The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-06-18 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY

On the motion of Lord KILMORE, the Public-house (Scot-
land) Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be commit-
ted. _ _

Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of the Chancery
Court of Appeal Bill.
The house then went into committee on the Austrian Bill,
and Lord STANLEY moved that the 30th clause, creating a
federative assembly, should be expunged. On a division, the
amendment was carried by a majority or 1, the numbers bons
23 to 22. The remaining clauses were then agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
After a number of petitions had been presented, the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Lord Naas, said he
should not oppose the bringing in of the report of the resolu-
tion for the qualification of the spirits duty, on the introduc-
tion of a bill founded thereon, but he should, at some stage or
other, take the sense of the house upon the measure.
Sir L. O'BRIEN called the attention of the government to
the state of health and the treatment of his brother, Mr. Smith
O'Brien, the convict upon Maria Island Van Dieman's Land.
The honourable baronet stated that his brother's health was
suffering much, and described, at some length, the regulations
under which he was placed in consequence of having refused
the indulgence of a ticket of leave.—Sir G. GREY stated that
Mr. Smith O'Brien having positively refused a ticket of leave,
the governor of Van Dieman's Land had no other course left
open to him than to adopt the regulations which lie had taken,
without neglecting his duty ; but, at the same time, he had
indulgence of which the other convicts were deprived. In
fact, every indulgence had been shown him which the gover-
uor had in his power.
On the consideration of the Factory Bill as amended, Lord
ASHLEY moved, once more, the amendment respecting young
children, which was defeated when the bill was in committee.
—Sir G. GREY, in opposing the amendment, pointed out that
under the bill as it stood children would not be worked in an
excessive manner in factories.—Mr. AOLIONISY and Mr.
BRIGHT opposed the amendment, and a discussion of some
length having taken place upon it, the house divided, when
there appeared for the amendment, 159 ; against it; HO ; ma-
rlrity, I. The amendment was, consequently, lost.—Lord J.
ANNERS then moved an amendment, in effect limiting the
hours of factory labour to ten, and no more.—After a lung de-
bate, on a division, there appeared for the amendment 142,
against 181, majority 39; thus the ten-and-a-half hours, as
proposed by the government, was carried.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

AMERICA.

By the royal mail steam-ship Europa, Captain Lott,
which arrived in the river on Sunday morning, after the
quickest passage on record, we have advices from New
York direct to the sth instant, and from Halifax to the
Bth.
The telegraphic communication between New York and
Halifax having failed, we have not received the usual two
and a half days' later news. We have advices from Cali-
fornia to the Ist of May.
The steam-ship Panama arrived at Panama on the 21st
ult., with nearly 51,000,000 in gold dnst ; she reports
that business was prosperous, and that great activity pre-
Vt:ilcl; prices of produce were advancing, and there was
an immense immigration. The Alabama was at New Or-
leans with 562,000 in gold dust. Serious attacks had
been made by the Indians on the Californian emigrants.
The Philadelphia was at New York with upwards of
81,000,000 in gold dust. The West India mail steamer
Severn arrived at Mobile on the 22nd ult. She had on
freight 200 serons cochineal, and 5559,182 in specie—
£6o,ooo being on account of Mexican dividends.
Lopez had arrived at New Orleans. Official informa-
tion had been received at Washington of the execution of
four Americans at Cuba, and of the imprisonment of be-
tween 100 and 200 others. The Spanish authorities re-
fused to allow the commander of the United States'
squadron permission to sec the prisoners, or to permit
them to be taken to the United States for trial. The
frigate Congress had sailed from Cuba to intercept the
Spanish vessel containing a number of Americans taken
prisoners from an island near Yucatan. She was followed
by a Spanish man-of-war. Despatches bad been sent
from Washington to the authorities of Cuba, stating that
the arrest of the Americans on any other island will not
be recognised nor permitted. The despatches were sent
by telegraph to Mobile. The Union understands that
despatches had been received from the Consul at Haven-
nab, stating that he had demanded the 105 prisoners
taken by the Spanish steam ship of war Pizarro on the
island of Contoy. Contoy is said to be a neutral terri-
tory, and the men taken there had not been engaged in
open hostilities, and were actually considering the aban-
donment of the enterprise and returning to the United
States. To this demand the Cuban authorities bad made
no reply ; consequently the Consul had called upon his
government for powers to second his demand. Or-
ders had therefore been sent from Washington to
despatch such portions of the squadron as could be
immediately collected at Havannah, to assist in pressing
the demand. Should the authorities refuse, the Consul
was instructed to inform the Government, and in the
meantime the squadron was to obstruct all e
C ommunica-
ons with the port. Instructions had been issued that,.
if the Spaniards captured the remainder of the vessels of
the expedition, they were to be taken from them, if neces-
sary, by force. A vessel from Havannah, at Charleston,
reported that there was great excitement in consequence
of a rumour that the remainder of the expedition, to the
number of several thousand, had landed on the south
side of the island and had taken possession of Cienfuegos
and Trinidad : the report had not been confirmed. The
authorities of Cuba appear to be justly embittered against
the United States' Government, and had refused any in-
formation as to the number, name, or probable fate of the
prisoners, who were closely confined. General Lopez had
addressed the citizens of Mobile, explaining the causes of
the defeat of the expedition.
The Session of the Canadian Parliament, at Toronto,
shows an effective majority on the side of the ministry.
The Opposition was divided in counsel and feeble in
action. It WBS not supposed that any popular moasures
would pass during the present session. The Inspector-
General had stated in the House that the Canadian Go-
Ternment will not grant freedom of navigation of the St.

Lawrence to the United States, unless.the latter assent to
reciprocity.
From Buenos Ayres the Tribune publishes advices to
the 13th of April, and says the English forces have
abandoned the blockade of the ports, accompanying the
act with an acknowledgment that they are wrong. They
have also given up all the vessels captured by them during
the blockade, and agreed to pay for all the property that
they took. A French Admiral had just arrived at Buenos
Ayres, who was said to be:fully empowered to settle all the
difficulties so far as the French were concerned. The
markets were dull. _

The America, hence, was at Halifax, and the Thames,
from Havannah, at Orleans.
Another fatal steamboat explosion had occurred at St.
Louis, destroying about twenty-four lives.
Captain R. F. Miercken, late in command of one of
Messrs. Cope's Liverpool packet-ships, died at his resi-
dence in Philadelphia, 29th of May, after a short illness,
cansed by an injury received some years since, whilst the
Thomas P. Cope was burning.
From St. Francisco, via Chagres and New Orleans, we
have telegraphic accounts to the Ist May; being ten days
later than our last advices. Business in California was
prosperous, great activity prevailed, and prices of mer-
chandise and produce were advancing. There was a great
emigration to the mines. Lumber sold at 50 dollars ;
bricks 18 dollars per M. There was a small advance in
the prices of produce.
Pernambuco letters to the sth May state that the fever
had materially abated amongst the natives, but still raged
amongst the foreigners. The province was tranquil.
Advices from Mexico, dated the 14th ult., published in
the New York Tribune, state that the Minister of Fi-
nance, M. Ocampo, resigned on the 11th ult. His resig-
nation had not been accepted ; but, notwithstanding the
persuasion of the ministers of war and justice, it was be-
lieved he would insist on retiring.