The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-14 00:00:00

SEVEN tiuil, that of -Doors gED AT SEVEN Z THE BENEFIT OF MR. PAUL BEDFORD. The Public is respectfully informed that arrangements have been made with Mr. YATES, Proprietor and Manager of the Theatre-Royal, Adelphi, for the production of the House Tavern, popular Dramas of that Theatre, the principal characters canisters. You of which will be sustained by the original representatives ;ervant AFIELD. or of the at that Theatre, Mrs. YATOS, Mr. PAUL BEDFORD Mr. WRIGHT, Mr. WIELAND, Mr. LYON, and Mr YATES The new Farce of the FLIP FLAP FOOTMAN, iu which Mr. WIELAND made his first appearance on Wednes day night in his original character of Vaulter Cork, having been received with the most distinguished approbation, will be repeated this Evening. In consequence of the unbounded acclamations with which the new Farce of DEEDS OF DREADFUL NOTE! was received on its first and second representations, and the bursts of applause which followed the Epilogue spoken by Mrs. YATES, it will be repeated, for the third time, early in the ensuing - Week. THIS present FRIDAY, May 14, will be performed the favourite Drains, written by Mr. Buckstone, for the Adelphi Theatre, called VICTORINE; OR, TLL SLEEP ON IT. The whole of the Novelties will be produced under the direction and superintendence of Mr. YATES. Alexandre.. Mr. Yates. Michael.. Mr. Lyon. Chanteloupe.. Mr. Paul Bedford. Blaize Victorine.. Mrs. Yates. By a Young Lady, Her first appearance on, any stage. To be followed by the BURLESQUE OF THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. Polly Peachum.. Mr. Paul Bedford. Mrs. Peachum Mr. Wright. Captain Macheath Miss E. Honner. Peachum.. Madame Simon. y Mr. 0. Horncastle To conclude with the Grand Finale of " NIX MY POLLY." After which, (for the second time here,) an original piece of Fun, in one act, written for the purpose of displaying Mr. Wieland's peculiar talent, called THE- FLIP-FLAP FOOTMAN. Vaulter Cork.... (the Flip-Flap Footman).... Mr. Wieland. Ignatius Livid, Esq Mr. Wright. On MONDAY NEXT, (May 17th,) will he produced, for the first time here, the Grand Historical Drama, with' new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations, as originally performed - - at the - Theatre-Royal, Adelphi, upwards of one hunt nights, called VALSHA, OR THE SLAVE QUEEN. Valsha, Mrs. Yates ; Graff, Mr. Lyon ; Bolbec, Mr. Wright.— After which, THE CELEBRATED BOLENO FAMILY, (whose performances at the Metropolitan and other Theatres have been pronounced unrivalled, and must be witnessed to be believed,) will make their first appearance in Liverpool in an entertainment peculiar to themselves, called L'ATELIER DE CANOVA.—To conclude with (for this night only) Boa's favourite Drama of OLIVER TWIST. Fagan, Mr. Yates; Sikes, Mr. Paul Bedford ; The Dodger, Mr. Wright. In consequence of the extensive preparations for the above novelties, THERE WILL BE No PERFORMANCE ON SA- TURDAY rht Ltbcrpooi k,tanban. FRIDA Y MORNING, MAY 14, 1841 It is argued by'a local Whig contemporary that Lord Sandon, by opposing the ministerial plan of free-trade in sugar, is taking a course calculated to do damage to the mercantile interests of Liverpool; but we differ from him completely in this opinion. Lord Sandon has had no other object in view than to protect a trade in which Liverpool is largely concerned ; and pro tecting that trade be doing disservice to Liverpool, we should like to know what openly attacking it would be ? ' When moving his amendment on Friday, his lord- ship called upon the house to recollect " that they were speaking of a trade that involved the interests of our manufacturers to the extent in 1839 of £9,000,000. And what was the value or the trade with Brazil ? In comparison with that of the East and West Indies it was . as nothing. The amount of her exports was £2,600,000 ; and he might add £300,000 or £400,000 for Cuba, naking it about £3,00,000. The manufac turers, therefore, would be prejudicing their own inte rests in dealing with the question in such a manner that, for the sake of one small uncertain import mar ket, they risked an extended, a fixed, a permanent mar ket in the West Indies." The question is one between our own colonial trade and a trade with foreigners ; and if, by endeavouring to extend our commerce with the latter, we must neces sarily do an equal, or greater amount of damage to the former, in what other light can the noble lord, whose amendment is designed to thwart this mischievous at tempt, be considered, than that in which he appears as a judicious friend to the commerce and prosperity of the town which he represents ? Ilis lordship thinks that we ought not for "one small uncertain import market to risk an 'extended, a fixed, and permanent market, in the West Indies ;" and we think, also, at a respectful distance, that his lordship is quite right in this opinion, and that. the great majority of our en lightened merchants will coincide in his views. Our contemporary, however, does not rest his as sault solely upon the ground of his lordship's baffling the scheme of free trade in slave sugar, but upon the consequential injuries that, he conceives, are likely to arise from his success on that point. " If Lord Sandon," he argues, " should succeed in per• suading the House of Commons that it is inexpedient to ad, mit foreign sugar at a protecting duty of fifty per cent., his lordship and his allies will certainly have no difficulty in con vincing the same parties that the British farmer ought to have an equal protection. If he is to have it, however, then farewell to any hope of a repeal of the corn laws. Should Lord Sandon succeed in defeating ministers o❑ this question also, he will have succeeded not only in inflicting the greatest_ injury ever inflicted on the port of Liverpool, but in depriv ing it of the greatest benefit ever offered to it." Our contemporary, having gone so far, might as well have gone a step farther, and capped the climax, by asking, what if Lord Sandon, by his amendment on the sugar duties, not only defeats, but unkennels the Whig ministry altogether—how great in that case will have been his doing—how tremendous his responsibi lities ! His lordship, however, must try to bear up against such a misfortune as well as he can. For our part we shall, in that event, thank him most cordially. We shall look upon it that he has done a deed that should immortalise him ; and, when next he comes to solicit the support of the burgesses of Liverpool, that shall secure him an easy and honourable return. But what strange people these Whigs are ! Here is a Whig journalist endeavouring to blow up Lord San- don for standing in the front of the battle, and doing such good service to the Conservative cause, and a Whig orator, Mr. Hugh llornby, whose feats of elo quence are recorded in the same paper, threatening Mr. CRESSWELL with extinction for not joining' in the battle. Well, there is no pleasing some people, hit them where you will. had there been occasion for Mr. Cresswell's services, we have no doubt that he would have supported his colleague with all that as tuteness of argument and fluency of eloquence which he so easily commands ; and we are far from agreeing with Mr. Hornby in his inference that, because he did not speak on the occasion, he " did not take any in terest in a question that would vitally affect the pro- Sperity of the country." But the truth is, the Whigs have already commenced electioneering; and, as nei ther Mr. CreEswell nor Lord Sandon is to their taste, we must be prepared for all manner of exceptions, ca vils, and objections to those two gentlemen who have both proved themselves so able and effective in their itor of Eye Snuff convincing proofs of tt )US Eye Snuff, in many cases at liberty to imake use of a at ,G. Charlo to Mr. Grimstone, Jan. 2, 1841 1 with bad eyes for a long time, your eye snuff e taken the contents of two of to say my ;4. , ,ht has im- loved land, sir, it n for the pod of to answer any inquiry G. SMITH L; S. Brewer, Dressmaker, yton Gravel Pits. Inventor of Eye Snuff. sth Dicember, for seven years, both eyes Annong the many famous oculist, ye my case was beyond all me was t ion, and 11 chincing one day being street. 8100 ary, my t in the shop, took re. I reached my home h if required to do so, Shall be happy to gratefully, , ne, 39, Broad-street. December, 1840 ;ed for many y wjth a severe ss of sight and dart had the first medical which I have of medicine, ut lain now delighted to say, Jr valuable eyisuuff, which 1. canist, pains, and can read the all be most happy to give uirer at my residence as r, your obedient humble .oad, Marylebone 2, for 1838. To Mr - , ,I)le invention of the Eye Snuff, • the diseased organs of the head id to man impart inventive art doubtless, drirnstone, thine was thy design ; t from danger now set free 74' are oa d , Mai Periodicals Letter to IV,n. Grimstone, Esq kugust 26, 1840 derived from using your justly arprised both me and my friends in medical advice for Ophthalmia for !ft without hope. I now give you my icy of your Eye Snuff, for that, and my sight.—l am, your obedient ser " H. MAUNDER MAY. Copy ref Letter to Wm. Grimstone, Eeq '• 10:11 August, 1840. )f enclosing cash for a further ppy to inform you that the person who Eye Snuff, being blind for the last six t distressing headache during twelve gyred from the latter, and nearly restored that he can see to th, distance of dicine having all been useless.= WALL ACE nekmocross, Ire lone, 39, Broad-street, " July 4, 1840. f gratitude I am induced to inform lease to publish the same,) having t with intlanin I me to use your valuable invention, Snuff. I am, sir, now perfectly recovered, only taken it constantly for six weeks, and lever be without it my sight is much bette s been for many years.—l am, sir, yours respect "J. BRYAN. n-street, Bryanstone-square." of a Letter, dated Leeds, July 4, 1834. ace received great benefit from your Eye Snuff. filleted ten years with Cataract, and was given e Medical Men, but was recommended to use your hich completely cured me in a few weeks. You may eof my name, if it will do you any good. Excuse r faithfully SAUNDEILSON, Harper-street, Leeds." this Odoriferous Herbaceous Compound of sisters, is 3d, 2s 4d, 4s 4d, Ss and 15s 6d. of original testimonials, gratis, with each rents, both Foreign and British. It can be he principal towns and cities. A liberal ers, owners, captains, and all vendors of Snuff: This celebrated snuff is shipped the globe, and retains its benign quality, All snuffs and cigars shipped on Me nonials may be had from all the Agents gvatis ELECTION.-TUESDAY lv after break of day, this otherwise quiet part of the which is constituted of the towns of Walmer, Deal, bited the commencement of all the noise to a contested election. Exactly as the the polling commenced, the sun at the most brilliant manner, but for the first as came to the booths. Till nine o'clock .ded without any obstruction, when the be seriously broken by a person in the in _ ix, attempting to vote while in a state of lis vote was resisted by the friends of Mr. iequences was a general fight, which iinate without the shedding of blood, being very freely used upon the heads itants. In the midst of this mates the _ iy Mr. Lindsay, interposed, and with altv at length succeeded in restoring order combatants, when Mr. Lindsay and the Mayor heered. At ten o'clock the majority of 34 for was exhibited from the hustings, immediately. mu coaches from Ramsgate, laden with voters be conservative candidate, arrived in the town, !ted with the loudest plaudits by Mr. Lindsay's caused the most evident consternation to the countenances sufficiently indicated that their oils were that they were already defeated. nnounced the state of the poll, at its final proce Colonel the cons ugh Hamilton Lindsay 40G or "Colonel Charles Richard Fox 360 or Mr_ P LVlajorit Hugh Hamilton Lindsay to be duly elected in the present parliament for the borough rich. (Tremendous upplause.) said, his triumphant return was an answer y reaction in the country, for he, who three mger amongst them, had triumphed over ministration, who had been supported by ch the Admiralty, the Ordnance, and the mi wand. in brief terms thanked his opponents for the hick they had received him, and his friends sous support which they had afforded. Though as to the efficacy of the ballot, the result of st induced him to make that experiment. luty in a short time again to present „es, and he felt confident he should do fferent result from that which this day's pro- STATE OF TRADE ;TER, MAY 12.—Not the slightest improvement ed itself in this market, On the contrary, the of demand, and the consequent pressure holders to submit to lower and lower compel tt Irices;both of goods and yarns, are now, we believe ly lower on the average than at any former period ) be no prospect of amendment, except nntion of production. This week. we id, ten of the principal firms in the neighbourhood am and Hollingworth, whose collective produce is iiderable, have agreed to work only four days per _ . gements are making in various other MONDAY, MAY 10.- 1 more, buyers in the market to-day, and ces sold than on last Monday; but the MARKET, nously low There is a port in the Ler small manufacturer having stopped pay•• of market still continues in a very depressed MAY 11.—This was a very eriptions of goods, there being 'styli at this season, and little In improvement. Prices are nominal. Trades ly look with great anxiety to the discussions in Ind hope twat the crisis will result in* some de- The f the corn-laws, and a modification of the to relieve the pressure on commerce aniversa TRUCTION ON A Li on the greatest alarm and CIFER FACTORY —On Tuesda A nfusion were occasioned readful fire bursting forth from and congreve manufactory, essrs. Trum an an d ll an b ury s vit.. Parsons. The lucifer manu- Id, the only portion of it remain ' walls. The house, No. 1:3, named Long, and tenanted ,elvCti Sc he origin of the fire is stated ~ ,L is o,c o : lb e iu • st ts s u o d f d la . 'nage, a portion suddenly igniting in t i in the place tames, but so combustible was appeared r t in ent that as soon as one part was he tire had not reached, .s not insured , and this makes the r l aeiory destroyed b y fire within the last mont h . ceurred at a place called Chelsea, near Leighton n the night of Saturday last. A bullying fellow, n Butcher, challenged to tight a ni an named Jame s Me fight lasted a considerable time, and at length ye his antagonist a blow on the neck which ren urn insensible, and from which he never recovered, lin the course of the morning. An inquest was held body, and the jury returned a verdict of " Man __Otter against Butcher and the seconds," who were iru nediately arrested and taken to prison.—Bedford Mercury. on to t THEATRE-ROYAL ; the Management of A HE ADELP For a limited THE PERFORM ANC parliamentary career mistake But to return to our Whig contemporary, who ar gues, that if the British farmer is to be protected, then farewell to a repeal of the corn laws ; and if this is to happen--(our contemporary is evidently a very long-headed, far-seeing speculatist)—why then fare well, Liverpool,—a long farewell to all thy greatness ! Our contemporary contends that all our prospects of further greatness depend upon opening . the trade in corn. Give us this, he says, and " Liverpool will be come one of the greatest corn markets in the world, both for foreign and domestic produce—a constant supply of foreign grain would keep the warehouses of Liverpool constantly full—the power of buying in every part of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, would give the shipowners profitable freight—the amount oc employment would be enormou One would think that our contemporary had been glorifying at this rate under the inspiration of opium, so delightful are the visions that dance before his eyes, and all this because the poor English farmer had been discarded, and left without protection ! But we tell our dreaming visionary that his fancy-sketch is in this case like other unsubstantial, baseless things of the same kind, and has in it neither probability nor likeli hood. The vast commerce of Liverpool has arisen from the general prosperity of the country, its high degree of civilisation, and the comforts and luxuries so exten sively used by t h e people; and it will further increase or fluctuate with the causes which have produced it. To suppose that Liverpool would thrivelq the depres sion of the gentry and the agricultural classes, is a gross This is a most dangerous delusion, and thrown out, we fear, with mischievous intent; but we are confident there is far too much solid good sense rpment in the merchants of Liverpool SON, WILL COMMENCF Shall be t of a Letter terrac Grimstone's El to 7uarters Z every c om Mr I am, sir,'you' Magaz herbs, for •eat benefit I hay Its action canner that 1 have J. B. I u for tt LnERPOOL r. CLARKS, Sole Lquge HI COMPANY, umber of Nights THIS EVENING, AND DURING THE HALF' and clear disce to allow it to have much influence on their mind They have had a peep behind the curtain, and have seen the wires that work the puppets, and the bellows that fills the organ The clap-trap of free corn-trade, therefore, will not deceive them, Their true interest is a rightful adjustment of the question between the manufacturer and the farmer, and not the affording Gf any unfair advantage to one over the other well know; and, kninving it, we venture to say they will not be misled by the too evidently desperate cry of a sinking ministry, the selfish yearnings of factory aristocrats, •or the shouting and mouthing of dema gogues who long for change, because no change could make them worse, and some might possibly make them a little better than they are. This they It was a bad omen for the anti-agricultural party, that the ministerial overture for " liberating the trade" was made by a member of the house of Bedford—be cause this ancient and once illustrious house appears at this moment in a state of perfect mutiny. Lord Charles James differs from Lord John, Lord John dif fers from himself; and the Duke of •Bedford, the noble head of the house, differs from both. In d'art, there is no agreement among them but in differing—and that, in pursuing his own peculiar road, each noble lord turns to look to his proper and peculiar interest , and to nought beyond, or beside: That Lord John should be Xll his life a corn-law man, and had become inveterate in his protection pre dilections, was not surprising, considering his numer ous and powerful aristocratical and agricultural connec- The only thing which seems incredible is, that so staunch a friend to the farmer as he,once seemed to be, should, on a sudden, renounce all his old opinions and pledges, and " wheel about and turn about". antiquated Jim Crow—at the eleventh hour. But being a member of a notoriously squeezable administration, it did happen that his friends were sO squeezed on this occasion as never was ministry squeezed before—so much so that Lord John yielded up one of the firmest opinions of his past political life, in the hope—the vain hope, we fear,' of preserving their existence. A Brighton paper has favored us with a reprint of an old letter of Lord John's—the litera scripta manet, unfortunately—to the farmers of Huntingdon, when his lordship was not in his present unpleasant state of strangulation, and he spepks his mind naturally and freely. In this letter there is one good passage which we think well worth transcribing—as it admits of as ready application just now as it did at the period of its date. He says : " There is a party among us, however, distinguished in what is called the science of political economy, that wish to substitute the corn of Poland and Russia for our own. Their rinciple is, that you ought always to buy where you can buy They repeat with emphasis that the nation pays a ix of £25,000 yearly to the growers of corn'; and count as othing to the country the value of a hardy race of farmers and labourers. They care not for the difference between an heapest agricultural and manufacturing population in all that concerns morals, order, national strength, and national tranquillity. Wealth is the only object of their speculation ; nor do they much consider the two or three millions of people that may be reduced to utter beggary in the course of their operations. This they call diverting capital into another channel. Their reasoning lies so much in abstract theories—their specula tion deals so much by the gross, that they have the same sensibility about the suffering of a people that a general has respecting the loss of men wearied out by his operations. It is to these men, I suspect, that our ministers are about to give up the question of free trade in corn." But though our Colonial Secretary has thus "jumped Jim Crow," as a last effort to save himself and com pany, his brother Lord Charles James jumps not with him—but -with great prudence takes care of number one. The member for Stroud is secure of his seat, but is not so secure of his place ; he therefore tries to strengthen himself where he is weak, and abandons the farmer to the fury of the factory-men ; the member for Bedfordshire, on the other hand, has no place to secure, but is apprehensive for his seat, and he avails himself of the earliest opportunity to assure the farmers that he has no notion of turning with his noble relative. The following letter, addressed to Alexander Sharman, Esq., Eedford election agent, will explain itself : " House of Commons, May 7, 1841 " Dear Sir,—Lord John Russell has just declared what he proposes shall be the amount of duty upon the importation of foreign corn : wheat, Bs. per quarter; barley, 4s. 6d. ; oats, 3s. 4d. And I hasten to communicate to you that, through you, it may be known at Bedford market to-morrow. I remember that when once alluding to the corn-laws at some public meeting at Bedford, I remarked, When those laws are threatened, do as you have done ; call a public meeting, and make your sentiments known to the legislature,' or words to that effect ; and if I recall my advice on the present occa sion, it is only because time presses, and because there can hsrdly be two opinions between those interested in agricul ture on the subject. Of course petitions will immediately be started on the subject:: Should they be in time, so much the better ; should they not; I shall be at no loss to under stand their prayer ; and come the resolutions on the duties when they may, I shall be found at my post, ready to oppose them.—ln great haste, very faithfully yours, " CHARLES J. F. RUSSELL." Meanwhile the Duke, who takes neither side on the political question, is taking the sure 'side as regards his own interest, and occupies himself, as a correspon dent of a London paper alleges, in raising the far mers' rents ! So much for the house of Russell. Gentlemen Free-traders, here is a capital lot—a very fine lot—and you may have them dog-cheap. Name soinething to begin with. Come, gentlemen, what shall we say for the three ? Going—going ! Our readers will find, in another part of this sheet, a letter from Mr. John Gladstone on the whig financial scheme, written immediately after the Chancellor had opened his unfortunate budget. The observations of Mr. Gladstone on political or commercial topics are always acceptable, and commend themselves to atten tion by the evident maturity of consideration from which they flow, and the perspicuous and pleasing manner in which they are conveyed. His letters would serve as a model of style for treating such subjects, and we read them always with pleasure and profit, even when it happens that we have met with some of the arguments or facts elsewhere—and the reason is, be cause Mr. Gladstone is one - who thinks and judges in dependently for himself, and because we feel a confi dence in the excellence of his judgment, the disinter estedness of his opinions, and the purity of his inten tions, which we cannot so easily repose in other men. In the letter to which we would now direct atten tion, he reviews the whig finance scheme, and briefly, but satisfactorily and conclusively, discusses its several It is a scheme, we would say, pre-eminently characterised by liberalism—by an attempt to fuse down all interests, whether foreign or domestic, into one common mass—and abandons genuine British objects, rights, and concerns, to the chances of a general scramble. It commences with the colohies, and Mr. Gladstone forcibly points out the injury and injustice which it would inflict upon them. First, as regards the timber duty, it is proposed, he observes, so to alter it as to " encourage the importation of Baltic timber, of which the greater part has been hitherto imported in fo reign shipping, to the discouragement of our own, the cost of the cargoes, with the freight, being paid chiefly in money, and not in goods—the ships, with the excep tion of salt from Liverpool, an article of little compa rative value, returning to their own ports in ballast." Next, lie discusses the probable operation of the change in the sugar duties—the subject which has just occupied so much time in the House of Commons ; and, lastly, he adverts to the corn question, concluding with an earnest recommendation of that mode of relief for the distress of the country to which we took occa- features sion to direct attention in our last, namely, emigration. For the several pertinent and important arguments in troduced under these heads, we must refer to the letter itself; and if there are any who remain in doubt touch ing the important questions adverted to, they will find therein much, we apprehend, calculated to lead them to certainty and decision. As to the slave sugar pro ject, we look upon it as altogether infamous. As a measure of finance, it would entirely fail unless the country were nearly inundated with slave-raised sugar; and with such an influx from foreigners, what must be the fate of our colonies ? Truly, if there ever was a perfectly Anti-British, and everyway dishonourable contrivance suggested, this is the one. You deprived the West Indian of labourers; you purchased, it is true, the emancipation of his slaves, and you did well in so doing ; but do you call it just or fair, before he has had time to arrange his affairs, now placed in 4, totally new position—before he has been able to pro vide himself with an adequate supply of free labourers —to subject him to competition with the most reckless slave-drivers ? Truly your regard for the British colo nist is quite as remarkable as your tenderness for the African negro. It is Whig all over. " But it would bring in revenue."—We deny it-- and for this reason, because for every hogshead of free sugar displaced, you would occasion a commensurate injury to those possessions by which such sugar was produced. " But the slave countries Would take more of our goods.". '—This is doubtful. Slaves are not con sumers of our productions, and the slave countries al ready take as much of our productions as they have need of ; but even if an increase in. our exports did take place to the slave countries, it would be more thancounterbalanced by the decrease which would in evitably occur in those to our colonies. We deny, therefore, that there would be any gain from the mea sure, and we should stand, consequently, just in the position of •meit who had done a dishonest and disho nourable act, but lost the reward. The Manchester Guardian remains unconvinced, and still calls upon the Manchesterians to persevere. We are sorry for it, for we assure him very earnestly and sincerely that the job he has taken in hands is altoge ther a bad one. Having slept a whole post upon our last article, be at length awakes, and discovers that our argument comes short. " You don't go far enough," he says ; you should lay claim to warehousing all goods, whe ther customable' or not, and if you cannot establish that point, you should give up." But we had better give the objection in his own words : " The argument of the Liverpool Standard tends to support, not merely the retention of the present law, but the passing of another for the purpose of preventing the Manchester merchant 'froffi warehousing any foreign produce whatever except is Liverpool. ~The payment or non-payment of duty cannot make the slightest difference in the equity of the case ; and unless the advocates of. the ex .clusive privileges of Liverpool are prepared to assert that there ought to be a law for compelling the warehousing of all goods in that town, they must give up their claim which they now advance,,on the score of equity and justice." So, it seems, .we are too moderate, according to the Guardian's notion, in our demands. Well, we had rather be moderate than monopolising. But is not the objection a curious one? We are• soliciting no new law of warehousing—we are looking for no new privi leges; we are merely asking to be left in the enjoy ment of those we have. It is enough, then, for us to remain on the defensive—nor has the Guardian any right to taunt us with seeking any thing new or unreasonable, seeing that we only ask not to be de nuded by others on whom the charge may much more reasonably be retorted. The innovation sought for at Manchester would in volve an increase in the expense of revenue collection, and afford no equivalent to the public at large ; it is required solely for the convenience of a few, whose ad vantage, however, cannot be consulted for, without a certain loss to others of probably.much greater amount than their gain-- - -and , we submit, therefore, that this is just an innovation of that sort which the legislature ought by no means to encourage. We say that it is needless, inequitable, and moreover impolitic; and we have not been answered on these heads, simply because our position is m#n swerable. The Guardian observes : " No complaint was made at Manchester when an immense cotton mill was recently erected at Liverpool; and the mer chants and brokers of that town may all turn spinners of cot ton, if so it shall please them to do, without a word of com plaint from anybody." With regard to the cotton-mill recently erected in this town, or in its vicinity, we believe that that in vestment was altogether the work of strangers—of Manchester people for aught we know; but no matter whose it was, we thank the Guardian for his liberality touching Liverpool speculation in such concerns, and we feel that we cannot do less than proffer him our courtesy in return ; wherefore, we beg to assure him that if any of the mill-owners, or cotton-spinners of Manchester feel so disposed, they may purchase ware houses in Liverpool, and bond cotton, or vend it as brokers—in Liverpool—ad libitum, and ad infinitum, without a word, of complaint from us, or we believe from anybody. And this is seriously what we invite them to do, and. to abandon their present project, which we regard as a direct attack upon our good town, and therefore feel called upon to repel to the utmost of our ability. If there be any truth in the report that the Whig party in this town mean to start a brace of candidates of their own, and that Sir Joshua Walmsley and Mr. Labouchere are the men, we know not whether to con gratulate the party more on their pluck or their choice. . _ As to Mr. Labouchere, we know not yet in what capacity he may present himself. At present he is in deed an official personage, but whether he will be so on the dissolution of parliament is not quite so certain. Out of office, however, or in office, Mr. Labouchere is hut a Whig; and, as to his disputing Liverpool with either of her present representatives, we think his chance of success is but moderate—that's all. With regard to our friend of the "free and easy," we would advise him, in all singleness of mind, to stick to his employment of perpetual chairman to all the Radical meetings, in doors or out of doors, and to ab stain from going a-colonelling in search of a seat in parliament. "They that go to the wars must expect blows;" but there are some—as the squire of the im mortal knight of the rueful visage declares —who get nothing else, and return borne much worse than they set out. Our ambitious knight might do well to pon der a little upon this remark. ASTOUNDING EFFECT OF MR. HUGH lIORNBY'S SPEECH AT THE MUSIC-HALL! PROBABILITY OF AN IMMEDIATE WAR !! About three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon a copy of the Liverpool Standard (containing a report of the great meet ing held in Liverpool on Monday) arrived, by express, at the treasury, for the perusal of Lord Melbourne, who is an in tense admirer of that journal (we thank his lordship for the compliment) ; and, in a few moments after its arrival, a hasty muster of ministers was got together to consider the following remarkable passage in the speech of Mr. Hugh Hornby :—" The only way of putting an end to the slave trade, worthy of this nation, is boldly and manfully to declare any country, which allows her colonies to import slaves, our enemy !!" The object of this hasty cabinet coun cil was to discuss the question, whether this new suggestion was not worthy of adoption by the ministry in the present Our informant has not been able to give us the full pro.. proceedings of the council ; but we may state as the result, that if by no other means the ministry can appease the ex citement produced by their unfortunate demonstration in favour of the slave trade, they are prepared to accompany the reduction of duties upon slave-grown sugar with a declara tion of war against the following countries, which are all more or less concerned in the importation of slaves, or in the main tenance of slavery, viz., the United States, Texas, the Brazils, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Mehemet Ali, &c. This " manful" resolve, we understand, will be announced to the public at the approaching meeting of the Anti-slavery So ciety, which is to be held at Exeter -hall on the 18th instant ; and it is expected that a step, which shews so unequivocal a detestation of the unchristian and cruel practices of the sla vers, will have the effect of reinstating the government in the good graces of Sir Thomas Powell Buxton, Mr. Clarkson, Dr. Lushington, Daniel O'Connell, and others, who are at present a little dubious in their allegiance. It was not stated, however, from what source the Chancellor of the Exchequer is to provide the wherewithal for this noble effort ; but Mr. Hornby's word is to be taken for the fact that it is one in which ministers will " receive the enthusiastic support of the people of England." We shduldn't wonder. LITERARY NOTICE. A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Butler, a Priest of the Roman Schism in Ireland, from the Rev. Hugh 31`Neile. Lace and Addison, North Crescect We are glad to see that the contents of this admirable letter are so highly appreciated, that a second edition of it has been called for and is now ready. The first issue was sold off in the course of two days; and, we are persuaded that the perusal of the arguments of Mr. Nl`Neile has not only substantiated his previous statements and documentary evidence, but has also laid bare the clap-trap assertions of the Romish doctor. We perceive that our Protestant champion h as b een d o i n g t h e good cause essential servi c e during a few days' sojourn in London, having preached the anniversary sermon for the Protestant Association, and ad dressed a powerful speech at the annual meeting of the same body, besides being present and offering some very appropriate remarks at the meetings of many other societies. LOCAL NEWS LIVER THEATRE.-Mr. Jacobs's - amusing perforrnapeti terminate this week.. The deceptions and tricks of sleight of-hand are very clever : Mr. Jacobs, as a ventriloquist, ap proaches the nearest to M. Alexandre of any one we have heard of late. MODEL OF HOBART TOWN.—We recommend our readers to visit this interesting model. It enables the spectator to form an excellent idea of the state of society in the place, and trace the march of civilization in this part of the southren world All those who are interested in the trade of Hobart Town should visit the mode GREGORIAN PAST —We perceive that the Rev : Gorman Gregg celebrated for his Tooth Paste, is now residing in Li verpool. His advertisement appears elsewhere in our paper this day. We have heard this paste much spoken of for its efficacy Mr:Power had no less a sum thanSo,ooo dollars.in.specie on board the President when she left America, This large spm was the product of land which he had from time to time purchased in Texas, from earnings hardly accumulated in that country, and which, on the occasion of his last visit to the states, he had sold, with the laudable intention of con _ solidating his pecuniary means in the English funds INTENDED ALTERATION IN THE CONVEYANCE OF THE LONDON EVENING —We are informed, that in the course of the next month the London evening mail will be be conveyed to Liverpool by way of Crewe, Chester, and Bir kenhead. By this arrangement it is expected the mail will arrive here half an hour earlier than at present. MANCHESTER BOROUGH COURT.—On Monday last Mr. Charles Thompson was brought before this court charged with forgery. It appeared that the prisoner had been until lately the Secretary of the Manchester and Sheffield Railway Company, and had paid several of the accounts due from the company in bills, contrary to the order of the directors. In the case brought before the court the prisoner was charged with forging a receipt fora sum of money from Messrs. Tay lor and Co., of Hollinvvood • and Mr. Maude, the magistrate; said a sufficient case of fraud had been made out against the prisoner, and he must be committed to the assizes for forgery. THE PRESIDENT.—We still continue without any intelli gence of this unfortunate vessel. In the anxiety occasioned by the distressing uncertainty as to her fate, the slightest hint on which it is possible to hang a probability of her safety is eagerly caught at ; and thus repeated expectations are raised, only to be as speedily disappointed. On Tuesday a para graph in one of the London journals attracted unusual inte rest, and caused so much attention in the Exchange news room, that it was difficult for a time to get near enough to read it. This was an intimation, on the authority of an entry in the log-book of the Lord Saumarez, arrived at Deal from the Mauritius, that a large steamer had been seen on the 10th of April, in let. 13 N., long. 23 W., standing to the N.W., under canvas, and without steam. Of course it was imme diately inferred that this might be the missing President. The chances, however, of such being the case were extremely small. Thirteen degrees of north latitude would be about the situation of the Cape de Verds, and at least 2,000 miles out of the President's course. But the delusion was destined to he as short-lived as the foundation on which it rested was faint. The Times of Tuesday morning, in giving the report, adds the following explanation :—" This is supposed to have been the Earl of Hardwicke, arrived in the Downs from Calcutta, which vessel is fitted up as a steamer, but usually uses canvas. She would have been in this track." The brig Petrel, ar rived from Buenos Ayres, reports having passed, on the 30th of April, in lat. 46, 45 N., long. 13, 20 W., a three-masted steamer standing to the N.E., and apparently not steaming. This is no doubt the same vessel seen by the Lord Saumarez. TIIE ATLANTIC STEAMERS. — The following letter from a practical sailor is well worth perusal. especially at the present time :—" A great error is committed in the masting of the Atlantic sailing steamers by giving them mizen-masts of too small dimensions, thus rendering them incapable of bearing a canvass sufficiently strong and large to bring the vessel's head to six points of the wind in a hard eale, (whilst the ma chinery'is useless,) hence, they fall into the trough of the sea and become liable to foundering. Permit me to state a com parative case. Suppose a large frigate is caught in a hard gale with only her foremast standing, having the yards com plete and the jury-masts abaft, the frigate in that condition would not be able to lay to, unless the foremast were cut away, otherwise she would inevitably fall off into the trough of the sea and be in danger, of foundering. Just so is the Condition of those steamers having great length; for while the foremast stood, it would be impracticable to bring the vessel's head to six points of the wind with the bit of a storm trysail they could show on a small wizen-mast. Their pre sent construction of masting evidently denotes they are only intended for convenience and fine weather, instead of being prepared to weather storms at sea. It is therefore suggested that the mizen-mast should be nearly of the same girth as the foremast, having a proportionable gaff, capable of sus taining a balanced wizen or storm trysail, which could have the effect of bringing the vessel's head to the wind; or, in other words, she would lie to in safety. If misadventure bath befallen the President, it is doubtless owing to cutting away her foremast for the purpose of bringing the vessel's head to the wind, and receiving fatal damage from the mast, after its fall overboard, whilst lying in the trough of the sea. This notice is given as a warning to all owners and com manders of steam vessels of great length, by an officer of the navy belonging to the '.old school.' " THEATRE-ROYAL. — Some of the novelties that proved so attractive at the Adelphi Theatre during the late season have been produced here since Monday, hut strange to say, have failed in drawing an average good house. Why this is we cannot make out ; those who have been present have ap peared highly delighted. In " Agnes St. Aubyn," Mrs. Yates plays charmingly—there is no lady on the stage so excellent in the protraiture of domestic life as Mrs. Yates. There are some capital situations in this drama; one, an interview between D' Areourt, (Mr. Yates,) and Tompkins, (Mr. Wright,) is inimitable. Paul Bedford's Doliny is a finished ruffian. The farce of " Deeds of Dreadful Note," brought out on Wednesday, created the most uproarious laughter we ever heard within the walls of this Theatre. Yates, as Fright, Wright, as Tremor, and Mrs. Yates as Mrs. Fright completely threw the audience into convulsions. We will not detail the plot, as it may spoil the interest to those who intend seeing it. The care-worn and world-weary we recommend especially to see `• Deeds of Dreadful Note ;" it will take out all their wrinkles. We never saw mirth grow so fast and furious. At the close of " Agnes St. Aubyn," on Wednesday, Mr. Yates came forward to give out' the performances, when the following request was made in true Adelphic style :—" Ladies and Gentlemen, to-morrow evening so and so will be performed—(stating the entertain ' ments)—and Ladies and Gentlemen, the few that are here , will perhaps be so kind as to mention it to their friends when they go home." The orator was honoured, of course, with "loud laughter and cheers!' It was a rich bit. The entertainments to-night are for the benefit of Mr. Bedford, when he will undertake the gentle Polly Peachum, in the " Beggar's Opera." As Zane Kiebabs says, " More fun — nothing but fun." THE LATE REV. JOHN THOMPSON'S PICTURES.—The pictures consigned by the family of this lamented and most talented artist are now on view at Mr. Witistanley's. They will be sold by him on Monday next. Our Scotch friends will no doubt muster pretty strongly on the occasion, and a very smart competition may be expected for these highly prized relics of genius. The late Rev. Mr. Thompson may take a foremost rank amongst the artists of Scotland, although an amateur. He laid his colours on in broad masses, and produced by daring touches an effect that all who know his pictures admit to be extraordinary. The paintings now on view represent scenes in the Highlands and other romantic parts of Scotland. The sketches—of which there are many —are all extremely clever : even the most crude indicate the abilities of the artist. Several of the finished pictures were his great favourites : they are most masterly performances. These works will fetch in a few years double their present price. A visit to Mr. Winstanley's gallery will amply repay any one for the time bestowed upon an inspection of these paintings. Now that we are on the subject of art, we are glad to be able to announce that it is determined upon to erect a permanent gallery in Colquit-street, opposite the Royal Institution. It will be a handsome stone-fronted building, and an ornament to the street. If the wealthy gentry residing in Liverpool, and the nobility in its environs, will now come forward and contribute, if only one picture a piece from the very excellent collections in their possession, this gallery in a very short time may become a pride and boast of the town. The committee and members of the Royal Institution have acted with a liberality that does them honour : the whole of their fine collection of paintings and busts are to be placed in the gallery. It is only left now to the public to come forward and aid them : surely a few thou , sands can be raised in the course of a year or two to give the promoters a helping hand. We have so often advocated the establishment of this gallery in the Standard, that we feel much pleased on the occasion. THE ATLANTIC STEAMERS.- - The Columbia would leave Boston on the Ist instant, but as it is uncertain whether she would leave Halifax until the 4th, she may not arrive here until to-morrow, more especially as she had had in all proba bility some heavy gales to encounter. We shall be on the look-out also for the arrival of the Great Western, which, having left New York on the Ist, way be considered due to day at Bristol. We shall have early intimation when these vessels reach their destination, and shall, of course, publish the intelligence they may bring at the earliest possible period. M. JULLIEN'S CONCERTS AT THE AMPHITHEATRE.— M. Jullien's benefit takes place this evening. So talented a musician and admirable leader, and one who has catered so ably for the public amusement during the past fortnight, will, we hope, meet with patronage on the occasion of his making his bow before them. On this occasion will be performed all the mnsical pieces that have been most successful during M. Jullien's stay in Liverpool, viz., Grand Symphony by Beethoven ; overtures—Massaniello and Guilliame Tell; fantasia—Lucia de Lammermoor; The Departure of the Young Sailor—Robert le Diable ; quadrilles and waltzes — The Royal Chasse, Le Chromatique, La Caille, Rositta. Amongst these splendid performances, M. Jullien will be heard twice on the piccolo, in the Nightingale Waltz and in the Quadrille Parisien. Besides these, will be performed, for the first time, a new quadrille, composed expressly for the occasion by M. Jullien, and dedicated to the ladies of Liverpool. These concerts have given unmixed satisfaction, and have been tolerably well attended, considering the " hardness of the times." To-morrow the proceeds will be for the benefit of the instrumental performers; and, as it will be the last night of the appearance of this celebrated band, an excellent house may be anticipated. SHREWSBURY FAIR, MAY 11.—The supply of sheep in our fair was not so large as usual at this tiine" of the year. Best quality was sold readily in the wool from 74d. to Bd. per lb., whilst those without the wool sold from 6id. to 7d. per lb. Good wether sheep for store selling well. Ewes and lambs were plentiful, and those of a good description sold at good prices. Strong store pigs were sold at good prices, but the smaller kind were lower than at our last fair. TRADE OF BRITISH POSSESSIONS ABROAD.—From a re turn made to the House of Commons in pursuance of a mo tion lately made by Mr. Goulburn, M.P., it appears that the total declared value of the several articles of British produce or manufacture imported into the British North American provinces and the British West Indies in the year 1839, on which, if foreign produce or manufacture and imported from foreign countries, a duty of 30 or 20 per cent. respectively would have been chargeable, was £2,957,093, and that the total declared value of foreign manufacture imported into the above countries in 1839, subject to the above duties of 30 or 20 per cent. respectively, was 4:10,021, DEATH OF Sm. FREDERICK JOHNSTONE. — This melan choly event was on Monday the general topic of conversation. The circumstances, as currently stated and generally be lieved in the best informed circles, were as follows ;—Sir Frederick, in company with Mr. Borthwick, was returning to Eglinton Castle, at which both had been visitors for some clays, from a dinner party at a gentleman's seat a few miles distant. Sir Frederick rode forward, and was found by Mr. Borthwick lying on the ground and bleeding profusely. The latter took him up on his horse and conveyed him to Eglinton Castle, where the unfortunate baronet expired soon after his arrival. An alarm had been previously given at the Castle by Sir Frederick's horse galloping up to the stables without a rider, his knees broken, and the saddle much damaged. Sir Frederick was married only a few months ago to the Lady Louisa Frederica, daughter of the late and sister of the pre sent Earl Craven. Her ladyship's accouchment is expected to take place in August. A CHINESE MAP OF THE WORLD.—A tolerable idea of the advanced state of Chinese geography may be gathered from a glance at a map of the world produced by them. It is two feet wide by three and a half high, and is almost co vered with China I In the left hand corner, at the top is a sea three inches square, in which a re delineated as islands, and of small size, Europe, ngland, France Holland, Portugal, and Africa ! Holland is as large as all the rest, and Africa is not so big as the top of one's little finger ! The northern frontier is Russia, very large. How it must astonish the Celestials to find that they are obliged to bow to the power of one of these small islantb ! CHESTER AND - BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY. The adjourned half-yearly general meeting of the proprie tors of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway, was held at one o'clock on Wednesday, in the Clarendon Rooms, South John-street, for the purpose of receiving a report from the committee appointed on the 10th of April, on the working of the ferries and the general arrangements of the company. WILLIAM DixoN, Esq., chairman of the board of direc tors, took the chair, and called upon the committee to read their report. He flattered himself the report would state that the committee had received every information they re quired from the directors. Sir JOSHUA WALNistEY then rose, and said that in com pliance 'with a resolution of the last meeting the committee to whom the proprietors had given the powers to inquire into this, he might say, delicate, onerous and somewhat-unplea sant business, had, with all the ability of which they were possessed, _devoted a considerable partion of time, as well as considerable patience, to ascertain the true state of the con cerns of the railway. (Hear.) It would be unnecessary for him to enter into particulars, inasmuch as those particulars, so far as the committee had been able to ascertain them, were committed to writing. He must, however ' beg to say, that in conducting the inquiry the committee had received from the directors every courtesy and information they were capable of giving, and he trusted that, it in the report which the committee had thought it their duty to make, there were any expressions or remarks which might riot be entirely plea sing to the directors, they would not consider the same as applied personally to any one individual of the board, but that they had been made use of entirely in the strict line of that duty which the committee had to discharge. The corn mittee,'as proprietors, felt they owed it to themselves, and more especially to the proprietors generally, to offer a tear ; less and an impartial report, and such report they had en deavoured to give. He would, therefore, call on the gentle man who had kindly acted as secretary during the labours of the committee to read it, and it would then he.for the meet ing to say whether they would adopt it or not ; but whether it would be adopted or rejected the committee were satisfied :o leave the decision of that matter in the hands of the meet- ing assuring them that as proprietors they had given the subject their best attention, and that they conceived it would be the interest of the proprietors generally to give the report their sanction. Mr. J. RADCLIFFE, one of the committee, then read the report of the committee, as follows : REPORT " At a meeting of the proprietors of the Chester and Bir kenhead Railway, held at the Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool, on Saturday, the 10th day of April, the following resolution was passed:— " That a committee be appointed with powers to inquire . . into the circumstances connected with the Purchase andpre sent position of the Monks' and Woodside Ferries, as well as other lands held by the company, and not now wanted ; and that the committee be further authorized to inquire into the propriety of a better arrangement of the two or joint di rectors. and such other matters as can be inquired into, without injury to the interests of the company. After reciting the names of the committee, the report pro ceeded, " In conformity ciith this resolution, your committee hav- ing met, appointed Sir Joshua Walmsley chairman, and agreed upon a series of questions to be put to the directors of the railway, calculated to,obtain the requisite information upon the important matters which they, were appointed to investigate. These queries having been laid before the di rectors, your committee were invited to meet the board, and at this and subsequent meetings, both in writing and verbally, the information sought for was freely given. " As it does not appear to your committee that secrecy or reserve can prove beneficial to the interests of the company, your committee now proceed to lay the whole case and their opinions before you ; and as a knowledge of the present state of the funds of the company became, in the course of the inquiry, of great importance, your committee think it ne cessary, .in the very outset of their report, to place that information prominently before you. " The actual expenditure by the company amounts to £467,050; the liabilities, including all the expenditure which the engineer anticipates for the final completion of the present works, £so,42B—making a total of £517,428. The amount of calls and paid and unpaid, the sums obtained on mortgage, and the present value of the land not used for the purposes of the railway, amount, in all, to about £531,000, leaving a surplus of about £17,000. The several lots of land in the possession of the company, - and which have not been used for the purposes of the railway, and which your committee believe would sell for more than the original cost, would re quire to be disposed of, in order to discharge the liabilities of the'company ; but your committee, in the discharge of the trust you have reposed in them, feel compelled to recommend that those pieces of land (with, perhaps, one exception) should not be disposed of until the period arrives when this great undertaking, having clearly developed itself, will have left no doubt as to what portion of the land may be required for the efficient working of the line. " Your committee give this advice to the proprietors with more confidence from their being convinced that no loss can be sustained by the company by abstaining from the prema ture sale of a property which has shown such a decided ten- dency to increase, even in market value, but, when viewed in connection with the future working of. the railway, the value of which cannot be accurately estimated. " Your committee, accompanied by a few of the directors and the company's engineer, passed over the whole line of railway ' • and it with pleasure your committee can report that, asfar as they. were able to judge, the whole of the work yet completed bas.been done in a substantial, workmanlike manner.; expense in mere ornament has been avoided, whilst permanence and utility have been kept in view ; and your committee consider it their duty to state their unanimous opinion that, as far as the engineering department is con cerned, as much has been accomplished as circumstances would permit. " As.an idea has been very prevalent amongst the share holders that the law charges incurred in obtaining the act of parliament, and subsequently to the obtaining of ,the act, have been great, your committee think it proper to state, that the total cost of obtaining the act of parliament, including ,the engineer's and other expenses, amount to the sum of And the law charges bubsequently incurred " Making a total of. £lOl6l 13 9 3420 2 8 £13581 16 5 " This item of expenditure, though large, may be con sidered moderate when compared with costs of a similar kind incurred by other railway companies, and falls far short of the exaggerated statements which have been current on the ' subject amongst the proprietors. • " Your committee now beg to lay before you the result of those inquiries into the purchase and present position of the Monks' and Woodside Ferries. It appears from the state ments laid before your committee that the immense sum of £32,000 has been paid for Woodside Ferry and its boats, making the company subject to an annual °rent of up wards of £l5OO, and this for a right which will terminate in May, 1856. The object which the directors had in view in making this purchase does not appear very clear to your committee, for previously to its purchase the directors were aware that by, act of parliament they were - precluded from bringing the line of railway to Woodside Ferry, unless they carried two branches, for which they have -no • occasion, to Birkenhead and Tranmere. It appears from one account in the possession of your committee, that from the sth day of August, 1839, to the sth August, 1840, this ferry proved a very considerable loss to the proprietors, us it only produced a gross profit of £2Bl Ils. 3d., whilst the interest of the large capital expended in the purchase, nearly all of which will be lost in 1856, added to the loss which must be sustain ed by the boats, leaves this affair a drawback of no common magnitude upon the prosperity of the company. It has been stated verbally by the directors, that it is now paying better, and an account has been subsequently placed before your committee, showing that during the last eight months the gross profits may be estimated at £1039 12s. 9d. ; but as a portion of the prosperity alluded to is more apparent than real, your committee are compelled to express their disap probation of this purchase, as being highly improvident, and not calculated to aid either effectually or • permanently the well-being of the railway. " The Monks' Ferry was purchased by the directors, in March, 1840, for the sum of £25,000. The possession of this ferry. does not confer on the company the power of con tinuing the railway to the waterside. It entails upon the company an expense in the working of it which is very con siderable, exclusive of £1456 per annum.paid for omnibuses to convey the railway passengers from the ferry to the ter minus of the railway, in Grange-lane, whilst its gross receipts for casual passengers from the 23rd SepteMber, 1840, to the Ist May, 1841, a period of upwards of seven months, are only £96 17s. 3d. • . . " When the directors made this purchase they were aware that Mr. Price had succeeded in establishing his sole right to convey passengers from Monks' Ferry to Liverpool. So that the directors bought this property with a clear under standing, that in its purchase they had not obtained any legal right to convey railway passengers to Liverpool ; but lest there should be any doubt upon their minds on this sub ject, Mr. Price caused a notice to be served upon them to discontinue carrying passengers from Monks' Ferry to Li verpool. It appears, however, that as the right of ferry both ways is vested in the Woodside Ferry, now leased to the company, no interruption to the traffic can take place till the termination of the lease in May, 1856. " Your committee cannot but disapprove of the purchase of this ferry, because, whilst it does not confer any adequate rights or privileges on the company, it has caused a great ad ditional annual expenditure, and absorbed a large amount of capital which could have been otherwise profitably em ployed. " With the company's property and rights in this imper fect and unsatisfactory position, it became the duty of your committee to think seriously how this unfortunate state of things could be amended; and having understood that Mr. Price was disposed to sell his right of ferry, both as regards Woodside and Monks' Ferries, your, committee urged upon the directors the necessity and propriety of making imme diate application to Mr. Price, and to obtain (subject to the approbation of the proprietors) an offer of his reversionary interest to the company, and to secure, if possible, his co operationin carrying their views into effect. " Your committee have the pleasure of stating that (with the concurrence of the shareholders) these arrangements may b ' e accomplished. They will give to the company the right of ferry Loth ways in perpetuity ; and, by making their ferry property of permanent value, enable the directors to secure valuable privileges for the railway, and at the same time give the proprietors power, should they see fit, to dis pose of one or both of these ferries to advantage, reserving so much of the privileges which they would obtain as might be needful for the efficient working of the railway. " The directors having concurred with your committee in this view of the matter, your committee agreed to recommend to the proprietors to raise the funds necessary for carrying out these views. Your committee have no doubts whatever that if the right of ferry is secured to the committee in per petuity, and the railway connected with the waterside, that the returns for the capital expended upon the undertaking will be ample ; but should these most desirable arrangements not be effected, the prosperity of the company will be inde finitely postponed. " Your committee therefore recommend that an authority be given to the directors to apply to Parliament for permis sion to raise the money which may be required by the crea tion of quarter shares, in the following manner:— " Each proprietor to be entitled to one quarter share for every share he holds; these quarter shares to be issued in the form of debentures, entitling the holder to five per cent. interest on the amount of the money paid up. Each quarter share of .1..:12 10s. to be issued at £7 10s., to be paid by three instalments of £2 each, and one instalment of £1 10s. ; and in the year 1843 the holder of each debenture to have the op tion of becoming a holder of a £l2 10s. share in the com pany, in lieu of his debenture, or of demanding payment of the money he has paid up, in six months from his giving no tice of his desire to be pa►d, the privilege of exchanging the debenture for a quarter share, to be forfeited if each instal ment be not paid on the day appointed by the directors. " Your committee earnestly recommend to the proprietors to consent to this or some other mode for obtaining funds, which appear to your committee so necessary for the promo tion of the interests of the company. f' Your committee have abstained from all reference to many important matters connected with the railway in its present state, such as the reasons that could have induced the directors to consent to the railway being terminated at Grange-lane; to the purchases of the land used for the rail way, the prices paid for each lot, the persons from whom each lot was purchased, and the circumstances attending the pur chase of each ; matters which, however important and inter • esting to the proprietors, your committee did not consider as coming within the limits of their instructions. " Your committee are of opinion that considerable reduc tions may be made iq the amount of the annual expenditure, by a strict regard to economy in the details, by a more accu rate and better arranged division of labour iu the several departments, by means of which, expensive and superfluous offices (so fatal to the, well-being of short lines of railway) may be dispensed with without inconvenience Your cora- mitlee feel assured that it is only necessary to call the atten- .ion of the board to the subjeei, in orde; that prompt and Ifeetnal steps may be taken to remedy this evil. ` Your committee have not been convinced that the very ierious interests which the company now have in the Wood- side and Monks' Ferries should be entrusted to a separate board of directors, not appointed by the proprietors, and they recommend that immediate steps be taken to place the whole responsibility attached to the management of this depart ment, as well as all the other affairs of the company, upon the board of directors chosen by the proprietors at their annual meetings; and that the directors be required, in future, to lay the accounts of the receipts, expenditure, and net proceeds of the ferry property before the proprietors, iu the same manner, time, and place as the law requires them to do with respect to the railway. " Your committee also strenuously recommend, that the present opportunity should be taken of making some changes in the board of direction : some of the present on the list of directors are those of persons who have shown so little con fidence in the undertaking as to have reduced their shares to the smallest number which would qualify them to hold their places at the board, whilst others have been most irregular in their attendance. Judgment, energy, and attention, on the part of the directors, coupled with the support and con fidence of the proprietors, are imperatively required at the present critical juncture of the company's affairs; if these are obtained and properly directed, they would, in the opinion of your committee, soon place your railway amongst the most flourishing in the kingdom, whilst, on the other hand, apathy, irregularity, and indifference on the part of the directors, and a want of perfect confidence on the part of the proprietors, would prove fatal to its present interests and future welfare. " In concluding their report, your committee would again venture to impress upon each and every proprietor the great advantages which would result from the company having the undisputed right of ferry secured to them :in perpetuity, and their railroad continued to the waterside. When these most desirable things are obtained, the present cumbrous and ex pensiVe ar►angemerts will be dispensed with, the accommo dation for the passenger traffic rendered complete and satis factory, and the trade in goods and cattle vastly extended. And whilst, through the medium of the Chester and Crewe, the Grand Junction, and the London and Birmingham Railways, your line becomes one of the termini of the most important line of railway i❑ the kingdom—the formation at no distant period of the Chester and Holyhead line, part of which must pass through land the property of the company, together with the contemplated branch to Ruabon, will open to the Chester and Birkenhead Railway not only a great pas senger traffic from Ireland and \Vales, but also that which they have promised to afford ; and with an efficient and zeal ous directory, a well arranged system of business, and the in troduction of a searching spirit of economy into every de partment, your committee feel assured that the proprietors will crc long, obtain as ample a return for the capital they have expended, as their most sanguine hopes could have led them to expect. " Josn o A WALDISLEI'. " May 12, 1841." The CHAIRMAN said, that as the report just read had not. been placed in the hands of the directors previous to the meeting, they were not able, perhaps, to enter into the parti culars of it as fully as they otherwise might. However, they were glad to find that the committee had recommended a further amount of stock, and they had also recommended, what the directors originally contemplated, namely, the bringing down .of the railway to the water's edge. All the proceedings of the board had been directed to the accom plishment of the latter object, and therefore the directors certainly could not object to the proposal as made by the committee. In that as well as in other respects the report tended to further the views of the directors. With respect to the purchase of the ferries, he could state that the pur chase had been confirmed by the proprietors, and that no purchase had been made without the sanction of the proprie tors. With regard t"this fact, it might be necessary per haps to refer to the minutes of the meetings at which such power had been given by the proprietors to the directors. Mr. JACKSON said that the proposal of the committee, with regard to the purchase of the reversionary interest from Mr. Price, was not a new one, inasmuch as such a purchase had been made from him last May. The company, however, not having funds at their disposal at the time, had been obli ged to abandon it; but it had since been renewed, and at present the company were in a fair way of going on with it. (Hear.) _ Mr. MALLADY then read the minutes of a meeting of the proprietors, held in October, 1838, from which it appeared that the directors were then empowered to go on with such arrangements with the Woodside Ferry company as would secure a quick conveyance across the Mersey. He admitted that no•previous sanction had been given with respect to the purchase of the Monks' Ferry. but the reasons for that pur chase had been fully stated to the committee, and the pur chase had been made in accordance with the general view of securing the right of both the ferries for the benefit of the company. He believed that the committee had not stated in their report the amount that would be required for effecting the purposes they suggested. Sir J. WALMSLEY said that when the committee spoke of creating quarter shares, they meant quarter shares on the whole of the shares, by which means nearly the whole sum would be raised that would be required. He thought the directors might clearly see that the sum proposed to be raised in that way would carry out a deal of their arrangements ; and subsequently, if such portions of the ferries as they might think proper were sold, very considerable sums wonld be raised which would enable them to pay off their mortgage debt. Mr. EDWARDS, of Chester, asked what the use was of buying the ferries—the Monks' and Woodside ? Mr. 'WALLABY said it was the opinion of the committee that any enlargement upon that subject would be much bet ter avoided. Mr. EDWARDS, of Chester, thought the proprietors ought to be made acquainted with the reasons why the company should be embarrassed with the purchase of the two ferries in question The CHAIRMAN said the proprietors had appointed a sub committee at the last meeting to gO into this question, and it was their opinion it should not be publicly stated to the p.oprietors. The views of the directors upun that head had been approved of by the committee; but if it was the desire of the proprietors that the whole matter should be explained —" No, no," from several)—he had no objection to such ex planation being given. Sir J. WAL MS LEY said, that although the committee in their report had disapproved of the purchases in both cases. yet the proprietors should remember that the ferries were no' their property, and that they must make - the bent of then? - (Hear, hear.) The committee did not, however, think it advisable to have further explanations made unless they were particularly required. He thought the time would come when the proprietors would be able, with good management, to get rid of one or both the ferries to their own satisfaction, and probably without loss. (Hear, bear.) Mr. FOSBERRY begged to say, as a working director, that there was no novelty in the report of the committee, and that all the suggestions it contained had previously engaged the attention of the board. There was, indeed, one novelty in it, inasmuch as he had never heard before that there was apathy among the directors, or that some of them had been parting.with their shares. He thought the names of such of the directors to whom the allusion had been made ought to be named. Sir J. WALMSLEY was willing to afford explanation on any and every part of the report that might be required. The whole of the queries put by the committee had been reduced to writing, as also had the conversations which the committee had had with the directors. He thought Mr. Fosberry was a little in error when he said that the report charged the di rectors with apathy. It did not state that apathy existed, and therefore Mr. Fosberry must have misunderstood it. Mr. FOSBERItY said, if he had made a mis-statement he was sorry for it. Mr. RADCLIFF read a second time that part of the' report which alluded to the attendance of the directors at the board, and to their having disposed of some of their shares ; upon which Mr. FOSDEERRY said . that it was almost impossible any proprietor could leave the meeting after having heard the report, without feeling that the directors had been apathetic, and that they had been reducing the number of their shares. Sir J. WALMSLEY conceived, in consequence of what had been stated in the report, that it was necessary to read the names of the directors, their attendance at the meetings, the amount received, and the number of shares they originally held, as well.as the number they held at present. (Hear, and cheers.) Personally, he might be permitted to.say, he had not the slightest feeling of disrespect to any of them., nor did the committee wish to cast on them any opprobrium. Sir Joshua then read a tabular statement, from which it ap peared that some of the directors had only attended four times in the year 1840, and that others had decreased the number of their shares. The amount they received for their attendance was, he considered, of no importance, because if directors were to receive anything at all, the directors of 'the Chester and Birkenhead Railway were underpaid. He did not say - that directors had not as much right as other propri etors to sell their shares, but he had read the statement with the view of justify ingfthe allegations made in the report. Mr. JACKSON said that if he had not attended oftener in the year 1839 than he otherwise would, it was because he had been seven months in that year in Italy. Mr. MALLABY observed that Mr. Hamilton had been set forth in the statement as possessing sixty-eight shares'ori ginally, and with only holding twenty shares at present. The tact was, however, that Mr. Hamilton only held twenty shares at first, that afterwards he had purchased others, and that he had subsequently sold those others in order to place himself at his original standard. The CHAIRMAN thought it necessary to state that the di rector a were divided into different committees, and that the Road Committee had paid particular attention to their duties. Mr. Fosbery, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Booth, and -Mr. Bentham were on that committee, and they usually went once or twice a-week, and sometimes oftener, over the whole line, although no account of their attendance to such a duty had been mentioned in Sir Joshua's statement. Neither was any mention made in it of the fact, that the Finance Committee met once a week. Mr. BENTHAM felt it due to himself and others of the directors to state that the selling of their shares had not arisen from any want of confidence in the undertaking. (Hear, bear.) He had himself, because he found it neces sary so to do, having been obliged, by reason of the pressure of the times, to diminish the number of his shares ; but he could safely say that his attendance had not been less regular or his exertions less great since he had become a le ss share holder. (Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN felt it necessary to state that the direc tors were greatly indebted to the Road Committee for their attention to the line, and particularly during the first six months after it had been opened. Mr. SANDERS asked whether they received any pay for going over the line ? • Mr. JACKSON replied. Formerly they did receive pay, but at present they did not. Mr. SANDERS was glad the system had been abandoned, because it was without precedent. (Hear, hear.) Mr. FOSBERRY said the road committee could not be ex pected to leave Liverpool one morning, and to return the next evening, without being paid their expenses. Mr. SANDERS admitted that they certainly could not. It was quite right to pay them their expenses. Mr. JACKSON said be could assure the proprietors that he had been out of pocket by his attention to the duties of the road committee. Mr. SANDERS never knew a man connected with railways that wasn't out of pocket. (Hear, and a laugh.) He beg ged to move the adoption of the report of the committee by the body of proprietors. The report of the directors, read at the former meeting, as well as the report of the committee, were then adopted una nimously. Mr. MALLAnY presumed that, in confirming the report of the committee, it was merely intended to confirm the view they had taken with reference to the increasing of stock, with the understanding that a special meeting of the proprietors should be subsequently called, to take the other parts of it into c onsideration. (Hear, hear.) The next course would be to proceed with the nomination of the directors. There were four vacancies, one of which had arisen in consequence of Mr. Price having sold his shares. Sir J. WALMSLEY rose with the desire of proposing a di rector, and in doing so, he would propose one who understood the whole of the bearings of the question, and to whom the railway owed a great deal, bath as to the getting of the bill through parliament, and the management of the undertaking. He begged to propose that Mr. Jackson be re-appointed to his office. (Cheers.) Mr. Joses seconded the motion, Mr. Jackson being, in his opinion, a most efficient director. The motion was car ried unanimously. •- Mr. SANDERS proposed that Mr. John Radcliff be appoint ed a director. . Mr. EDWARDS moved as an amendment, that Mr. Uniacke, who had been of infinite service on those occasions when the