
" The public sales advertised for the 20th will, it is expected,
be postponed for the present, as part will not be landed in time.''
Now, as this notice was calculated to act injuriously to
the interests of Mr. Abram Gartside, whose sale will take
place this day, as will be seen on reference to our ad-
vertising columns, we hasten to set the trade right in this
particular, although it is but justice to state also that
Messrs. W. Greame and Co. announce a sale for Thurs-
day.—The near approach of these sales has prevented any-
thing being done by private contract iu almost any class
of wools. The result will give a tone to our market.—
Imports for the week :—Foreign, 135 ; previously, 43,382.
Scotch, 130; previously, 6,598.
The Scotch Pig IRON Market continues without anima-
tion—quotations are about the same as last week, say
425. 6d. prompt cash, for No. 1, at Glasgow.
The prices of TOBACCO continua the same as last week.
The- improvement which took place at our CORN-
EXCHANGE on Friday in Wheat and Indian Corn is still
sustained here, and the English and Irish markets have
generally participated in the advance; whilst all other
articles have experienced little variation in price, but may
be noted the turn lower. Imports into this port since
Thursday :—Wheat, Ireland, 44 qrs. ; Coastwise, 800
qrs.: Barley, Coastwise, 28 qrs.: Malt, Ireland, 10 qrs. :
Oats, Ireland, 43 qrs.; into Runcorn, Ireland and Coast-
wise, 400 qrs.: Indian Corn Meal, Coastwise, 50 brls. :
Oatmeal, Ireland, 40 loads : Flour, Ireland, 326 sacks
62 brls. ; Coastwise, 70 sacks. Exports :—Barley, Coast-
wise, 25 qrs. : Indian Corn, Ireland, 1095 qrs. : Indian
Corn Meal, Ireland, 1038 brls. : Flour, Ireland, 40 sacks
100 brls. • Coastwise, 150 sacks 330 barrels.

. _
Very little animation has been displayed in the AMERI-
CAN PROVISION Trade since our last notice, The Beef
on the market is mostly of the better class, for which there
is not much inquiry, the trade being unwilling to purchase
at the prices demanded. The bulk of the " Prime Mess"
Pork, of which we have now a fair supply, is of a quality
not much liked ; a choice parcel of " Mess" has been sold
at the highest quotation, but very good parcels are selling
at the lowest; and in " Prime" there is little doing. The
attendance of country buyers at the Bacon sale on Tuesday
was small, and a limited business was transacted ; but
extensive operations have taken place since, and the mar-
ket has been nearly cleared : this article is likely to be
taken largely into consumption, the present prices being
20s. per cwt. under those of/last year. There is a good
demand for Hams in dry salt; parcels of ordinary quality
have been taken at 335. to 405., and a very fine parcel at
465. Shoulders are also much inquired after, and everything
offered has realized from 245. to 28s. Only a small quan-
tity of Lard was disposed of at the last weekly sale, when
a reduction of is to is. 6d. per cwt. was submitted to; a
fair business has been done, however, by private, and
better prices obtained. The following are the current
quotations :-
Cheese-(duty paid)-Fine, 48s to 52s per cwt. ; middling,
43s to 46s ; ordinary, 33s to 425. Beef-U.S. (free)-Prime
mess, per tree. 3041 b., 85s to 92s 6d ; ordinary, 76s to 83s, old
COs to 68s; extra, India, family, &c., 97s to 1053; ditto, per
half-barrel, 308 to 355;-mess, per barrel, 2001 b., 50s to 568;
ordinary, 40s to 465, old 36s to 40s; prime, 34s to 365. Pork-
U.S. (free)-Prime mess, 55s to 655, old 45s to 50s per barrel,
2001 b. ; prime, 40s to 455, old 35s to 40s; mess, family mess,
&c., 4w8e55tt0en,55,5,30651dt400456t50.4.5110.
ulßdearcson-22(free)28-SE,
per cwt. Hants-Dried, '(duty paid,) -s
to
perdclvt ;
in salt, (free,)Bacon-n's-tos-t.os
bar-
rels, 42s to 44$ per cwt. ; good, in do. do., 386 ,
to middling, 37s 6d to 38s ; inferior, and grease,. 28s
.to 34a.
Butter-Grease. (free,) 405 to 45s per cwt. Pilot Biscuit--
(duty paid)-158 to 20s per cwt.
32s to 488. Lard-(free)-Fine, ino weso.s
ordinary
nary The demand for IRISH Butter is well-nigh annihilated
by the continued influx of fresh butter into our country
markets, and prices have further declined 2s. to 3s. per
cwt. The arrivals are large for the season, and comprise
for the week ending this day, 7,983 firkins and 1,752
crocks. Bacon meets with a slow sale, American at low
rates having the advantage. There is some inquiry nom'
for Hams ; and Lard is steady. Prices to-day (landed in
Liverpool) :-
Butter: Waterford, new, 86s. to 88s. ; Kilkenny, Carlow, and
Clonmel, 86s. to 87s. ; Carrick, new, 86s. to 87s. ; Cork 'Dry,
Thirds, 80s.; Wexford, Carlow, 86s. to 87s. ; Ballymoney and
Coleraine, 83s. to 84s. ; Banbridge, Os. to 83s. ; Newry and
Dundalk, 765. to 80s.; Londonderry, 80s. to 823.-Bacon:
Long Middles, free from bone, new, 565. to 58s. ; Short
Middles, ditto, ditto, 585.-Lard: Lard, Fine Keg, 508. to 525.

The return from the Bank of England for the week end
in the 10th inst. states the amount of notes in circulation
at £17,626,960, being a decrease of £152,445 ; and the
stock of bullion in both departments at £13,839,926,
showing an increase of £242,720 when compared with the
preceding return.
It appears by the results of mining meetings given in
the Mining Journal, that the Jamaica (Welsh) Company
have distributed dividends in the course of the year
amounting to £5,700, while Wheal Setan Mine has also
declared a dividend of £l5 per share, and Wheal Mar-
garet Mine a dividend of £8 per share.
The accounts from Breslau state that the wool sales are
going on steadily. Some extensive, German
_manufac-
turers had bought largely, from ' patriotism," as they
said, and to find employment for their workpeople, but
the principal purchases were by English and Hamburgh
dealers and manufacturers, who had operated to a larger
extent than usual.
to f 6s in
it
About 2s. 3d. in the pound, it is understood, will be
the amount of the second dividend shortly payable under
the estate of Rougemont, Brothers. The first dividend
sitdshmeelmcolnopaetronNheutdlinyo:d.ni.e that affairs at Auckland were progressing
Zealandtd
will
be
ad vices,
vic recollected,es, dated wasti the at
3ot hii e
of rate
January,
Late experiments at wheat cultivation had
proved exceedingly successful. The last accounts from
Wellington were considered favourable. No fresh distur—
bances had occurred at Wanganui, and arrangements for
securing the peace of the district through negotiations
with the natives were on the point of being completed.
Files of papers from Hobart Town and Launceston, to
the 20th of February, have arrived, and according to their
contents the crops promise to prove abundant. Although
the markets were yet only scantily supplied with grain,
prices exhibited symptoms of decline, and wheat was
fetching on the average about 4s. Gd. per bushel. The
Commissariat had advertised for their usual sppply.

Ebt Eibtrpoot & tanbatt.

TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 1848.

WE remarked only three weeks ago upon the
fallaciousness or—it may be a strong word to use—
the utter want of confidence to be placed in the re-
turns, issued from time to time from the statistical
department of the Board of Trade. We added at
the time a slight hint as to the bias, especially with
respect to the social and industrial condition of our
sugar colonies, of the officials of the colonial office.
We went even further than that; and doubted
even the honesty of these boards—these men of
figures and of red tape—these ready officials of
pigeon holes and red boxes—whose especial avoca-
tion it seems to be to " get up "—we use the mild-
est phrase we can find, which is significant—evi-
dence and a case for any minister who may happen
for the time being to preside in Downing-street.
But we stopped short, perhaps too short, in our
imputations of underhand and uncandid practices.
We attributed to the men of statistics and arith-
metic too much of the onus of having misled us ;
for, unfortunately for the cause of truth, and for
the real interests of the country, it appears that,
whilst mere officials can torture figures, cabinet
ministers can suppress facts, when they are so stub-
born as to bear unfavourably upon preconcerted
theories and political leanings. Returns, statistical
and otherwise, can not only be tortured, but they
can be kept back, if they chance not to suit the
objects of a Whig ministry. The press of the
queen's printer is, of course, of the best construc-
tion, its compositors are as apt in their business as
those of our own or of any metropolitan paper;
and it appears to us singular, therefore, that their
labours should so frequently be second editions,
published long after all th e worl d has known what th ey
had to chronicle, or should lay before us evidence
with respect to matters, upon which we had already
given, and often, a wrong verdict. There seems
something like contrivance in this; but we make
no imputation. Of course we know that "Brutus
is an honourable man."

This pernicious practice of the suppressio yeri has
been especially evinced in the persons of her Ma-
jesty's administrator of the affairs of the Colonial
Office, and some of his officials, in the matter of
the condition of our sugar colonies in the West
Indies. On the fourth of February last the debate
upon Lord George Bentinck's motion for a com-
mittee on the West India question was decided ;
and five minutes afterwards despatches from Lord
Harris, most adverse to the views and to the repre-
sentations of the government, were laid on the table.
The under secretary for the colonies admitted, be-
fore Lord George Bentinck's committee, the pre-
vious receipt of the despatches in question; but
they were delayed in printing he said because of the
anxiety of government to give along with them
some other despatches, although they had been re-
ceived by the Colonial Office more than a month be-
fore, and were ready. Yet Lord Grey, perfectly
aware of their import, never once referred to the
despatches in question,—because they told against
him ! In one of them Lord Harris, governor of
Trinidad, condemned the Coolie immigration as too.
costly, although he admits it bad produced a valu-
able effect upon the Creole labour. In another,
dated the 4th September, his lordship says :
" I would venture to hope that you will take into con-
sideration the propriety of rendering further assistance to
these colonies for immigration purposes. The introduc-
tion of from 500 to 1000 in each year can have no percep-
tible effect upon the price of labour; and unless that is
reduced, and quickly, I do not see how the cultivation of
the cane can be carried on with any prospect of success.
I can assure your Lordship that I have it from the best
authority, that under the most favourable circumstances
the price of sugar will not repay the cost of production ;
and that the distress which in consequence at present exists
in this colony has never been equalled."
A more recent attempt to shuffle, as to the mode
in which these documents were dealt with, occurred
on Friday night, in the House of Commons.
Lord Grey and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
—these strange twins—were in possession of this
information from a responsible officer of [the
Crown of undoubted character. They suppressed
it in the debate ; and dwelt instead upon the testi-
mony of a Mr. Scotland, a shopkeeper in Jamaica,
and a Doctor Jelly, persons unknown altogether to
either her Majesty's Government, or perhaps to the
creditors of the one and the patients of the other.
On the 21st Sep., 1847 Sir Charles Grey in a dis-
patch to Lord Grey, accessible to no one but him-
self, and again on the 22nd November insisted
on the claim of the planters to relief. Sir Charles
Grey's opinions were kept.. back, as were those
of Lord Harris, and Governors Light and Higgin-
son, the and former was reprimanded for expressing
them too broadly ; yet with these opinions before
him Lord Grey stated "men of energy, science,
and capital," who would resort to our colonies, and
embark in the cultivation of sugar " could not fail
of perfect success." Of a truth colonial secretaries
have different sorts of consciences to men engaged
in the ordinary pursuits of life !
This very recommendation of Lord Grey, brings
to our mind a similar one, cited by the Rev. Dr.
M'Neile, as having being given by Lord Glenelg
on the 12th October, 1835, referring however to
the faith to be placed in the honesty of a British
Parliament—by the bye, with a Whig Ministry at
its head. We quote it for the sake of the context
which shall follow it :
" The purchaser of a claim under the Slavery abolition
act does not incur the slightest assignable risk of losing
his money ; he has for his security the national faith of
Great Britain and Ireland, pledged in the most solemn
form in which such an engagement was ever yet made. If
the seller, supposes that any danger really exists, he la-
bours under an illusion so gross, as without further proof
to demonstrate that he is not in a state of general infor-
mation to deal on equal terms with the speculators to
whom his right is transferred."
Now this was before the apprenticeship compact
was broken in upon ; and Lord Glenelg was no
doubt a mistaken man, although we cannot impugn
his love of truth. But we have to do with Lord
Grey and the recommendation quoted above, and
shall quote a memorial which was in his lordship's
hands at the very time he gave it—mind !—a memo-
rial received and only made public five minutes
after the conclusion of the debate !
" MEMORIAL to the Right Honourable the Earl Grey,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the
Colonies, &c. &c. &c.
" MY LORD,
"We pray your earnest attention to the following facts.
" We, the undersigned, are the owners of 19, and the
lessees of 13 sugar estates in the west end of the island of
Jamaica, on which properties we employ daily an average
of 2,898 labourers, who represent families numbering
14,490 people, lately redeemed from slavery. Our sugar
estates, 32 in number, are expected to make this year
2,769 hogsheads of sugar and 1,354 puncheons of rum,
which will cost us, by accurate computation, £60,315
13s. sd. We have no hope of realising more than £l5
per hogshead and £l4 per puncheon (the maximum price
of the market at present), at which rate our produce will
bring £60,896, leaving a balance over our expenditure of
£5BO 6s. 7d. to go against six per cent., the common
rate of interest which money bears in the colony, and
which on £60,315 13s. sd. would be £3,618 18s. 9d. Our
capital invested on these 32 sugar estates in live stock and
implements of husbandry, amounts in live stock to
£32,094, in implements £14,630, upon which wear-and-
tear capital we receive no interest whatever. The 19
sugar estates that we own cost us £94,784, and we pay a
rental for the 13 other estates of £3,110 per annum, which
sunk capital is likewise wholly profitless.
We are not so absurd as to expect that the British
nation should abandon the principles of free trade, now
upheld by. the majority of the people, in order to afford
us protection, but we submit it cannot be consonant with
the spirit of free trade to give to the slave colonies a mo-
nopoly of the sugar market by allowing them to cultivate
sugar with means (slaves) denied to us ; and we submit
they must have that monopoly if the British West Indies
Dense to supply the market with sugar, as your lordship

must have ascertained that a supply from the East Indies
cannot be obtained at the rates of slave-grown produce.
" Now we are resident proprietors, and all of us, with
one exception, have purchased and leased our properties
since the Emancipation Act. It will be evident from the
facts stated that we cannot cultivate for another year; in-
deed, we have not the means, unaided, of taking off the
present crop, and the British West India merchants are
now unable to assist us, and of course disinclined, where
there is no hope of profit or even of recovering their ad-
vances. If we, being proprietors and lessees, living on and
managing our own properties, brought up to tropical agri-
culture, and availing ourselves of every practical improve-
ment, have only such a result to exhibit as is set forth in
the statement of these facts, the inference is conclusive
that the position of the absentee proprietor or mortgagee,
represented by paid agencies, is still more deplorable. It
is evident that unless some mode of suppressing slavery
and the slave trade more effectual than that hitherto pur-
sued be adopted, and without immediate aid, in the shape
of money loans, sugar cultivation, upon which 300,000 of
the emancipated negroes are wholly dependent, must
cease in Jamaica.
But our object in submitting these facts to your lord-
ship is to enable you to draw your own inferences, and
suggest your own remedies, and we beg you will consider
our desperate position as an excuse for troubling you with
the statement.

" We have, &c.,
" (Signed)
" H. A WHITELOCK, (and 15 others.)"

We have to acknowledge the industry and intel-
ligence of Mr. Jacob Omni= for this further
evidence of the dishonesty of Free-trade. We are
confident he will pardon us. But, really, is not
such trickery and perversion of evidence—such
reckless disregard of truth disgusting to the mind
of any honourable man ? " Quousque tandem,
Catalina ?" was the question of the Great Roman
orator—and by the bye our leading type-founders,
as many of our contemporaries will remember, have
reiterated the question upon us members of the
fourth estate—; but to whom can it be more legi-
timately put than to the Whig-Radical Statesmen
and Free-traders of the present day To whom
more especially than to the people of the Board of
Trade and the Colonial-office—we might say the
Foreign-office ? Quousque tandem ? If we
were to give our own English version of the
question, we might perchance be considered too
plain.

THE REV. RECTOR BROOKS AND THE CLERGY

OF LIVERPOOL.

The following address to the Rev. J. Brooks, proposed
by Dr. M`Neile, and seconded by the Rev. J. B. Monk,
was unanimously agreed to at a meeting of the clergy,
held in the Savings Bank, on Wednesday, the Rev. A.
Campbell in the chair :
"TO THE REV. JONATHAN BROOKS, CLERK, MASTER OF