The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-08-15 00:00:00

been the view entertained, but it has now become
broadly apparent that Russia has herself no ulti-

matum, no limit to her desires

but the po

session

of universal empire, and this is a result which it
is the manifest duty of every state to prevent as
far as possible. Farewell to civilization, to learn-
ing, to religion, if ever Russia should obtain the
mastery. So insidious were her movements, so
cautious her policy, that it was at no time easy to
found upon them a casus belli, and persuade the
people of Europe that their liberties were in

danger from such stealthy steps ; but now that

the blast of war has been sounded, and nations
armed for the contest, the sword should not be
sheathed until full retribution for former injuries
has been accomplished, and the great enemy of
human progress restrained from the capability of
doing further mischief.

However great the changes that may be made
by the war now pending, or however seriously the
empire of Russia may be crippled for future opera-
tions, no detriment can take place to nritish com-
merce, tut the result will rather be directly the
contrary. Of all nations pretending to civiliza-
tion Russia took by far the least proportion of
13ritish manufactures, the Chief .of the trade be-
tween the two countries being in Russian produce,
'Which we could obtain as well or better if Russia
were annihilated us an European power. On the
other hand, if Finland were restored to Sweden, it
would ,be far more beneficial to our commerce ;
Poland, as an independent kingdom, would take
far more largely of our -exports than ever it did in
the hands of Rusia -; while the provinces to the
north of the )31aa Sea would, in the 'hands of
Turkey, lead to a very considerable increase of our
trade in that direction. The commercial policy of
Russia has been of the most exclusive character,
and only subniitt,d to because of 'the fear of :its
real or pretended power. Rusgitm interests have
been held to be paramount to -all Others, and no
step has been takento reduce her arrogant preten-
becatise she has cunningly selected for her
opponents `the effete power of Turkey, which, from
the peculiarity of her religion, had nothing in

common with the rest of Europe. Our duty on
the present occasion is ndt so much to-vindicate
Turkey as to restrain Russia, and this-duty will
not be. efectually performed unless Russia be re-
duced,'-before peace be proclaimed, within narrower
limits than she was 'at the commencement of
hostiPties.

COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS.

THE extraordinailly rapid progress which has
taken place in the commerce of this country since
the commencement r,f last year; has -set all ordinary
calculations at dcflance, and rendered insecure any

speculation as to the future. The stimulus given
by the reports of gold discoveries'in Australia led
to a very extensive emigration -to that distant
colony, and, with-slight cessations, this voluntary
expatriation has Still continued; .110 that a popula-
tion of consumers of British• produce and manu-
factures has suddenly been called-into existence at
the antipodes, .and formed a market for exports
the consumptive,powers of which seem inexhausti-
ble. In additioitto this great source of commercial
increase, it would appear that ,people in other
places have altot)st as suddenly become consumers;

for every month's return from tire' Board of Trade
shows a large addition to our -exports, and yet
accounts of glutted foreign markds are compara-
tively of rare ,occurrence. Were the cautions
Merchant to be -now actuated by what was formerly
considered prudent calculation, •he would be in-
duced to pause .and do nothing, lest. his compe-
titors should be-overdoing the trade.; but goods are
still sent away in almost boundless• profusion, and
though now and-then we hear of declining prices,
there is still a margin for profit, and. he next post
tells of more supplies being wanted. Ifthe demands
upon commercial activity have been sogreat during
a time when, from- scarcity of home-grown corn,
bread has been :double its ordinary price, what
limit shall we affix'to the future, after.= abundant
}harvest shall have •added millions to ,the national
%wealth, and reduced every man's expenses for
subsistence nearly fifty per cent. P It is;impossi-
14e to speculate upon premises which so far exceed
all previous experience, for we appear to have arrived
at: an era when no inerease. of shipping can exceed
the demand, no amount,of shipments produce more
than a temporary excess; and no extent of produc-
tion-outrun the capability-of consumption. While
the majority of the popularion,
either here or else-
-where, were content with-humble fare and but few
of the conveniences of divilisation, a moderate pro-
duction was sufficient to meet all requirements;;
but theiimprovement in the condition of the indus-
trious classes created wants.which still require to,
be satisfied. No longer content with that which,`
once .was sufficient for their , desires, they have
'tasted of luxuries which use
has converted into
laecessaries,,,the gold-fields:of Austealia have given
the means 'to thousands, and 4he effect of this
mighty change is not a glut -of the circulating
inedium,-hut,a4lemand for the products of industry
vhieh seems to ,know no limit. Emigration has
reduced competition in the labour market at home,
and ereated a market for consumption,abroad : the
spirit of emulation appears to have stimulated
mankind in every -direction, and as this is a race
which, 'unless violently checked, must betonward,
we can only anticipate a still greater increase of
those commercial operations which have obtained
for Great Britain, so 'prominent a position among
the nations of the earth.

Every day is now strengthening the confidence
in the productiveness of the present harvest, and
should expectation be realised, we may fairly pre-
imme upon a very considerable impetus being given
to almost every department of .ovr home trade, in
addition to the demands for exportation. The cost
of bread forms a material item in the expenditure
of every working-man, and all that is saved by its
reduced price will be spent in articles .of wearing
apparel and other comforts. This will promote
activity in the several departments of manufacture,
and find the means for a new class of consumers ;
so that the advantage will multiply itself in various
ways, and our imports will also be increased, not
in supplies of food for ordinary subsistence, which
our abundance of home growth will render less
necessary, but in those articles which contribute to
the revenue, and constitute what may be called the
luxuries of life. In every way, therefore, we may
anticipate an extension of our commerce, and this
in spite of the war in which we are now engaged.
In estimating the addition to the national wealth
from a productive harvest, it is impossible to arrive
at a reasonable degree of exactness, owing to the
absence of any agricultural statistics ; but if we
venture to calculate the additional quantity of
home-grown wheat as ten millions of quarters, at
50s. per quarter, we have twenty-five millions ;
and taking all other crops at only as much more,
we have no less than fifty millions sterling addi-
tional. Besides this, however, we must take into
account that we have less need of foreign supplies,
and the quantity that is imported will be paid for
at a less price ; so that the gain to the country
from the bounty of Providence may be considered
nearly equal to the whole of the revenue raised for
the national expenditure.