The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-17 00:00:00

OBJECTIONS TO OATHS

(From the Watchman.)
A short time ago, Lord Denman introduced a bill for the

purpose of affording to certain persons, having conscientious
objections to an oath, the same relief which is enjoyed by
the members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. His
lordship has since withdrawn the bill, for the purpose of
making certain alterations in it; but the measure itself, in
its general principles, may be considered as still pending.
We shall, therefore, request the reader's attention to a few
observations upon the subject.
To really conscientious objections—objections supposing
in those persons who make them a full submission to the
authority of Scripture, and arising from a persuasion, how-
ever mistaken we might consider it, that in Scripture oaths
were universally condemned, and all persons were bound by
it to speak on all occasions as in the divine presence—to ob-
jections of such a character, made under such circumstances,
great respect is undoubtedly due; and the utmost relief that
is consistent with the unaltered maintenance of the princi-
ples of the British constitution in the administration of jus-
tice should be extended to the objectors. But the greatest
care ought, at the same tipal, to be taken,—that while all that

is consistently possible shall be done for conscientious, but,
as we must think them, mistaken, Christians, nought shall be

done to alter the originally religious character of the consti-
tution, to gratify the Infidel Latitudinarians,—the men who
are continually opposing charity to truth, and whose language
and conduct have long ago abundantly demonstrated that
their charity extends to anything, and everything, except
truth. Too much has been already conceded to this class ;
and its members evidently regard every concession as an in-
stalment which they receive both as payment in part, and as
an admission of their entire claim. Now, although, a news-
paper is not, by any means, the best place for theological
discussion, yet, as religious journalists, when a subject such
as the administration of oaths in courts of justice obtains par-
liamentary consideration, we may not only be allowed to refer
to it, but should be inexcusable were we not to do so.

The simple—we believe the exclusive—question to be de-
cided is—Whether, when our Lord said—(Matthew v. 34,
&c.)—" Swear not at all ; neither by heaven, for it is God's
throne ; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, &c.—he re-

ferred only to the ordinary intercourse between man and
man, or whether he included the most solemn occasions, the
very solemnity and remarkableness of which proved their pe-
culiarity, and might, but for the command, have seemed to
justify a religious appeal to God himself,—and likewise, the
administration of justice, in which, heretofore, such appeals

had ordinarily been made? We take the former view-of the
case, for reasons to which we may be permitted to refer,
without entering into them fully.
In the first place, the passage in Matthew seems evidently

to refer to the ordinary intercourse of social life. And no
one who is at all acquainted with the writings of antiquity
can doubt but that oaths constituted—among the heathens
at all events—a regular portion of their speech. And Chris-
tianity was for Gentiles as well as Jews. Besides, there is a
plain reference in the passage to the oaths which bound in-
dividuals to particular acts, and which, therefore, they were
to " perform to the Lord." But there is no reference what-
ever to solemn appeals to God himself, in the administration
of justice, by those whom the Christian scriptures expressly
call " the ministers of God to us for good." (Rom. xiii.
4,6.) Let any person read, for instance, the conversation
between Socrates and his friends just before the fatal draught
was administered to him, and notice the plentiful admixture
of oaths, even in serious discourse ; and then let him notice,
with careful thought, the peculiar wording of the text relied
upon by those who think all oaths, on all occasions, unlaw-
ful,—" Swear not,--neither by heaven,--nor by earth,—nor
by Jerusalem,—nor by thy head,"—no mention being made
of solemn appeals to God himself—" but let your communi-
cation be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay ;"—and say, whether it does
not appear, on the very face Of the passage, that it refers to
the usual intercourse between man and man.
And, secondly, long after the prohibition in this text had
been delivered, we find the most unequivocal instances of
oaths by Christians. Our Lord himself, when false wit-
nesses testified against him, " held his peace ;" but when the
High Priest said—" I adjure thee by the living God, that
thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God,"—
then, being thus put, by the proper officer, the highest eccle-
siastical authority, the High Priest, to answer upon oath, he
did answer, and answer explicitly. And in the inspired
epistles,—for in this argument we go upon Christian princi-
ples,—instances occur, which we do think could not possibly
have occurred, had the prohibition of our Lord been as ex-
tensive as sometimes has been supposed. If the reader will
carefully peruse, Romans i. 9. " God is my witness, that with-
out ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers ;"—Rom. ix.
I.—" I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience
also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost ;"-1 Cor. xv. 31,
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus
our Lord, I die daily ;"-2 Cor. i. 18, " But as God is true,
our word toward you was not yea and nay ;"—ib. 23,
" Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul, that to
spare you I came not as yet into Corinth ;"—and Hebrews
vi. 13,-18, "When God made promise to Abraham, because
he could swear by no greater, he aware by himself. For men
verily swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is
to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing to show
the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, &c.
To us it does not appear to be in the slightest degree proba-
ble, that if our Lord had intended an absolute and universal
prohibition of all direct and solemn appeals to God, such
passages as those above quoted would have occurred in the
inspired records and documents of the Christian religion.
We think, therefore, that though every form and shape of
swearing in the social intercourse of life is explicitly forbid-
den, yet that the prohibition does not extend to occasions,
solemn and decidedly peculiar, calling
f
nor to the administration of oaths in courtsappeals
of t o
aw, o—
nd
the
regular course of justice. We do think that had it been in-
tended to include those latter, the prohibition itself,—for
" Swear not all," is not the whole of the injunction. nor
ought it ever to be quoted as though it were so,—would have
been expressed in different language ; no direct appeals to
God,—the very essence of an oath,--would have occurred in
the inspired Scriptures; and when oaths, and their effect,
had been referred to,—so that God himself is represented as
condescending thus to bind himself,—some caveat would
have been introduced to prevent the otherwise obvious infer-
ence, in limitation of the prohibition in Matthew.
We again say, that we entertain a sincere respect for the
real convictions of conscience, even when we think them
mistaken; and that, to those who object to an oath because
of their conscientious submission to the authority of the
Scripture, whose language they see in a different light from
ourselves, all practicable relief should be extended. But we
would have this so done as to guard against the insidious
movements of the infidel philosophy and politics, which
would banish all religious observances from the State, in its
various branches, considered as the State, and when acting
officially. However necessary theym.l may sometimes allow
religion to be for wives, iivt to p
es,
rite life, rest servants,va children, ,thaendsttahtee poor,uuon
they would confine
life by means only
human foundations al
ofohnue , and carry on
human
n principles. t he
Fbuosrinoeusrsseolfvepsu:bwliec
that
jnuks t
itehea,t
tihf
e thefea fre
ofa rof a Gnowdi bl et a
not
kbeens
uare e
ufrtom u
to
secureo r courts
of
attainment of truth, in point of fact, which is necessary for
the decisions of justice in point of law.
Nextbe week,the
ewxep
eshall
econsider r tehpen.reet my aoifn ionagt
hpso
irut oe no
uor ft
stl the
subject,'—the expediency and proPrietY of oaths in courts of
justice, and the limitations which shoald

A WINDMILL EXPORTED !—On Wednesday, the entire
machinery, sails, stones, &c., of a wind corn-null, was
shipped for Hamburg, on board the steamer Transit, at Hull.
This is truly a novel expedition.—Leeds Mercury.

" On the 19th of September, at 50 minutes past 9 p.m,
found a thick smoke suddenly issue from the bulkhead, im-
mediately abaft the boilers, when we instantly turned all
hands out to reduce the fire, though we did not know exactly
where it could be, as the ship was full of coals, having only
left Hongkong two days before. After great labour,l we suc-
ceeded in clearing away the coals in the boxes, and on ripping
open the latter (of iron) found the vessel in flames, the after
bulk head (immediately abaft the boiler) being on fire. This
was about 45 feet from the magazine ; every method was
adopted to reduce it, streams of water poured down, and five
feet let into the ship's hold, but it mastered all our efforts.
and about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 20th Capt. Dicey
acquainted me with his determination to leave the ship,
taking command of the first cutter himself, giving me the
second, second mate the third, and third mate the gig, and
was fully aware that there must be many poor fellows con-
signed to a watery grave, as, from the violence of the wind
and sea, I knew, from eleven years' experience, that the third
cutter and gig could never live. However, the orders were
obeyed ; the gig, with second and third cutter, with twenty
was shoved off, and must have very shortly after perished ;
the captain left in the first cutter, telling me he would re-
main by the ship till I was ready to leave also ; and had
the doctor, purser, gunner, and two engineer apprentices
with inc. As soon as they had got into the boat I could
have followed, but she broke, or was cut adrift at the mo-
ment, and we were left without a boat (as she could not reach
the ship) for some minutes, with the flames twenty feet from
the magazine, and rapidly gaining ground, till the captain
succeeded in getting near the stern, and we managed to
swing into the boat. At this time, it was impossible to stand
the deck without keeping your face outside, the smoke was
so thick and painful, and 15 minutes after the fire was first
discovered it was impossible to go below (in the cabin),
though we made several attempts, and consequently we had
not a drop of water in the boats, or a morsel of provisions,
as we never thought of leaving the ship till we were fairly
turned out by the fearful fire. It was blowing half a gale of
wind at the time, with a tremendous sea. At five o'clock
a.m. the mainmast, from being burnt through below, rolled
overboard, and we pulled away from our ill-fated ship to save
all that were left, as we expected her momentarily to blow up.
At seven made sail to keep the boat ahead of the sea, which
was increasing every minute, second cutter in company.
The ship did not blow up till about half-past nine a.m., owing
to the quantity of water, the fire having, we think, burnt
through her sides and let the sea in. You may imagine bet-
ter than I can describe our situation. About 50 miles from
land, with 42 men in a boat only 24 feet long by six feet six
inches in breadth. At about 12 o'clock something happened
to the second cutter's mast, and the sea immediately covered
her ; she was about a quarter of a mile from us astern ; we
could not render the slightest assistance, as to have brought
our boat to the sea would have been instant and certain de-
struction. Our only chance was by holding on sail and run-
ning right before the wind; even as it was, the sea astern
came rolling after us so high that our sail was constantly be-
calmed, and we were only saved by making the men set all ,
round the gunwale of the boat, thus breaking the seas that
came in with this living bulwark, and keeping men constantly
bailing. At four p.m. saw the land, and at eight p.m. were
close in among the breakers, which forced us to pull out
again, though with the greatest difficulty it was that we
managed to move the boat, all being so exhausted from our
exertions the night before, and our cramped up position in
the boat. We were among rocks and breakers all night, the
boat often covered by the latter. However, I cannot describe
the horrors of that night, even if I had time. We were blown
on shore at 4 o'clock in the morning of the 21st. I had justgot
into a doze, notwithstanding the sea had been rushing over
us. Three breakers went right over the boat's masthead, and
I, of course, expected our hour was come, as we could not
see the low sandy beach for a minute or so, and expected we
were on some reef. However, we soon found out that through
God's mercy we were saved from a watery grave at the time,
and we were all very soon on shore. Had we been stranded
a hundred yards further off, the boat would have been dashed
to pieces, as there were a great many rocks. We were at
this time about fifty-five miles from Amoy, where, about
ten days before, the Chinese had been severely beaten, and
an immense number killed. At daylight a number of Chi-
nese came down, and in five minutes our boat was in pieces,
but not a vestige of her left where she stranded. We, through
our Chinese carpenter, explained to them that we were ship-
wrecked Americans, and we offered them a large sum to
get us a boat to take us to Hongkong ; they made us no an-
swer, but as we wanted something to eat, after having tasted
a little fresh water and a fay grains of cold rice, they told us
we must go on to another village, a short distance off. As
soon as we proceeded, according to their direction, we were
surrounded by some hundreds of naked wretches armed with
knives, spears, and various other rude implements of war,
and plundered of everything. Dicey's trousers were cut off
him—they would not wait for him to take them off, and he
was left with nothing hut his socks, linen drawers, and shirt,
as were all the rest of us. When any resistance was made,
the knives were shown, and would have most certainly been
used if we had not given in. Some of the Lascars were
stripped almost naked, and not one of us had more than
shirt, trousers, and socks, though few of the latter left. When
we were thoroughly plundered, they proposed to murder us,
but some mandarin's people coming down, the idea was given
up, as I suppose they thought if we turned out English we
might at present be more valuable; at all events, if we were
murdered we would satisfy a larger populace. On arriving
at the village, we were shoved into a dirty cowhouse with
a very large accumulation and abomination, where we were
nearly stifled by the stench of the number of people that
crowded around us, being a dreadfully hot day. About one
o'clock they brought us a little red rice, and a few heads and
tails of the worst description of salt fish, which we swallowed
with avidity. About two o'clock a few bundles of straw were
brought, which were spread by us for a bed near the abomi-
nation, and where we that night. after returning thanks to
the Almighty, for our safety up to that time, slept, or at all
events I did, as well as ever in my life. We remained here
the next day, and having recovered from our fatigue, were
dragged along 29 miles to a place where there was a manda-
rin, through crowds of brutal Chinese, who, to add to oo.•
comforts, made signs constantly that our beads would all be
cut off. We arrived at this place about six o'clock in the
evening, and were kept jambed in the middle of a crowd of
some 20,000 men for two hours. Our feet were bleeding
and blistered very much, and I would sooner have died than
have walked a mile the next day. About Bor 9 o'clock p.m.,
we were dragged into an old distillery, and at 11 p.m. got
a scanty meal of rice, half full of stones, and were soon
asleep, though our bed was the ground, and our arms our
pillow. However, the next day a man who was in charge of
us being of the same clan as one of our carpenters, offered to
take a letter froth us, and forward it to our friends at Macao,
or elsewhere in China. This was an unlooked for blessing,
as the most painful part of all was the idea of being mur-
dered without one of our friends ever hearing of our fate,
as at this time we had not the slightest probability of our
ever meeting them again. The letter was written, and
directed to the merchants at Macao, but it was of such a
tenor that the Chinese could not have ascertained to what
nation we belonged, and would rather have supposed us
Americans. The next day it was sent, the bearer of it to
receive on delivery a large sum. We were tried here by the
mandarins, and nothing elicited to prove that we were En-
glish. After being in all seven days at this place, we were
marched off again on our way to Canton, and were daily
dragged along and fed with the coarsest rice, with occasion-
ally a few rotten salt fish by way of luxury. For some days
we proceeded, till 12th of October, when we received a letter
from an American, at Canton,to say that we had been de-
manded of the Chinese as Americans, and that there was
every chance of our being delivered up; we were then im-
prisoned at a place called Wichnw, were we were better
treated, were tried again, and satisfied them that we were
really Americans. After being there a month, we were liked
by our keepers. 1 used to draw Americau ships for them,
and learned Chinese, and can now make a very moderate
interpreter. Here we remained for three months, till at last
under God, we were indebted for freedom to the constant
and unremitting applications of Mr. 'Matheson's agent, an
American, Mr. Ryan. The Governor of Canton granted our
release, and here we are, having left Winchow on the 31st
of December, 1841, and arrived here the sth of January,
1842, where we were most hospitably received by Mr.
Matheson, with whom we are now staying, prior to our de-
parture to Hongkong, where we shall have to wait the orders
of the senior naval officer. Our ruse is considered perfectly
fair, and we are lucky fellows. Our crew was 99 ; therefore
57 poor fellows were called from this world—at how short
a warning ! We have seen death close, and knew that to
the Almighty and most merciful God alone can we ascribe
our wonderful deliverance. I have not the slightest fear
of succeeding well again, if permitted to return to Calcutta.

OFFICIAL RETURN OF THE ROYAL NAVY,
COMPRISING THE SHIPS OF WAR AND STEAMERS NOW
BUILDING AND FIT FOR SERVICE.

STEAMERS FOR SERVICE.-Acheron, Adder, Advice,
African, Alban, Albert, Alecto, Ariel, Asp, Avon, Black
Eagle, Beaver, Blazer, Boxer, Carron, Charon, Columbia,
Comet, Confiance, Cuckoo, Cyclops, Dasher, Dee, Dotterel,
Dover, Echo, Experiment, Fearless, Firefly, Flamer, Fury,
Geyser, Gleaner, Gordon, Hecate, Hecla, Hermes Hydra,
'
Jasper, Kite, Lightning, Lizard, Locust, Lucifer, Medea,
Medina, Medusa, Megara, Merlin, Messenger,Meteor,
Minos, Monkey, Myrtle, Otter, Phoenix, Pigmy, Pike, Pluto,
Polyphemus, Prometheus, Prospero, Redwing, Rhadaman-
thus, Salamander, Sampson, Shearwater, Soudan, Sprightly,
Spitfire, Stromboli, Swallow, Tartarus, Toronto, Traveller,
Urgent, Vesuvius, Vixen, Volcano, ilberforce, Widgeon,
Wildfire, Zephyr.
STEAMERS BUILDING.-Ardent, at Chatham; Beelzebub,
Portsmouth ; Bulldog, Chatham ; Centaur, Portsmouth ;
Cormorant, Sheerness ; Devastation, Woolwich ; Driver,
Portsmouth ; Gladiator, Woolwich ; Growler, Chatham ;
Infernal, Woolwich ; Inflexible, Pembroke ; Janus, ditto ;
Rattler, Sheerness; Scourge, Portsmouth; Sphynx, Wool-
wick ; Spiteful, Pembroke ; Styx, Sheerness ; Thunderbolt,
Portsmouth ; Virago, Chatham ; and Vulture, Pembroke.
SHIPS OF WAR BUILDING.'-Aboukir, 90 guns, Ports-
mouth ; Active, 36, Chatham ; Albatross, 16, Portsmouth ;
Albion, 90, Plymouth ; Algiers, 110, Pembroke ; Amethyst,
26, Plymouth; Amphyon, 36, Woolwich; Arab, 16, Cha-
tham ; Boscawen, 70, Woolwich ; Calypso, 20, Chatham ;
Cambrian, 36, Pembroke ; Centurion, 80, ditto ; Chesa-
peake, 36, Chatham • Chichester, 50, Woolwich ;
Colling-
wood, 80, Pembroke' '
Colossus, 80, ditto ; Constance, 36,
Portsmouth ; Coquette, 20, Chatham ; Creole, 26, Plymouth;
Cumberland, 70, Chatham ; Daring, 10, Sheerness ; Dart,
3, ditto ; Despatch, 10, Chatham ; Elk, 16, ditto ; Exmouth,
90, Plymouth ; Flora, 36, ditto ; Goliath, 80, Chatham ;
Hannibal, 90, Woolwich; Heroine, 10, ditto; Helena, 16,
Pembroke ; Heron, 16, Chatham ; Hindostan, 78, Plymouth,
Hound, 10, Woolwich ; Irresistible, 80, Chatham ; Juno.
• • Lion, 80, ditto ; Majes-
tic,26, Pembroke ; Liberty, 16, ditto.
80, Chatham; Mars, SO ditto; Mariner, 10, Pembroke;
Martin, 10, ditto ; Niobe 26, Plymouth ; Philomel, ditto ;
Royal Albert, 120, Portsmouth ; Princess Royal, 120, ditto ;
Prince of Wales, 120, ditto • Royal Frederick, 110, ditto;
Sealark, 10, ditto ; Siren, 16, Woolwich ; Spartan, 26, Ply-
mouth ; Spy, 3, Sheerness ; Squirrel, 16, Pembroke ; Superb,
SO, ditto ; Sybille, 36, ditto ; Victoria, 110, ditto ; and Wor-
cester, 50, Deptford,
The British navy consists of 605 ships of war in ordinary
and commission (including steamers), carrying from 1 to 120,
guns each, of different calibre.
This fleet, the largest in the world, employs in time of
peace 33,000 able-bodied seamen, 2,000
.lads, and 13,000
Royal Marines, forming in all an effective naval force of
46,000 men and 2,000 lads.

It is the wish of Colonel Bruen, that the money raised to
present him with a service of plate or other testimonial of
esteem, be laid out in building a free church in the town or
neighbourhood of Carlow, for which he offers ground for a
site.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—OH Friday last four sailors,
namely, William Agnew, master of the Friends, David Toer-
r
rens,. master of the Rob Roy, and James M CreadY, master
of the Christian and Catherine, all lying at Ballvlig, and
James Agnew, a seaman on board the Friends, left their ves-
!els In a small boat, and came into Larne on business. They
left the Curran to return to their vessels, when they were
suddenly overtaken by a squall, which took effect on the
boat, the sail being then set, and upset her, when David Tor-
rens and James Agnew were both drowned.--Ulster Times.

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS FOR. LIVERPOOL.
MAY. noun
18, Robert Elliott, (Ist).. Clarendon Rooms, 12
18, Thomas Johnson, (Ist) Ditto, 1
18, Bartholomew Berrill Ditto, I
19, George Sherlock, (Ist). Ditto, 2
20, Samuel Cartwright Sneade, (2nd).... Ditto, 1
20, James Bonny, (2nd)
21, Thomas Masser, (proof and div.) Ditto, 11
23, Robert Feverall Beeston, (proof & final div.) Ditto, 12
24, William Halliday, (2nd).. Ditto, 1
21, David Cook, (2nd)
28, John Cotter, (proof and final div.)
25, Boult and Addison, (special) ... Forsbaw and Blundell's, 12
25, William Houldsworth, (proof) Clarendon Rooms, 1
2S, Robert Williams, (proof and final div.) Ditto, 1

MANCHESTER CORN MARKET, MAY 14.
Though the transactions of the week have been by no means
exteusive,the trade has been characterised by increasing firmness,
and in the business done the prices of our last have been fully
supported, In the agricultural districts the improvement has been
of a most decided character, supplies are small, and Wheat is
generally is to 2s per quarter higher, other articles sharing in the
tendency to advance. This, under the present cireumstances of
most favourable weather, the coming into operation of the new
law, and the consequent facility of introduction of a stimly of
foreign grain. would lead to conclusion that stocks in farmers'
hands are light,
Though there has been no improvement in the demand for Oats
and Oatmeal, full prices have been required for both ; and the
reports from Ireland state that the supplies from that country mutt
be small up to harvest. A fair extent of business has been done at.
Liverpool in bonded Wheat at former prices, and many lots have
been withdrawn from the market. We have again had some rain,
succeeded by warm sun, and the weather is, altogether, of the
first order. At our market this morning we have a very scanty
supply of new English Wheat, which sells readily at an advance of
Ad to Ad per bushel ; other deseriptions are in moderate request, at
fully late rates. Fresh Flour is scarce, and the best qualities are
held for an advanee of 1$ per sack. Good qualities of Oats and
Oatmeal attract rather more attention than of late. and may be
quoted ld per bushel and 6d per load dearer. Secondary and in-
ferior descriptions are still without demand. Some inquiry for
meal is springing up from Ireland. Fine Beans are is per quarter
higher, with a moderate sale. Good arcels of Malt are held
firmly for full prices. The trade, on the whole, bears a tolerably
firm aspect.

LIVERPOOL COLONIAL MARKET, MAY 13.
Sugar.—ln consequence of the late arrivals, and the flat accounts
from the London market, holders have submitted to rather lower
prices, and the sales are 250 hhds. B. P., at the reduced quotations.
8700 bags Mauritius have also been disposed of at 645 to figs per
cwt., and 1000 bags Bengal, at 67s for strong yellow, and 71s per
cwt. for good white. Foreign.-120 cases Pernambuco have been
sold to the Refiners, at 13s for ordinary old, to 16s for fair new
brown, and 16s 6d for ordinary old, to 20s for middling new white ;
likewise 160 cases new brown Bahia, to arrive, at 17s per cwt. de-
livered in the warehouse. Molasses.—The recent arrivals having
been generally brought into the market, and the sales amount
nearly to goo puns., consisting of 400 puns. Barbadoes and 130 puns.
Antiguas, at 335, and 200 puns. Nevis at 28s (id per cwt., all from
the quay; a parcel of 140 puns. Trinidad has also been sold at 30s
per cwt. to arrive. Coffee.—The sales of Plantation have been
very moderate, comprising about 40 casks of Jamaica, at the
quotations. Nothing done in other descriptions. 100 bags
Barbadoes Ginger sold at 41s per cwt., and 1200 bags black Pepper
at aid to 4d per lb. No sales of Cocoa or Pimento. Rice.-2 tun
bags Bengal sold at 11s gd to 12s per cwt. for good to fine new. In
Rum no sales are reported.

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, MAY 13.
The duties for the ensuing week remain stationary, with
the exception of a reduction on Foreign Oats to. 7s. per
quarter.
The fresh arrival of Grain for all quarters is exceedingly
light, and we have no Flour whatever reported from any di-
rection since Tuesday ; there has been, however, a fair quan-
tity offering from the last week's supplies as well as from
granary, and though we have had )1c) active business in any
article, prices have remained in general steady at the last
quoted rates.
This morning's market was thinly attended by either
local or country dealers, and the transactions in free Wheats
were consequently on a very moderate scale, without alte-
ration from the currency of Tuesday, holders shewing no
disposition whatever to accept lower terms. Flour in limited
request, and its late value with difficulty supported.
Barley, Malt, and Pease met very little enquiry, the price
of each remaining nominally unaltered.
Beans in somewhat better, though still quite retail,
demand. _ _ _ _ _

Fine samples of mealing Oats, having again become scarce,
realized an advance of 3d. to ld. per 451b5., which partially
extended to the secondary qualities of that Grain ; and Oat-
meal, with some further orders for Ireland, was held for an
improvement of 3d. to 6d. per load, though no actual sales of
moment occurred.
During the week several parcels of Wheat under lock, and
on the passage, have met buyers at previous rates ; one of
Egyptian Beans, at IBs. per 4801b5., in bond, but no sales of
Flour have within that time been made.

May 16.
We have had an exceedingly small import of Potatoes during the
past seven days. This, combined with the previous brisk demand,
has completely cleared the great bulk of stock away, and, in all
probability, the market never was known to be so scantily supplied
at this period of the season for years past. The whole quantity in
dock this evening may be comprised within 200 tons. Our town
retail trade being now the principal buyers, are obliged to give a
considerable advance over our last quotations. The country dealers
not being able (ot willing) to give corresponding high prices, are
now in a great measure passive spectators. Manx, Scotch, and
Irish Cups command 2s 8d to 3s 2d; Cattle descriptions, 2s 2d to
2s 6d per 90 lb.
Our local farmers have a good sale for all descriptions of produce,
and the markets are pretty well stocked for the season of the year.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Old Hay A@ I Nip 201 b.
2 8 2 8 New Hay.... 0 6 0 11 -
2 6 2 10 Clover Hay.. 0 7 0 10 --
2 3 2 7 Straw, Wheat 0 4/ 0 6 a 24th
1 10 2 1 Straw, Oat .. 0 3i 0 44 -
27 0 30 0 Straw, Barley 0 34 0 4 --
Manglewurzle :37 0 28 0 Orton.

Potatoes, got
Pink-eye
Cups.
Short Tops
Cattle
Turnips, 19, toi
Carrots

LONDON GAZETTE.-FRIDAY, MAY 13