The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-08 00:00:00

POLITICAL VARIETIES,

.
Mr. Napier is prosecuting a very successful contest for
Dublin University. Judge Keating is his opponent.
Lord John Russell is to make the general financial
statement on Monday next or Thursday week.

Mr. D. O'Connell intends to resign'the representation
of Waterford. His pecuniary circumstances, it is said, do
not permit him to continue in Parliament.

A meeting was held last week at Bath, to petitition for
the repeal of the window tax. The representative,—
Lords Ashley and Duncan—were the principal speakers.
On Friday, Sir T. B. Birch presented petitions to the
House of Commons from several religious congregations
in Liverpool in favour of the Jews.
COUNTY RATES.—Mr. Frewen obtained leave on Fri-
day to bring in a bill to confer on owners of property the
powers of justices in matters relating to county rates.
By what passed in the House of Commons on Thurs-
day, we learn that a correspondence has taken place be-
tween Lord Palmerston and Mr. Bancroft, though not
exactly what is stated in the New York Herald. Why,
then, did not the Noble Lord say as much in his reply to
Mr. Dunbar.

It is now understood that Lord George Bentinck and
Mr. Disraeli retire from their prominent posts in the op-
position—though acting with the Conservatives on general
measures; and that the large party withdrawing from Sir
R. Peel and his policy, will coalesce under the leadership
of Mr. Goulburn.
POPULAR PATRIOTISM AN EXPENSIVE ARTICLE.—
Feargus O'Connor wants a public subscription to defend
his seat for Nottingham. " Not less than £lOOO must be
raised," says he, in his Northern Star. " Let no time
be lost," continues he ; "only think that if only 240,000
persons subscribe one penny each, the £lOOO is got."
THE DUTY OF THE PRESS.—In an article in the Man-
chester Guardian of Saturday, the writer, after giving a
few well-deserved "taps" to its erewhile friend Mr. Cob-
den, pens the following sensible remarks as to the duty of
the press :—ln conclusion, we feel bound to say a word or
two upon an assertion of Mr. Cobden's, that " a large
portion of the press has neglected and abdicated its duties
on this subject." We are of opinion that the " duty" of
the public press is, to give expression to the honest and
sincere conviction of its conductors, and not to follow
the lead of any individual. We know of no right that
Mr. Cobden has to set himself up as a judge of other
men's duty, or as the director of their conduct in public
affairs.

A PACK OF HOUNDS OFFERED FOR A BOROUGH !
An amusing attempt is being made to produce an impres-
sion in favour of the Berkeley interest by means of certain
sporting " rumours" respecting Earl Fitzhardinge and his
hounds. At one time, it is whispered that after the pre-
sent season the pack will be entirely withdrawn from Chel-
tenham ; at another, that "in the event of certain contin-
gencies," his lordship will transfer the Mastership of the
Hunt to Mr. Craven Berkeley. The drift of all this is
apparent enough. if the electors of Cheltenham will take
back his lordship's rejected nominee, they may expect to
keep his hounds also ; but if they won't the mighty ad-
vantage is to be withdrawn. Of a truth, the hatred to
bullying and bribery professed by the Castle parrizans, is
singularly illustrated in these " rumours !"—Cheltenham
Chronicle.

MR. COBDEN AND HIS FRIENDS.—Let Mr. Cobden
ask himself the simple question, what amount of detriment
would the mercantile and industrial interests of France be
likely to incur by engaging in a war with 'England—in
what respect has the abolition of our corn laws tended to
make that detriment greater? France does not export
corn, but she imports cattle. Therefore, our change in
our corn laws and our admission of foreign live stock are
no boon to France, and add no link to the chain of com-
mercial intercourse, which, according to Mr. Cobden, is
to bind the two countries in everlasting friendship toge-
ther. On the other hand, our high duties on French
wines still continue, and the French still exclude our iron
and highly tax our cotton. The only commodity they
freely admit is our coal, which tends to cheapen their
manufactures, and to make ours dearer by enhancing the
price of our fuel. In every point of view, therefore, Mr.
Cobden's arguments are visionary as general reasoning ;
and though they were, in the abstract, founded on reason
and fact, they would have no application whatsoever to
our present commercial relations with France. * *
Such is Mr. Cobden's dream. Such is the Quixotic en-
terprise to which he has devoted himself. The Duke of
Wellington may perhaps—as Mr. Cobden evinced his
respect for greatness by politely insinuating—be doating.
The duke's letter was .so vague, so visionary, so unprac-
tical, so very like dotage ! But if he be, what suitable
term shall we find in the vocabulary of any language for
Mr. Cobden's fancies ? If the duke's sense be dotage,
what is Mr. Cobden's nonsense ?—Morning Chronicle.