The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-16 00:00:00

UNITED STATES

The United States packet-ship Roscius, Captain Collins,
which sailed from New York on the 25th ult. arrived at this
port on Wednesday. The papers do not contain any intelli-
gence of importance.
The cotton market was rather more active than at the date
of the last advices. Prices, however, were heavy, and rather
in favour of the purchaser. The receipts of flour had been
unusually light, and holders, generelly, were demanding an
advance. Good brands of Gennessec were held at 4 dollars
50 cents, and Ohio and Michigan 4 dollars 44 cents to 4
dollars 50 cents per barrel, Southern kinds were dull, with
scarcely any sales. Foreign exchanges were firm, and the
supply of bills moderate. The rates were on London 1061,
and on Paris 5.40.

From Havana, we learn, that Mr. Turnbull, the ex-Consul,
had pleaded insanity as an excuse for his demand of liberty
for the slaves. The plea was admitted, and he was shipped
by the steamer Thames for Nassau and England.

At a late railway steam explosion, the stoker was blown
so far from the place, that he was completely out of danger.
A friend said to another, seing a handsome equipage
waiting in the street, "I should like a drive out ; shouldn't
you?" " Get in," replied the wag ; " and I'll be bound for
it they'll soon drive you out !"
THE CASE AT HARROW.-Mr. P. H. Stachan who was
committed a few weeks ago, on a charge of the most atro-
cious nature, has forfeited his recognizances and it is believed
that he is in France. His trial was to have come on at Lon-
don on Tuesday but when called upon the prisoner did not
answer to the call.

THE FIRST BOOK AUCTION IN ENGLAND.—The first
book auction of which we have any record in England, was
the sale of Dr. Seaman's library, which was brought to the
hammer, A.D. 1676. The address prefixed to the catalogue
ran thus :—" Reader, it bath not been usual here in England
to make sale of books by way of auction, or who will give
most for them; but it having been practised in other countries
to the advantage of both buyers and sellers, it was therefore
conceived (for the encouragement of learning) to publish the
sale of these books in this manner of way."

USE OF " ITALICS."—A controversy has been going on
between the Times and the Chronicle as to whether the re-
cent successes in China are to be attributed to the late or the
present ministry. Both parties appeal to the same passages
in one of the dispatches of Sir Hugh Gough. The Times
prints it in this way :—" The movement up the Yang-tze-
Kiang (with the interruption of all. commercial intercourse
by the imperial Canal) suggested by the British Government.
strenuously advocated by the Governor-General of India,.
and which was fortunately undertaken by Sir W. Parker and
myself previous to the receipt of these instructions, has thus
led to an earlier adjustment of the differences between En-
gland and China than could probably have been effecti.sti by
any other line of operations." The CAnnicie prints it thus
.

"rhe movement up the Yang-tw-Kiang (with the inter

ruption of all commercial inWcourse by the Imperial Canal)
suggested by the British Government, strenuously advocated
by the Governor,General of India, and which was fortunately
endertaken by Sir TV. Parker and myself previous to the
receipt of these instructions, has thus led to an earlier ad-
justment of the differences between England and China than
could probably have been effected by any other line of opera-
tiou."