The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-30 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

The British and North American royal mail steamer the
Columbia, Captain Judkins, arrived on Sunday at this port
from Boston and Halifax. She sailed from the former port
on the afternoon of the 16th instant, and from the latter
(where she stopped six hours) 'on the evening of the 18th ;
and has made the passage in the remarkably short space of
H days and 14 hours from Boston and 9 days and 16 hours
from Halifax. She has brought thirty passengers.
We have received by the Columbia New York papers of
the 15th instant, Boston of the 16th, and Halifax of the 18th.
The New York papers are four days later than those brought
by the Great Western, but they do not add materially to our
stock of American news.
The treaties between the United States and Great Britain
were sent to the Senate on the afternoon of the 11th instant.
The Senate, when in what is termed an " executive sitting,"
deliberate in secret'. Two or three such sittings bad been
held on the treaties, but, of course, no information respect-
ing them bad found its way into the newspapers. Not the
slightest doubt was felt, however, that the Senate would
approve of the treaties. A sum of some £12,000, in the
treasury of New Brunswick, denominated "the disputed
territory fund," and arising from duties levied upon the
timber cut on that territory during the last six or seven
years, is, according to the terms of the treaty,' to be paid
over to the United States, for the benefit of Maine and
Massachusetts.

Lord Ashburton, having fully and satisfactorily sccom-
plished the objects of his most important mission, was on
the point of quitting Washington for New York, where her
Majesty's ship Warspite was waiting to receive and convey
him home. The municipal authorities of New York were
preparing a cordial reception for his lordship. A joint com-
mittee of the two city boards had been appointed to receive
his excellency and do him the honours of the city. They had,
by an unanimous vote, placed at his disposal the large apart-
ment in the City Hall, usually appropriated to the use of
the Governor of the State, in which his lordship would see
company. He would take up his residence at Astor House.
The excitement caused by the President's rejection of the
Revenue Bill had not subsided. A committee of eleven had
been appointed by the House of Representatives to consider
and report what steps the house should adopt in consequence
of the veto message. It was rumoured, that another revenue
bill would be brought forward. The general opinion, how-
ever, seemed to be, that Congress would adjourn without
making a fresh attempt to legislate respecting the revenue.
The money and stock markets had not undergone any
material change in the interval betwixt the 11th and 15th
instant. Ohio stock had fallen considerably, however, from
an alarm, whether well or ill founded is not stated, of the
issue of new stock at ten per cent. interest. Money was
abundant and trade stagnant.
A sligat advance had taken place in foreign exchange,
caused by the absence from the market of Southern bills. A
limited business had been done for the Columbia at 107 per
cent. premium on London and 535 on Paris.
Captain Elliott, the new British Consul to Texas, arrived
at New Orleans on the sth instant, on his way to Houston.
Accounts from Rio de Janeiro of the 22d of June, had
been received at Baltimore. They announce the approaching
suppression of the insurrection in the province of St. Paul.
The imperial troops, under General Barao tie Caxias, had
pushed the insurgents from Itu and Porto Felix, the latter
abandoning much of their baggage and some artillery. They
I had retreated to Sorocaba, upon which place the imperial

troops were advancing, and expected to reach it on or before
the 19th. The force of the insurgents had been greatly
reduced by desertion, and Gen. Caxias was confident of
finishing the war in a few days, by the capture or dispersion
of the insurgents. To counterbalance these successes, how-
ever, it appears that a grito had been put forth in Barbacena,
province of Minas Geraes, having the same causes and mo-
tivei with that in the province of St. Paul. In consequence,
Certain articles of the constitution bad been suspended: all
persons were forbidden to enter or depart from that place
without a passport, and orders were issued for the arrest
and detention of suspicious persons there and in some other
of the provinces, as well as the province of Rio Janeiro, &c.
No other particulars are given.
The West India royal mail steamer the Clyde, Captain
Woodruff, in going from St. Thomas to Barbados, struck on
the southeast reef of St. Nevis, and laid there thirty-six
hours. She was lightened by heaving coal overboard, got
off, and returned to St. Thomas on the 26th ult. Next day
she was taking in coal, and would return home to repair
damages.
The British and North American royal mail steamer the
Britannia, Captain Hewitt, which sailed from this port on
the evening of the 4th, arrived at Halifax on the 17th inst.

THE " ATLAS" PRIZE ESSAY
ON THE CAUSES OF, AND THE REMEDIES FOR, THE

EXISTING DISTRESS IN THE COUNTRY.

(From the Atlas.)

In our last weeks number appeared the following an.
nouncement . _ _

" In order to discover, as far as possible, the cause of the
present distress in the country, as well as to indicate some
remedies for existing evils, the Proprietor of the Atlas'
Newspaper has resolved on offering ONE HUNDRED POUNDS
for the best Essay on this important subject. To the columns
of that Paper of next Saturday the Public is referred for ad-
ditional information on this subject."
In compliance with the promise thus made, we proceed to
state, with as much precision as possible, the nature of this
effort to assist in discovering remedies for admitted distress,
and to point out the character of the Essay which will, by
highly competent and distinguished judges, be selected as
that which shall most fully embrace the objects we desire to
attain.

The Prize Essay is not intended to promote the spread of
any party, or exclusive opinions. For although the Atlas
lent Its best aid to the ministry of Earl Grey, it has at all
times been willing to support good measures whether they
have proceeded from whigs or from tories, and haS invariably
looked to measures rather than to men.

Nor is it required or expected, that the Prize Essay should
be written to support exclusively any class of opinions of any
party. On some topics the writers of the Essays may agree
with one political party in the state, and on other topics with
the antagonist party.
No restriction whatever is laid on the political biasses of
the writers; but it is desirable that it should be felt by all
candidates, that the effort now making is not that of a party
desiring to witness the triumph of any one or more measures
to the exclusion of others as modes of relief, but that all who
can contribute by their suggestions of remedies for positive
and acknowledged distress, to alleviate the admitted misery,
will be those to whose contributions a decided preference
will be given.

This is an attempt to discover, by means of the application
of mind to the subject, to what causes, be they few or many,
may be attributed the distress in the manufacturing, mining,
and other districts of England, Scotland, and Wales ; and
then to the indication of the best, as well as the promptest
remedies for such distress.

It is, perhaps, unnecessary to state, that no restriction is
imposed relative to the points to be discussed, or the length
or brevity of their discussion, provided the matter introduced
shall evidently bear on the two points which must constitute
the gist of the Essay ;—the causes—and the remedies—for
the evil. It will therefore he wholly irrelevant to offer any
opinions on the merits of this or of that minister, whether
lately or at present in office. Their measures are, of course,
open to attack or approval, as bearing on the questions form-
ing the subject of the ATLAS Prize Essay.
It is, like wise,.desirable to state that no Dian is suggested,
and no rules as to the mode or manner of treating the ques-
tion are laid down. Preference will, undoubtedly, be given
to facts and figures, over mere opinions ; and opinions should
be founded on data, and not merely on political biasses.
Thus the candidates will have the right of expressing all their
opinions on all points which they may think will bear on the
question under discussion ; keeping in mind that the atten-
tion of the adjudicators will be specially dire.cted to ascertain
which essay is most replete with facts and statistics in sup-
port of the opinions expressed. The utmost liberty as to
facts and opinions is, of course, conceded to the candidate;
but they, in their turn, are requested to bear in mind that
the object in view is to do good, and to provide remedies for
evils, by searching into their various causes.
As the condition of Ireland is to be imputable to causes in
many respects wholly distinct from those which affect the
rest of the United Kingdom, it is not proposed that any re-
ference should be made in the essay to that portion of the
empire, except by way of illustration. Ireland has her pe-
culiar distress, population, habits, and institutions, and to
discuss these would rather tend to distract the attention both
of the candidates and the adjudicators from the real objects
of this essay, than to assist in its preparation or solution.

NAPOLEON'S ATTEMPT AT SELF-DESTRUCTION

The following important historical fact has been discredited
by so many individuals, both friends and enemies of Na-
poleon, that it may be interesting to our readers to have an
opportunity of perusing Mr. Alison's succinct account of it
in Mr. Alison's " History of Europe During the French
Revolution."

" A terrible catastrophe had well-nigh terminated at this
period* the life and sufferings of Napoleon. His departure
(from Fontainebleau) for Elba had been fixed for the 20th
of April ; and in the interim, while he was totally deserted
by all but a few domestics and his faithful Guards, it became
evident to those around him, that some absorbing idea had
taken possession Of his mind. He recurred constantly to the
last moment of departed greatness ; his conversation to his
intimate friends was entirely upon the illustrious men of
antiquity who, in circumstances similar to his own, had
fallen by their own hand. In the close of his career, as at
its outset, he dwelt on the heroes of Plutarch, and their
resolution not to survive misfortune. The apprehensions of
his attendants were increased when they learned that on
the 12th, the day after the signature of the treaty, he had
directed the Empress Maria Louisa, who was on her way
from Blois to join him, to delay the execution of her design,
On taking leave of Caulaincourt that night, after a mournful
reverie, he said, My resolution is taken,—we must end,—l
feel it.' Caulaincourt had not been many hours in bed when
he was suddenly roused by Constant, the Emperor's valet,
who entreated him to come instantly, for Napoleon was in
convulsions, and fast dying! He instantly ran in; and Ber-
trand and Murat were already there; but nothing was to be
heard but stifled groans from the bed of Napoleon. Soon,
however, his domestic surgeon, Ivan, who had so long at-
tended him in his campaigns, appeared in the utmost con-
sternation, and stated that he had been seen, shortly before
going to bed, to rise quietly, pour a liquid into a glass, and
lie down again ; and Ivan had recognised in the phial, which
was left on the table, a subtle poison,—a preparation of opium
and other deadly substances,—which he had given him during
the Moscow retreat, at his desire, and which, as long as the
danger lasted, he had constantly worn round his neck!
When Caulaincourt seized his hand, it was already cold !
' Caulaincourt,' said he, opening his eyes, lam about to
die ! I recommend you to my wife and son—defend my
memory. I could no longer endure life. The desertion of
my old companions in arms had broken my heart.' The
poison, however, either from having been so long kept, or
some other cause, had lost its original efficacy ; violent vo-
mitting gave him relief, he was with great difficulty pre-
vailed on to drink warm water, and after a mortal agony of
two hours, the spasms gradually subsided and he fell asleep.
Ivan,' said he, on awaking, the dose was not strong
enough—God did not will it ;' and he rose, pale and hlg-
gard, but composed, and seemed now to resign himself with
equanimity to his future fate."

* The short interval which elapsed between the abdication 01
Napoleon and his departure to Elba.

The South-Eattern Railway will be further opened to
Headcorn on Wednesday next.
PRINCE ALBERT'S BIRTHDAY.—Friday being the anni-
versary of the birthday of his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
when his Royal Highness completed his 23d year, having
been born August 26th, 1819, the morning was ushered in
by peals from the various churches in the metropolis, and in
the Royal parishes of St. Margaret, Westminster, and Ken-
sington, Royal standards were hoisted on the church steeples.
The day was also kept as a holiday at the public offices, and
at one o'clock the Park and Tower guns !Were fired. In the
evening there were numerous illuminations at the west end
of the town, &c.

- _
STORIII.—A thunder storm of considerable violence and
duration visited this part of the kingdom on Tuesday even-
ing, but providentially passed without serious mischief. In
the county of Durham it appears to have raged more vio-
lently, and at Castle Eden Colliery two lives were sacrificed.
A young man, named Proud, who was harvesting, was struck
and killed. In the other instance the sufferer was the wife
of Mr. W. Proud, sawyer, who was killed while nursing; the
husband, on entering the room, found her lifeless on the
floor, the infant remaining uninjured.