The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

TO COR.RFqI'oNDENTS. A Cr,resnonfient complains s' - ror,.'y of the inconvenience whir iu experienced At the Pa , senm.r, ,icing- House on the Pierhead, in conseluenee of the room not being lighted with gas. We have received a letter from one of the paupers in the Work house who has requested us to express his grateful ac knowled:rments (along- with those of his fellow paupers) to Mr. Woods .or his kind attention to Vied; on all occasions. We cannol fully satisfy rm. correspondent Veritas. who requires of ti whit It o the monthly maga7ines or peri.alicals is most suitable for a young man, whose taste in lines to " Science. literature and ge;,cral useful knowled,e " There is no one periodical that we k now of which coml,ines the three sub jects. Maelovood Fraser and the Dublin University. are the best literary ntaKazines-- give much usettil knowledge besides, and excellent pn;itical disquisitions. but science must be sought in a pur:ly scientific punlication ; and at this moment we cannot vint out the best. With respe, t also to "useful knowledge," we should know first what our correspondent considers useful. Ein librrtionl TUESDAY MORAING, FEB. 6, 1844. We have no knowledge of what may be the policy of government, or what its measui es in the coming session of Parliament, beyond what we gather from the somewhat meagre Speech from the Throne. But there is one subject, which we do not see touched upon there, to which we must implore the attention of Sir Robert Peel and the Conservative body in Parliament. That subject is the condition of the working poor of the land. We must make some great national effort to remove the abject po verty which surrounds us—which fills the cellars and courts of our large towns with wretchedness and vice—which is becoming daily and hourly more intense, and threatens ultimately to dissolve the very framework of society. Yes : we muse remove this foul blot upon the British character—i he fact that, with all our vast wealth, our vast resources, and the industry of our people, we have amongst us, in the very seats of our boasted greatness and riches, masses of suffering and degradatioi , which cannot be parallelled in the poorest nation tipt,.l earth. Look for a moment upon the picture presented to us hy the following extract from the metropolitan police reports of last week : ANOTHER RESULT of " BUYING IN THE CHEAPEST MARKET."—At the Marlborough-street Police-office last week, Mary Connor, a pale skeleton-like young woman, was called in. She was the wife of a tailor, and had three young children. Her husband was out of work, lying sick. The constable reported that the appliranis bore the cha racter of very hard-working honest people, hut that they had lately been reduced to great distress by the inability of the husband to work. Mr. Hardwick asked the woman if she had applied for relief to the parish ? Woman.— Oh no, sir. We were certain to be refused out-door relief ; and my husband and myself would rather submit to anything than go into the workhouse with our children, and be separated from one another. How do you usually Support yourself ?—My husband is a tailor. We work at making police trousers. What do you get for making a pair ?—We get 10d. a pa'r, and find our own thread and needles. How long does it take you to make a pair ?—lf a person works hard at it a pair ran be made in about nine hours. My husband could do better work if he could get it, but there is none to be had. We have frequently worked eighteen hours a clay on the police trousers work, in order to get enough to buy food for ourselves and children. Can you get plenty of this sort of work ? Oh! no. There are hundreds employed i n this work and soldiers' trousers work. We are obliged to go three or four times to the contractor, Mr. Dolan, to get the work, and to beg and tray for it as a favour, on account of the numbers of poor people who are fighting and struggling with each other to get it. But solders' trousers work is even worse, for we are only paid sd. a pair. All we now want is a few shillings to keep us till my husband gets round again, Mr. Hardwick directed the usher to give her 61. Here, then,is where the squalid wretchedness which meets us at every turn originates. Here, too, is the mode in which it progresses. A " hard-working honest man" is screwed down by the beggarly par simony of some " liberal" town-council or other, who adopt in their dealings the boasted contract system, to the slavery which must be endured, be fore he can support himself, his wife, and three children, upon the poor remuneration offered for making a policeman's trousers—tenpence a pair ! And yet even this, although to earn sufficient to live by it requires the labour of eighteen hours a-day, is better than the price paid by the government itself, in its army contracts. Fivepence a pair is the price paid for making soldiers' trousers ; and for this five pence there are " numbers of poor people fighting and struggling with each other," as if it were wealth itself 1 And then mark the sequel. Sickness Comts. The slave has overtoiled himself, and can toil no more. Has the law, in its wisdom, provided for the emergency in which those dependant upon him are placed. Does the public, to save whose pockets this drudge has been consigned to the tender mercies of the slopseller and the contractor, contribute now to relieve his crying necessities. No, the law has taken away that reliance upon the property of their country which is the birthright of Englishmen. It has said to the worn-out and helpless victim of the world's avarice, you must toil on, or starve in your wretched hovel, or in the streets, unless you are willing to be imprisoned for life, separated from all that you love, or by whom you are beloved, in the gloomy walls of a union workhouse. Thus we torture first, and then bold out to the victim's eye the prospect of a new torture, to bind him to an endurance of his fate. We furnish to the hard task-master a whip where with to lash his slaves to submission, and to fresh sacrifices. This must not be permitted to continue. A Christian legislature and a Christian people must not longer tolerate a law which so far outrages hu manity. Our suffering poor must not be left de pendant upon casual charity, or the poor's box of a police office. The entire system of Somerset House must be put down, and promptly, unless we wish to drive the masses who now groan under the inflic tion of its heartless provisions to desperation. We invite the earnest attention of Conservatives to this matter, which must be handled resolutely and vigo rously, whatever the cold-blooded philosophers of the day may say to the contrary. The world has been cruelly deprived of light during the past week ; but, .more than all, the Council of Liverpool have been most despitefully used. That body had an adjourned debate on Tuesday, upon a most important subject, which lasted from eleven o'olock in the forenoon until four o'clock in the afternoon—at which several leading members delivered their opinions at great length, and one or two most ably,—and yet the whole pro ceedings have been cut down by the reporters to a meagre outline, occupying little more space than half a column of a newspaper. We grieve for this on general grounds; and we must protest that it is to us perfectly unaccountable. We grieve for the fact, which it indicates, that the public has lost a great portion of its wonted interest in the proceed ings of the Council, when the press neglects to re port more than a mere sketch of those proceedings. Upon some of the speeches delivered, however, we cannot afford to throw away the opportunity of remarking; and, first, we turn to the speech of Mr. Bushell, who contended, in opposition to the opi nions of all practical men, that increased dock room was not much wanted, and that it was perilous to attempt any large measure of extension. By the lengthening of the Custom-house hours, the existing docks might be made to do a third more work, and to accommodate any increase of the trade of the port which we have any right to anticipate for some years to come. Mr. Bushell would have the land ing-waiters to work twelve hours a day instead of eight. "Time," he urged, "is money." Be care ful of time, and you may do a large trade in a small space; and this remarkable information he clenched with a history of a fortune made in "Joey's chop house." ----- Now, we dare say it is quite true that "Joey " ' 1 1 Idid make his fortune in a house very small com pared with that of some of his neighbours. But we do not think that this is at all a case in point with the case of the Liverpool docks. Ships are not quite so expeditious in their movements as city traders, who snatch their chop or steak in a tavern, and run off with their crust of cheese and bread, to munch as they hurry to the shop or the Stock Ex change. You might, perhaps, with an extra supply of landing-waiters, and longer hours of working, discharge a vessel in somewhat less time than at present; but you must still provide some place for the ship until she has another cargo on board and is ready for sea again. No, no! Believe us, Mr. Bushell, this project will go a very small way to re move the wants so much complained of by the ship owners and merchants of the port. But, whilst we think its wisdom very questionable in a practical view, we must protest altogether against the philosophy upon which it is based. "Time is money." Yes, it is money—for the merchant. But time is the labluring man's ESTATE, and you have no business to put that estate in your own pocket. Extend the hours of the landing waiter from eight hours to twelve, and you take from him a portion of that which should be devoted to the affairs of his own family, and, perhaps, to objects still more valuable. Let the landing-waiter attend twelve hours, that the merchants may gratify their inordinate thirst for money getting, and the labourer's hours—the warehouseman's hours—the clerk's hours—will forthwith be stretched to four teen or sixteen hours. Why, the factory system would be nothing to this drudgery, to which Mr. Bushell would consign one half of the industrious portion of our community I But turn we to the able review of the whole ques tion under consideration contained in the admirable address of Mr. Nicol. This address, full of sound practical knowledge of his subject, effectually dis sipated the cloud of sophistries with which Messrs. Aikin and Evans, wfth their supporters, had laboured to invest it; and if fully given to the world, as it well deserved to be, would, along with the admirable speech of Mr. Bramley-Moore, have fully satisfied the most sceptical, of the wisdom of the course now decided upon by the Dock Committee and the Council. Mr. Alderman Evans is aground. His reign over the Dock Committee, and his domination over the Council, are at an end ; and " having in vain en deavoured, through official channels, to prevent the consummation of the measures for dock extension, recently carried by majorities in " both these bodies, the poor bewildered gentleman " thinks it right to appeal to that out-door influence, which is still sufficient, if not to prevent, at least to abate, the worst part of the impending zvil," resulting from a persevering refusal to believe in the absolute wisdom of himself and his small knot of worshippers. The Alderman has, in consequence, addressed a letter to " the merchants and traders of Liverpool," which appeared in yesterday's Albion; and, upon the arguments in that letter, addressed to the "out door influence" which he has so long defied and scoffed at, we venture to meet him ; not, however, as the authorised and chosen champion of those merchants and traders, but in our humble capacity as independent journalists. And, first, let us look at the premises of Mr. Alderman Evans. Speaking of the Harrington purchase, he remarks " The wants of the timber trade were, at first, set forth as the ground for requiring dock extension at the south ; but, this ground not having proved tenable, the expediency of removing the timber trade further south and relin quishing the Brunswick to general trade has taken its place. I shall, nevertheless, keep to the original ground and examine the plea for timber dock extension. To this end I beg the public to observe, that 1843 was a year of national recovery—of commercial, manufacturing, and agricultural prosperity. The consumption of timber in that year should, therefore, be taken as a fair standard by which to estimate the consumption of succeeding years. "The state of the timber trade, as tested by consump tion, may be judged of by the following extracts from Messrs. Dempsey and Froste's circular, of Ist February. I take the first and last years therein given, and confine the analysis to square timber, as being that for which wide quays are required, and, from the magnitude of its con sumption, in comparison of other articles of timber, being the proper statistical test. Baltic timber taken for con sumption „ „ in 1839 was 352,000 ft. Ditto V f „ in 1843 was 364.000 ft. British American timber „ in 1839 was 5,735,000 ft. Ditto in 1943 was 5,480,000 ft. " Here is not only no increase, but a positive falling off, in consumption; and it is surely unnecessary to insist that importation must finally be governed by consump tion. It is clear, therefore, that, for timber, no dock ex tension is requisite, and that any peculiar value ascribed to the Harrington property, as affording dock accommo dation to the timber trade, has no existence." Now, upon this question of the wants of the timber trade, we must say that Mr. Evans is too jesuitical for our taste. It is true, indeed, as he states, that the year 1843 was " a year of national recovery; " but that fact scarcely constitutes it a year of national health, such as would warrant us in taking it as "a fair standard by which to estimate the consumption of succeeding years." And, moreover, in the article of Baltic timber, it cannot—consumption cannot — be taken as an estimate at all ! The consumption in 1843—taking the Alderman's figures as correct, which they are as nearly as may be,—was only 12,000 feeL more than in 1839. But it must be remembered that the last reduction in duty only took place in October of that year;—too late to render Baltic timber profitably available for build ing purposes, for which it is mainly fitted; and, partly owing to this circumstance, it will be seen by the reader who will refer to any of the wood brokers' circulars, such timber was superseded by the red pine of our own colonies. And, again, with respect to colonial timber, it must be remembered that, after all, according to the Alderman's own admission, this was only " a year of recovery." But notwithstanding that we are told importation must finally be governed by consumption, in this year we cannot recognise the truth of such a princi ple. The question before us is one of dock facili- ties ; and Mr. Evans, therefore, would have done better to give us, instead of the data of consumption, those of importation. Had he done this, he would have found that, instead of having to provide dock space last year for 364,000 feet of Baltic timber, we had to find such space for 651,000 feet, whereas the average of the preceding five years was only 306,200 feet; and although a large amount of this import is left on hand, that fact, as we have already remarked, is accounted for by the duty having only been re mitted in October, after the building season had concluded. The timber trade of this port must sustain an in. crease, notwithstanding the somewhat hardy asser tion of Mr. Evans, that the reduction of duty, of which so much has been said, will have no practical effect upon the consumption of timber, inasmuch as what has been relinquished, as duty,has gone, in the shape of price to the importers, with whom it will probably remain as remuneration, of which the hitherto bad state of their trade had long deprived them." Every authority acknowledges the prospect of a large increase of trade in this article; and it is acknowledged that, so far, the reduction of duty has not gone into the hands of importers, who, during the past year, have not been carrying on a profitable trade. One circular before us, indeed, distinctly states that " in October Baltic timber further re ceded to the extent of the reduction in duty; and we believe that authority—(Messrs. James Houghton and Co.)—quite as readily as we believe the sophis tical Alderman Evans. Again, the Alderman says— " The general trade of the port is as fairly accommo dated as it has ever been for many years, and the Albert Dock and Basin will provide amply for any increase of business which can reasonably be hoped for during many years to come ; but, should the proposed steam dock be made at the north, three docks, the Coburg, Clarence, and Trafalgar, now occupied by steamers, wilt be given up to sailing vesse l s , w hi c h w ill then have redundant water space at the north, (for which they show a decided preference,) unless it is rendered dear by increased rates, the inevitable result of improvident expenditure of dock resources." Now, the Albert Dock contains ten acres of water space. The water space of the present docks is 108 acres. The addition is, therefore, 10 per cent; and this cannot be brought into use for two years from the present time. The proposed north dock, how ever, is to throw open to sailing vessels the Coburg, the Clarence and the Trafalgar, now occupied by steamers; and this addition to the present accom modation of the port is, in the eyes of Alderman Evans, quite sufficient for all emergencies. But what, pray, are the facts connected with the increase of the dock requirements of our town ? Commerce from the year 1800 ; and we find that in 1811 the tonnage requiring accommodation is increased by 36 per cent; in 1821 the increase is more than 87 per cent; in 1831 it is more than 254 per cent; in 1841 it is more than 439 per cent I The per cent age, therefore, according to the tabular statement before us, has been doubled in 24 years, trebled in 30 years, and quadrupled in 40 years. But, most extraordinary of all, it has been trebled within the last 18 years ! How is it then, we ask Mr. Alderman Evans, that we are now to stand still ? What is to interfere with the further developement of the wants of our port? What is to enable us to carry on our business—our increasing business—with the paltry 10 per cent ad ditional accommodation which the Albert Dock will give us,—two years hence,—or even with the addi tional accommodation which will be afforded us by the north docks, some 6 or 8 years hence e He would be a wise man indeed who could tell us ; and Alderman Evans is not that man. But come we to the giant bugbear, with which Mr. Evans endeavours to " fright the town from its propriety." Come we to the Alderman's " slight sketch of the account current of the dock estate," which, by a great stretch of probability, on the cre dit side, he assumes to be permanent—a "credit side" which has gone on increasing in the enormous ratio shewn above This credit side he represents as amounting last year to £216,461; and he says— " Against this will appear The Interest on £1,798,000, the present debt, as it stands •••••• £73,815 _ _ _ :nterest upon £475,000, to be still raised for Albert Dock 18,904 Interest upon cost of land and proposed new docks, £1,300,000 Lighthouse, telegraph, lifeboats, &c. Management, police, dock gatemen, &c., for the old docks and Albert Dock Lamps and miscellaneous expenses for existing docks and Albert Dock ... 44,796 31,685 Annual repairs and casualties on existing docks and Albert Dock Proportion of repairs, casualties, and other ex penses which accompany dock extension, on Proposed new docks - 39,000 £288,093 Deduct interest on Albert Dock ware houses £12,000 Balance of rents to be acquired from yards, &c., north and south, less £7OOO, to be lost on Messrs. E. Chal loner and Duncan's yards l,BOO 14,000 £274,093 " If to this," he continues. " we add anyexpense which may, however absurdly, be imposed for disposing of the mud taken from the docks, we may, possibly, have an annual outlay of somewhere about £290,000; from which deduct the present revenue of £216,000, and a deficit ap pears of above £70,000 per annum, which, unless trade increases, must be provided for by increased dock-rates." Now, let us see how the Alderman can substan tiate these figures—these most outrageous figures— these most dishonest figures I In the first place, he puts down the interest upon £472,000 " still to be raised for the completion of the Albert Dock," amounting to £18,904 ; and only deducts £12,200 as the revenue of the warehouses, which were to have paid we don't know how much per cent. The dock itself is to pay less than nothing ! Then we have " cost of land and proposed new docks, £l,3oo,ooo—interest, £52,000 ;" as if the whole of these docks were to be built at once, the money paid at once, and the docks to bring in nothing We have next an increased sum for the " mrnage ment, police," &c., of the old docks and Albert Dock ; additional " lamps and miscellaneous ex penses " for ditto ; additional " annual repairs and casualties" for ditto ; and a perfectly unintelligible item under the head of " proportion of repairs, casualties, and other expenses which accompany dock extension, on proposed new docks, £39,000." And all these charges to drag upon a trade carried on with our existing docks :—repairs of docks not built—cost of docks not built—management of docks not built—placed per contra to the revenue of the present estate, acknowledged to be insuffi cient to the trade of the port, and to be utterly in sufficient to the lowest estimate of its future trade! But, in addition to all these wild calculations, Mr. Evans takes upon himself to say, that the cost of the whole of the proposed scheme will be £1,300,000. But will the whole be made at once? Will the proposed graving docks, for instance, be made ? Not until wanted ; and then they must pay Will the two steam docks be made? One only will be made at first; and, when two are wanted, they will pay. Will the two timber docks be made ? One only, at first ; and, when the other is made, both will pay. Besides, Mr. Evans leaves quite out of his contemplation—We fear advisedly—the fact that the Dock Committee will have 3 to 400,000 square yards of the land purchased to sell; and that the original estimated cost—which, most unwarrantably, he over-estimates—is reduced by the agreement of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company to pay for the cutting of their junction. From these few remarks it will readily be perceived how Mr. Alderman Evans arrives at his deficit of £70,000 per annum. We ask our readers, however ; we ask that public " out of doors" to which he ap peals—if they will be bamboozled by such transpa rent fallacies ? The Alderman has arrived at " the sear and yellow leaf" of his influence in the towns affairs; and such another appeal as the present will place him even lower than, at present, he stands. As a clever man, though with wrong views, we ha ve always looked upon Mr. Evans; but we can look upon him with even this indulgent feeling no longer. We may, however, return to this manifesto of Mr. Alderman Evans. He may possibly afford us another opportunity of canvassing his statements and his vie% s of dock matters ; and at all events we shall do him justice —more than he has as yet done to his previously established reputation as a man of judg ment and common sense. RAPID LEGISLATION.-Our friends on the other side of the Mersey are marvellously energetic and clever in whatever they attempt; but we were not prepared for the following extraordinary announcement, which appeared as a leading article in the Liverpool Times of Tuesday last. We give it entire. WALLASEY DOCK BILL. We understand that this important bill will be read a third time in the House of Commons on Friday evening next. Some wicked wag, we fear, has been bamboozling our contemporary. Possibly Mr. Samuel Stansfield has been exhausting upon him his large stores of exclusive know ledge, and mistaken the capacity of the recipient. Cer tainly, however, it will be information to the world to learn that a bill of such importance asi the Birkenhead Dock Bill could pass throng h. the Standing Orders Com mittee, be referred the Committee on Private Bills, be re ported and read a second and third time—ALL IN THE BRIEF SPACE OF 24 HOURS THE ALBION—ON MATTERS IN GENERAL.—We fully intended to have said something in reply to the amazing wisdom of our yesterday's contemporary. We have not been able, however, to read his lead-ere as yet, or to digest them if we had read them. Lead is lead, however you may disguise it ; and lead we cannot com fortably swallow. Will our contemporary kindly indulge us for a week ? THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. CHURCH PASTORAL-AID SOCIETY. As we find that the time is approaching for the annual sermon and meetings of this society, we deem it due to an institution which renders such large and important aid to our town to state the particulars of that aid, in order that the friends who are canvassing for further assistance to the society, in the way of congregational collections and annual subscriptions, may meet a more cheerful and willing response than they have hitherto received, and more hearty support of a society whose principles and labours, when known, commend it to every sincere Churchman, Englishman, and Christian. The society's grants to Liverpool at present are as follows : To St. Paul's, for Welsh Minister £l2O St. Michael's, for Scripture Reader 50 Christ Church, for Curate lOO St. Barnabas, for do.. St. Simon's, for Minister's stipend.. 100 St. Bartholomew, for Curate.. All Saints, for do St. Mark's, for do 5O to meet £5O St. Mary's, Edge-hill, for d 0.... . • 50 „ 50 St. John's, Toxtetb-park, for do 5O „ 50 St. Thomas', do., for do.. £9OO „ £l7O Hitherto the sum returned from Liverpool to the So ciety has been hard:y one-third of that received during the present year. It is expected that it will amount to one-half; but we hope and trust to see such a right ap preciation of the society, and acknowledgment of duty on the part of the inhabitants of Liverpool as will yet lead them not only to repay all that is received, but to contri bute something in addition for the good of other and poor districts, which the society, for want of funds, is still un abable to assist. There are applications, we understand, from thirty-one such districts, with an aggregate popula tion of 212,000 souls, the incumbents of which are ut terly unable, from the smallness of their incomes, to pro cure any assistance in their work. COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION. PROFESSOR GREENBANK'S LECTURES. The Professor's fourth lecture at this Institution, on Friday evening, was devoted to the subject of Rhetorical Action, and the recitations illustrative of it. That he should grow upon the esteem of his audience is the natural result of those extraordinary resources which he gradually developes as he proceeds in his course. His fourth lec ture was still more interesting, and better attended, than the previous ones; and we anticipate from his next dis course, this evening, on the Paskions. a higher gratification than any he has yet afforded his auditors. We cordially recommend the lectures of Professor Greenbank to all those who either passionately admire. or practically culti vate, this branch of knowledge. He is a finished master of his art, and an admirable teacher of it. The lectures combine theory and practice in a manner eminently in structive and interesting. The essential rules of rhetorical delivery are first detailed with great clearness and sim plicity, and then vividly impressed by illustrative readings and recitations—at once correct and spirited, graceful and impassioned. The bearer is not only h'ghly entertained, but may carry away with him a va l ua bl e amoun t o f prac tical knowledge never before, we suspect—at least with us—blended with so much correct and beautiful reading and spirit-stirring declamation. THE FUNDS: SATURDAY NlGHT.—Business at the Stock Exchange has been rather better to-day, and prices a shade higher, although none of the operations call for especial notice. Bank Stock left off 192 to 194 ; Consols for money and the account, 974 to 4 ; Exchequer-bills, 675. to 698., premium ; India Stock, 276 to 278; three per cents. reduced, 97/ to 98: three-and-a hqlf per cents. reduced, 102 k to 103 ; New, three-and-a. half per cents., 101/ to 102 ; Long Annuities, 12 13-16 ; and three-and-a-half per cent. Annuities, 1031. The Foreign securities have altered in no material degree, but prices on the whole are supported with a good deal of firmness. Spanish Actives left off 23 to 4, and Three per Cents, 311 to / ; Mexican, 341 to 4 ; the Deferred, 94 to 10; Peruvian, 24 to 4 ; Portuguese, 474 to 48 ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents, 541 to 55; the Five per Cents, 1014 to 1 ; Danish, 86 to 83; Colombian, 11/ to 124 Chilian, 103 to 1 05 ; Brazilian, 78 to 79 ; Buenos Ayres, 334 to 344 ; and Belgian, 1051 to 1064. THE WEATHER.—On Tuesday afternoon last a gale came on from the north-west which continued with in creasing violence during the night, accompanied with oc casional showers of sleet and hail. Slates and chimney pots were blown down during the gusts in the morning. About four o'clock several vivid flashes of lightning fol lowed by loud peals of distant thunder alarmed some of the wakeful inhabitants. The attorm, however. gradually abated towards noon on Wednesday. The Mersey on that day presented an animated and interesting appearance, the usually placid waters being urged by the force of the wind into waves of no insignificant magnitude. The river steamers had considerable difficulty for some hours in landing their passengers, and one accident is re corded in another column. The weather has since been ex tremely changeable—welcomly freezing for a short time, and again relapsing into thaw and humidity. Last night Ir. appeared to be more settled, and to incline to slight frost. We have not heard of any disasters on the coast during the gale. THE WEATHER.—POLITICAL.—During the past week, the declaration by Sir Robert Peel, of l,is intention to ad here to the present corn-law, has created an astounding effect amongst the members of our Liverpool Anti-Mo nopolaymAosnsg-ostciathtieonlo, long-eared hast„rniboedionubott.hoeprenraetiegdhb simi larlyour hoods. We have beard, however, of no serious damage done. few of the parties affected having much which could be injured by the various contortions to which they were so awfully excited. OPENING OF THE HOLY TRINITY NATIONAL SCHOOLS, AT BIRKENHEAD.-011 Wednesday evening last the schools in connexion with Holy Trinity Church, Birken head, were opened. These schools have been built in connexion with Holy Trinity Church, partly by bublic subscriptions and partly by grants from the National So ciety and the Committee of Council, under the manage ment of a committee consisting of the following gentle. men : namely, the Rev. J. Baylee, Rev. G. A. Warner, Rev. P. P. Power, Messrs. R. L. Carr, Fred, Berner, Edwd. Brodribb, T. A. Dale, Cha s . G roves , L. Gl adstone ' R. W. Pritchard, Jno. Laird, Jno. Sudlow, G. H. Hall, J. T. Vale, R. W. Hiscocks„ Henry Cole, J. J. Hance; Rev. A. E. Obins, treasurer ; G. P. Forwood, secretary. Shortly after six o'clock Te Deutn was aung and grace said by the Rev. J. Baylee, al, er which nearly 200 persons sat down to partake of the bountiful repast, which, considering the very stormy state of the weather, was a large company. After tea the national anthem and the collect for the seventh Sunday after Trinity were beauti fully sung by Miss Linacre, Miss Lethbridge, Brown, and Potts, the church choir; Mr. Power presiding at the piano. The Rev. J. Baylee delivered an excellent and feeling address to the auditory, after which the hymn, commencing " Lord of heaven, and earth, and ocean," was sung. A suitable prayer having been offered up and the apostolic benediction having been pronounced by the rev. gentleman the company separated. A grant of £3OO has been made by the Committee of Council, and £250 by tLe National Society. The land is given by Mr. Laird, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Stamforth. Among the contri butors to the Building Fund are E. Molyneux, Esq., £25 ; Rev. A. E. Obins, £65 ; Mr. Potter, £2O ; Mr. R. Prit chard, £2O; Mr. Thomas Brassey, £2O; Mr. W. Jack son, £5O; Mr, J. Berner, £5O; and Mr. Laird, £5O. The cost of the building is estimated at £1,700. THE LATE FIRE IN HARRINGTON-STREET : REMAINS OF WOODS' FOUND. Since this destructive fire numerous workmen have been busily employed, under the direction of Mr. Rushton, foreman of the work to Messrs. S. and J. Holme, in pulling down the remaining walls and other erections, and removing the materials, the quantity of which, in brick, metal, rubbish, &c. has been very great —showing that the premises had been most substantially constructed. Yesterday afternoon some of the workmen employed discovered a few portions of the bones of a hu man being near the spot where stood the first or lower floor of what was called " the new stove," in the building furthest to the eastward, which extended from Harring ton-street to Matthew-street. These (which we have seen) are no doubt the remains of poor Woods, the only work man who immediately lost his life in the sudden and awful conflagration. It was stated at the time that he had been seen at a winnow facing the yard within the premises, en deavouring to escape, but of this there is some doubt. Be it as it may, he was employed at the fatal time in the stove-room, where these remains were found ; and as it was next to " the old stove-ro om ," w hi c h fi rs t i gn it e d, communicating with it by a door-way, and an explosion soon afterwards took place, which communicated like gunpowder with the adjacent rooms, the probability is that he was caught unawares, and from suffocation ceased to exist, even before the immense mass of materials that in a few minutes fell from the upper floors and walls to the basement, and covered him many feet deep. The remains were carefully collected, and pains were taken to recover any more th a t mi g ht appear. They consisted merely of portions of bone, whitened and lightened by calcination from the intense heat to which they had been exposed; but still in a state showing that they were de tached portions of the human body. In all, we should think they would scarcely fill two quart measures. An inquest will be held on these sad remains so soon as it is ascertained that no more can be found, which is not very probable. They were found on the top of a boiler, which was fixed in the cellar o: that part of the building, and the top of which, though originally round or arched, is so crushed in by the mass of heavy materials—brick, iron, &c., that it i s f orce d d own i n t o a con c a ve form. Th e spot is about four feet from the lower door of the stove ; near the west wall of the long building alluded to ; and about half way between Harrington-street and Al athew.street. So great had been the heat in that quarter that large masses of iron. m i xe d w ith b r i c ks, mugs. & c ., were f oun d vitrified together i n s olid pieces. Poor Wood s h as l e f t a widow unprovided for, and we shall be glad to recei ve an y subscriptions in her behalf, LIVERPOOL FEBRUARY SESSIONS. The general Sessions of the Peace, for this Borough, commenced yesterday before Gilbert Henderson, Esq., the Recorder. The Calendar contained 65 cases, with the nairies of 83 prisoners for felony ; and 6 cases of misde meanour and assault. The offences are of the usual kind that come before the court, and none of them present any features of peculiar interest. The following were sworn of the Grand Jury : Ralph Brakebank, Blackburn. place, merchant, Foreman. William Ashley, Everton-road, merchant, Joseph Brereton, Jordan-street, timber merchant, John Campbell, Tahebarn-street, merchant, Wm. B. Corrie, Rumford-place, do. Charles Cusack, Brunswick-street, corn merchant, Thomas Philip Danson, Covent-garden, merchant, Samuel Dutton. Water-street, merchant, Wm. Rathbone, Duncan-street, ditto, Robert Gill, Chapel-street, ditto, Henry Glynn, Exchange-street East, ditto, Robert Horsfall, Netherfield-road North, broker, George Hall, India-buildings, cotton broker, Jas. Harvey, the younger, Catherine -street, gentleman, T. D. H eadlam , Exchange-street West, insurance -broker, Chas. Inman, Netberfield-road North, gentleman, William Laycock, Fazakerley-street, iron merchant, William Lockerbv, Upper Parliament-street, merchant, George Quayle, Shaw street, merchant. The proclamation against vice and immorality being read, The RECORDER proceeded to address the Grand Jury. He stated that the number of cases that would be sub mitted to their consideration was about seventy, and he did not anticipate that any difficulty would arise in their disposing of them. It wa.• the duty and privilege of juries to take a part in courts of justice, and when the evidence was submitted to them to come to a decision, and no pri soner could be dealt with until twice twelve of his coun trymen had been summoned to investigate the charges against him. The provinces of the two juries were, how ever, distinct : their province (the grand jury's) was only preliminary, the other's (the petty jury's) was of a final nature. It was not for the grand jury to decide on the guilt or innocence of the party charged. It was impossi ble, indeed, that they could form such an opinion, unless they had an opportunity (which they had not) of hearing the prisoner, by himself, or by his counsel and witnesses, in his defence. They had simply to hear all the evidence that would be laid before them for the prosecution, and ascertain if it were sufficient to warrant them in sending the case to be tried before a petty jury. The bill of in dictment would instruct them in the nature of the offence charged, and when they had heard the witnesses, it was for them to consider whether it was of such a general character, as would, if uncontradicted, render the party liable to a conviction,—in which case they would find the bill; but whenever it fell short of this, and was not suffi cient in their opinion to sustain the charge, they would find no bill. Most of the cases had already been before a magistrate, who in sending the parties for trial considered he had sufficient evidence for doing so ; but they had to act on independent grounds; to sift the evidence for themselves, and to decide accordingly. He, however, enjoined them not to reject a bill on slight grounds. The cases, he considered might be safely left in their hands. They were for the most part very simple, but there were some of them involving circumstantial evidence which would require considerable attention. He might remind them that the simple removal of an article with intent to steal it, rendered the party amenable to the saw, although it found its way again to the owner. For instance, if a party removed a watch and took it to a pawnbroker, through whom the owner got it back, the intent was to be consi dered as made good. So, if a party removed a bundle from the place where it was left, and removed it to another place for the convenience of being carried off, and it was there found before it was taken away, the party was liable. He was happy to say that in the cases that would be laid before them, there were numerous instances of the vigilance of the police in detecting offenders. He concluded by say ing that he did not deem it necessary to delay them longer from their duties. The grand jury then retired, and in a short time re turned a true bill. The cases throughout the day were of no peculiar interest. The following is the result : Ann Finan, aged 16, for stealing a piece of flannel— ? years' transportation. Margaret Roberts, 29, stealing wearing apparel-7 years' transportation. Henry Henderson. 29, stealing five spoons, two cups, &c.-10 years' transportation. Mary M*Donald, 25, stealing bed-clothes and wearing apparel-9 months' imprisonment. Thomas Lloyd, 14, stealing a dress-7 years' trans portation. James Welsh, 40, stealing a watch from the person-10 years' transportation. Ann Smith, 29, stealing fire-irons, the property of the Corporation-7 years' transportation. The above were nearly all old offenders. A few more were found guilty of minor offences, and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. COURT OF PASSAGE. Yesterday, Charles Crompton, Esq., took his seat in the Nisi Prius Court and commenced the hearing of civil causes. The list contained 84 causes,—consisting of 4 demurrers, 73 issues, 4 writs of trial, and 2 writs of trial, and one of enquiry before the Town-clerk. The following was the only case of importance heard yesterday, and it occupied the greater part of the day : IMPORTANT TO PUBLICANS. JowiTT v. STUDHOLM.—In this case, the plaintiff was the occupier of a public •house, called the Black Bull, in larovvnlow-hill. and the defendant was a nubboai. in Byrom-street. The action was brought to recover corn compensation for a false representation, alleged to have been made by the defendant, as to the receipts of the Black Bull, which had been let by him to the plaintiff. From the facts of the case, which were stated at length by Mr. Arnold, it appeared, that in February, 1843, a negotiation was entered into between the parties with re spect to the house in question, and that the agreement was to the effect that the sum of £350 was to be given to the defendant for goodwill and fixtures, £l5O to be paid down and the the remainder secured by warrant of attor ney. Toe rent of the house was to be £6O, and the de fendant stated, that the average receipts were from £2O to £25 per week. The plaintiff took possession in April, but notwithstanding the greatest vigilance, care, and assiduity, was only able to realise about half the sum per week, on an average, which had been mentioned by the defendant. The first week, the receipts were £7 2s. ; the second, £8 3s. ; the third, £8 ls ; the fourth, £8 10s. ; the fifth. £Blos. ; and the sixth, £lO. They then improved a little, but the largest amount received in any one week during the first six months, was £ll 17s. 91d., and the average for the same period, was about £lO. The receipts did not cover the expenses. The average weekly sale of spirits, was about £6, and ale, £4. There was scarcely any wine sold at the establishment. Thejur yretu a r tnteodrnae yfor verdict x 2 f o o o r thet ore plaintiffin force. for £ 150— the warrant of THE TRUCK SYSTEM IN CHESHIRE. We are credibly informed that this system is being adopted by certain Contractors, who are executing impor tant Works on the opposite side of the Mersey, the poor working men engaged upon which are compelled to pur chase from certain shops set up by their employers. Is it known to the Commissioners of Birkenhead that such is the fact ? We should think not. It is a poor en couragement for tradesmen to take their Capital to a neighbourhood where such illegal practices are winked at by the authorities. Let th e M ag i strates of Bi r k en h ea d Make the enquiry, therefore, if they can spare time for such insignificant affairs. They will find matters as we represent them. It would not be unworthy of them, by the way, if they would turn a little attention to the Morals of their populati on . H a l f-past 12 o ' clock on Sunday morning is to o l a t e an hour for trading to be going on, and shops to be lighted up, in a locality boast ing of a Police and a Magistracy, but such was the case last Sunday morning. b M ysiii Mr.ec held ma E spt e T nt o e i ienri our Assembly E yo, av te T r ty a h r r Ex entertainment,'re e o e N d ' e s y n's Music OF BURNS.—We were prepared for R - high'treat g h ir;r i te c ;fic h o, tnnt eo. the stohTnehrgoe, appreciationo m manner, w oe of ntha s te u iv it t e e d nb , iours M n,o r ri Room ; but we must confess, that our anticipations were and particular, splendidrdtiScottishcuaiTempletonrs music,nsi v cdn voice, i itself, e nsabe , uel n:l w n; w " a S s on fi g ne o ly f D su e t a lg th , " an i d n elicited an enthusiastic encore. " Had I a Cave" was also beautifully sung; and the fine ballad of " Scots Wha Hae" was encored, and well worthy of such a compli ment. In the second part, " The Birks of Aberfeldy"— a beautiful song—was finely given, and, only by the for bearance of the audience, kept from being repeated. " My Heart is Sair for Somebody" was prettily sung ; and " Green Grow the Rashes, 0!" was enthusiastically en encored. We greatly regret that we cannot give any por tion of the interesting anecdotes, as to the origin of the songs introduced, with which Mr. Templeton illustrated his evening's of them ng'senter o t r a i i g n i m ns e l nt. They were well selected, and PORTRAIT PAINTING. - - - "We were much pleased and not a little astonished by a visit the other day to the rooms of Mr. Herve, miniature painter, at Mr. Crawford's, Bold street. Mr. H. has long travelled and resided on the continent, particularly in Greece and Turkey, and, is we find, an author as well as a painter, having written and published, in London, with beautiful illustrations from his time those "sometimes own drawings, elegant and voluminous works on both countries. Twoithusheishispeonwnanpdhrsaosme,ethiemeesmpwloityh h s his s pencil," and judging from what we have seen we should say he is a man of superior edncation and acquirements, and an adept in both. Our present notice is, however, more especially confined to his powers as a miniature painter, and, judging from th . e specimens we have seen, we should say his style in this dep artment is at once spi rited in " character," and delicately fine in finish. Amongst the likenesses which we have seen are those of Otho, King of Greece , and also his consort; Rosas, the notorious Brazilian ge neral ; Prince Demidoff (said to be the richest prince in Europe); Count Alfred De Vigny ; Colocotroni, Canares. and Prince Mavrocordato of Greece; Madame Emile Geradin, the beautiful wife of the edit or of the Press of P ari s ; Lizt, the famed musician, &c. His view of the ancient city of Argos, which flourished 1850 years 8.C., and many of his Grecian and Turkish scenes are also superb. These adorn the ill us t ra t e d wo rks of FiAier , on those interesting countries. In fine, we would recommend all who are desirous of o b ta i n i ng good likenesses highly finished, yet at a moderate price, of themselves or their families, to repair to Mr. nerve, in whom they will also find an agreeable and well-informed gentleman, who has seen much both in the court and the grove abroad, and who is not above communicating his impressions of character and country to others. Feb. 6, 1844• THE TIMBER TRADE-FIRST YEAR OF THE OPERATION OF THE NEW TARIFF. We have before us the circulars of Messrs. Di=OS t a e n n d s s,e wood Ewing, extract the most va l ua bl e f ac t s f or t h e i n f orma ti o n of a l li )r d ok M er e s s , sr f s rOm ja w m h e i s ch ll w a e ug s h h t a7 eatinddeCa':o.u, relto. those of our readers who have not the opportunity of pe rusing the original documents themselves. The season of 1843-4 commenced with moderate stocks of colonial timber, and with low prices as compared with former years, the price of St. John yellow pine being 17d. to 19id. per foot, Quebec 14id. to Isid., and sprat' deals 2d. to 2d. per foot 2 inches. From these rate' they declined, howe ver , ow i ng t o an ti c i pate d l arge arri vals, and in the month of September Quebec was quoted at 1 lid. to 12d. per foot ; St. Johns 14d. to 180. These low prices had the effect of diverting some of the importations, from their originial destination, to other markets, and the confidence of holders having recovered, an advance of 20 to 25 per cent. took place before the end of the year. On the whole season, however, the im pertation has been above an average one, the shipping employed in the colonial trade having been 157,500 tone against 142,300 tons, the average of the preceding fifour years, showi ng an i ncrease th i s year, under the operatic* of a Tariff which was considered by some injurious to our colonies, of 15,200 tons. The stock of colonial timber on hand in this port is moderate, not being estimated at more than six mouth , ' consumption. The quality of that imported from Nei! Brunswick this year has been superior, the bulk of it having been drawn from new districts thrown open to tie by the settlement of the Boundary question. The reduction of the duties upon Baltic timber di rected the attention of importers to that article, in the anticipation that it would come more extensively into consumption; and larger importations took place into this port than has been known for many seasons past. The total amount of these is 625,000 feet. The con sumption, however, has not realized the anticipations held out, partly owing to the unusually large supply of red pine offered freely at from 4d. to 6d. per foot under Dant zig, which was taken in preference. A stock of 3:0,000 feet, equal to a year's consumption, is,therefore, held over. At the commencement of the season common Dantzig and Memel were worth 22d. per foot, but, on the receipt of the heavy import in May, the price receded to HI& per foot ; in October it further receded to the extent of the reduction of duty, and it is now difficult of sale at 18d. to 20i-d. The Mahogany trade has been healthy throughout the year, large importations meeting a ready sale on arrival. The stock now in our port consists of about 40,000 feet of St. Domingo against 250,000 feet last year ; 50,000 feet of Cubic against 12,000 feet last year. The supply has been from St. Domingo 476,000 feet, from Cuba 220,000 feet, and from Honduras 936,000 feet. The trade look forward to a fair and remunerating business during the coming season. This will be con ginent, however, upon many circumstances, and particu larly upon the extent of the next import. It is ad mitted, that last year's business has not been a remu nerating one to the importer, which may tend to check undue speculation. Mr. Charles Dickens is to preside at the annual Soiree of the Mechanics' Institution, on Monday the 26th inst. Lord Sandon and Sir Howard Douglas were amongst the company who attended Sir Robert Peel's parliamentarr dinner, on Saturday. - - NATIONAL SOCIETY.—The eighteenth list of con tributors to the special fund of this society appears in the Morning Herald of yesterday. The amount has now reached upwards of £14.000. We direct the attention of our readers to Mr. Punchard's advertisement in another column. It will be seen he has removed from his old established premises to a more commodious shoo. COTTON MARKET.-It will be seen from our brokers' report, that the excitement of last week has subsided. Speculators for the present seem to be satisfied, though the market is still firm and decided. THE CHASE.—The Cheshire Foxhounds meet tomor row (Wednesday), at Kinderton Guidepost; onThursday, at Vale Royal ; and on Saturday, at Tabley ;—each morn ing at half-past ten o'clock. IMPERIAL HOTEL.—OPENING DINNER.—It will be seen by an advertisement in our paper of this day, that the opening dinner at this elegant and beautifully fitted hotel takes place on Tuesday next. The great satisfaction that Mr. Morgan's exertions have hitherto given. is a sufficient guarantee that his " house warming" will be a glorious one. ANOTHER INSTANCE OF ALLEGED CRUELTY BY AN AFRICAN CAFTAIN.—The particulars of a case affecting another African captain, who, it was said, had (amongst other " improprieties, ") sent a man on shore at the Cam eroons river " bound hand and foot," and left him on the beach. so that when taken on board of another vessel he died soon afterwards,—did not, as expected, transpire yesterday, at the police-court, the complaining parties not being is attendance when called upon—or, in other words, as was suspected, the matter being compromised. Thus may justice be defeated ! ANCIENT AND MODERN PAINTINGS.—MF. J. Revell, whose advertisement appears in another page, and whose name will be well known to many as having been the pos sessor of one of Ruben's finest productions, has now ote view several very excellent paintin g s by the ancient and modern artists. Sunset Piece, by Cyup, is a beautiful pro duction, and in splendid preservation ; and the Farewell of Byron to Newstead Abbey, by Turner, is equally good, and we think will stand as high as any we have seen by that now renowned landscape painter. The collection, though small, is well worthy a visit. COMMITMENTS YESTERDAY.—At the Police-court, yesterday, a coloured man. named John Brown, was charged with stealing from Mr. M'Gee's clothes shop, in . Great Crosshall-street, on Sunday last, two coats, and between 30 and 40 pairs of trowsers. He was traced, and many of the articles found, through the active exertions of Inspector Townson. The case being proved, he was sent for trial at the present sessions.—William Scott, a young man, was also sent for trial on a charge of stealing a watch and various articles of wearing apparel, from on board the ' Non-Pareil," in the King's Dock, the pro perty of several of the seamen of the ship. FATAL ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held yesterday, before Mr. Curry, on view of the body of Richerd Lyon, a bricklayer. On Wednesday morning last the de ceased was passing a warehouse, in progress of building, in Formby-street, when a piece of timber, used for arch work, and which was being hoisted at the time, slipped out of the rope and fell directly upon his head. He was taken to the Northern Hospital, where he lingered until Sunday. Mr. Parker, the surgeon, stated, that, on a post mortem examination, he found that the base of the cranium was effused with blood, and there was inflamation of the membranes of the brain, of which the deceased died.—Verdict, " acc id enta l d eat h " accor di ng l y. THE WORKHOUSE Scnoots. —lt seems to be the determination of a certain party in the Select Vestry to do all in their power to diminish the high reputation which the schools at our Workhouse have attained for imparting to the children of the poor a sound and useful education. Though the statements of these gentlemen produce little effect, perhaps it will be satisfactory to our readers to learn, that two members of the Board of Guardians visited the schools last week, and, after a searching examination of the children in the principles of the Christian religion, in grammar and arithmetic, ex pressed their " satisfaction with the children's conduct and replies, and more especially with their religious knowledge." VALUABLE PRESENT TO MR. S. STOKES, R.N.— It will be remembered that some weeks ago, Mr. Stokes, with great intrepidity, rescued a fellow creature from a watery grave, on a dark December night. This act of courage and humanity was not overlooked. A fund (the subscription to which was limited to one shilling each) was set on foot at Birkenhead, and the contributors ere nu merous. A public meeting was held, on Thursday week, at the Town-hall of that "juvenile city," at which John S. Jackson, Esq. presided ' • and the committ ee appo i nte d to superintend the di s p osa l of the fund there deputed that gentleman to present Mr. Stokes with a handsome gold watch and appendages, the former bearing the inscrip tion—" Presented (by public contribution) to Mr. S a muel Stokes, R.N., in grateful remembrance of his intrepidity in rescuing Edward Lyons from a watery grave, 9th December, 1843." Mr. Jackson transmitted with the present a handsome letter to Mr. Stokes, expressive of the feelings entertained towards him and his family by the subscribers, and hoping that the token would " prove an incentive to still more heroic conduct in whatever situation he might be called to occupy." Mr. Stokes, is his reply in acknowledgment of the gift, states that " the sight of It will ever remind him of their esteem ; and, he modestly adds, " also that in rescuing Edward Lyons from his pe rilous situation, he but did his duty." LIVERPOOL HAY AND POTATOE MARKETS FEBRUARY 5. Potatoes, If+ 9011) s. d. s. d. Hay, old 241 b 0 6@ 0 9i Pink-eyes Cups .... 0 54 0 9 Short-tops 2 0— 2 6 Straw, ,Wheat. 0 3i— 0 41 Cattle Carrots 29 0 —3O 0 Manglewurzle 0 0— 0 0 LIVERPOOL: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1844. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY MORNING, JOSHUA FLETCHER LACE, of 53, Grove-street, and LEONARD ADDISON, of 14, Great Orford-street, At N 0.4, S T. GEORGE'S CRESCENT, LIVERPOOL. Oders and Adve r ti sements are received by Messrs. Newton and Co., Wa rw i ck-square; Barker, Fleet-street; Deacon Walbrock ; Rey ne l l, Chancery-lane; Lawson and Barker. Birchin-lar e; Joseph Thomas, 1, Finch-lane, Cornhill; Mun den Hammond. Lombard-street; Mitchell, 8, Red Lion - conrt, Fle e t -street; Cl ar k e an d L ew i s, 4, crown court, T hreadneedle-street ; Garraway's; at the London Commercial Coffee-house, Mincing-lane; at the Jerusalern Coffee-house, Cornhill; Chapter Coffee-house, Paternoster row; North and South American Coffec-house, Thread needle-street; and Messrs. William Frend, Leltlaitre, and Co., Sise-lane, London; by Messrs. Johnston and Co-, a t their Newspaper and Advertisement Agency Office, Edell Quay, Dublin ; Mr.M‘Phun ' Glasgow; Mr. Wheeler, Ex change-street, and Mr. C. H. Lewis, Market-street, Man chester • Haddock, and Messrs. J. and W. Booth, Book sellers, Warrington ; Mr. Clarke, Pilot-office, Preston; and M r . Coop e, 33, Union-street, Birmingham. Terms of Subscription for this paper :—On credit, one year, £1 3s. ; half-year, 1I s. • d.—lf paid in advance—one year £1 18.; half-year, los. 6d.