The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-02 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are sorry we have not room for the insertion of the bene volent appeal of "Fidelis." "Übiquis" wishes us to call the attention of the authorities "to the disgraceful and dangerous state of Great Charlotte-street, especially on a market day." He says that it is the resort of a host of disreputable characters, and that on Wednesday last, a boy was violently assaulted opposite the centre gate of the market, and that a gentleman who interfered in his be half was instantly assailed by a torrent of abuse. If a "Non-Repealer" be really "an old subscriber," he ought by this time to know our opinion on the subject of the Repeal of the Union. We would recommend our correspondent to study the History of England, and some authentic Irish History. Mr. G. H. Plant has requested us to correct a statement attri buted to him by a contemporary in the observations made by Mr. Plant at the West Derby ward meeting. Mr. Plant did not bring any charge of 'nal-administration of the corporate funds. He said that the Corporation received for town dues, for the last year, £OO,OOO, and did not pay one farthing for parish rates, being exempted under a local act, and that the sooner that act was amended the better, as it would tend materially to lighten the burthens of the ratepayers. - We must make enquiries as to the statements in the letter of "Victor." rte Eiberpool 'taiibarb. Yearly subscription: In Advance, 15s. On Credit, 17s. TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. 2, 1847. BEFORE proceeding to notice the various points in the letter addressed to us last week by the Rev. Cecil Wray, we must take leave once again to re mind that rev. gentleman, and our readers, that this controversy was not sought, for by ourselves. On the contrary, it was forced upon us, as an act of duty which we owed to the public and to a most active and honourable member of the Church Ex penditure Committee, Mr. G. G. Hornby, who had been wantonly assailed and misrepresented, upon the subject of matters connected with this church, by some of the rev. gentleman's very indiscreet friends. We had withstood repeated entreaties from the inhabitants of the district, that we would direct the attention of the Council and the public to the mode in which the service was being per formed in St. Martin's. Its comparatively deserted condition had been urged upon us again and again. We withstood all these incitements, however, from the repugnance which we felt to place ourselves in direct antagonism with a minister of the Church, upon a matter connected with the performance of his own duties ; and it was only when we saw grounds of interference of a character more pro perly secular,—when we learnt that the minister and the churchwardens of St. Martin's were im pinging upon the freehold of the Church itself, and that, for his very proper objection to the pro perty of the town being so dealt with, a gentleman seeking readmission into the Council was assailed by an undercurrent of opposition and obloquy, — that we were led to approach the subject. Having done so—having entered upon the task, painful though it be, we shall not be driven from its per formance, either by charges of "falsehood," "unre lenting malice and unscrupulous attacks," or by the sneer which is sought to be conveyed by the epithet " religious," which the rev. gentleman at taches to this paper. We shall proceed with his letter seriatim. He says : " First, then, I deny that I have been guilty of the dishonesty of robbing the Corporation of their property. On the contrary, I maintain that the property in St. Martin's Church has, by the late alterations, been greatly improved and rendered more valuable." As we can scarcely be said to have accused Mr. Wray of " the dishonesty of robbing the Corpora tion of their property," our reply to this part of the rev. gentleman's denials will come more appro priately under the next head, in which he states what we did accuse him of doing. The latter part of the paragraph obviously contains Mr. Wray's opinion only. " Secondly,—/ deny that I have destroyed twelve pews from which a rental of £4O was produced. So far from it, the same occupants continue to pay the rental, and have volunteered to pay an increased sum for the enlarged accommodation now offered, and for the privilege of kneeling, of which they were before deprived by the nar rowness of the pews." With respect to the simple denial, we meet it with the following passage from the report fur nished by the Corporation Surveyor to the Church Expenditure Committee, as extracted from their ,proceedings : " The Surveyor, with reference to the alterations made in the pews and sittings of St. Martin's Church, reports : " That the screen which has been introduced at the communion advances 15 feet into the body of the church. That in order to obtain this extended space, it was ne cessary to remove six single and two double pews, and to curtail the space of the free sittings. That 26 pews have been taken down, including the double ones, and 18 framed elbowed benches substituted. " By these alterations the accommodation which the church afforded has been reduced by 70 sittings and a few free seats." One or other of the gentlemen—Mr. Wray or the Surveyor—is clearly in error. We ourselves are certainly inclined to confide in the correctness of the latter; for it is not easy to see how a clear space could be gained and screened off from the body of the church without pews being removed. And, moreover, the Surveyor has doubtless a plan of the interior of the church previous to the removal of the sittings. Perhaps, however, when the reverend gentleman denies that he has " destroyed 12 pews, from which a rental of £4O was derived," he means that the number was not precisely 12, or the amount pre cisely £4O. The Surveyor, it will be observed, says, that two double and six single pews were removed, to procure the space required; and that " 26 pews," in all, " including the double ones, have been taken down, and 18 elbowed benches substituted." Mr. Wray, however, does not deny that-7o sittings have been destroyed. In the latter part of the paragraph, the rev. gen tleman says " the same occupants continue to pay the rental." Now, this assertion may be under stood in several ways. On a first perusal it may lead an incautious reader to conclude, that the parties formerly occupying the seats destroyed continue to pay for the space, as it is at present occupied; that, in fact, supposing the whole of the church to have been let previously to the re moval of the pews, the same revenue would now be produced. We believe, however, that it will be found to mean only that the parties in question have removed into other unoccupied pews, and continue to be paying members of the congrega tion. But there is a rather singular variation be tween this paragraph, as originally furnished us, and .the corrected version as published. The ori ginal says that they continue to pay " this same" rental—that is, of £4O. The corrected version— corrected by the gentleman who left the original letter—says only " the" rental. We much suspect that there is some meaning disguised beneath this change of phraseology, simple though it appears. If Mr. Wray did not mean it to be inferred that they paid rental for the space given up, it would have been sufficient to have said simply that they paid " rental", instead of "the rental" ' • and it would not have been going greatly out of his way if he had said that they paid for seats in other parts of the church. Perhaps the words " this same" were considered as approaching too nearly to a direct assertion that they paid for the same space formerly occupied by the pews, which the more general expression substituted leaves us in directly to infer. The rev. gentleman continues Thirdly,--I deny that there has been any misappli cation of the public funds.' About £6O was voted for improving the kneeling accommodation, and it we ap plied to this object." _ _ _ We are not aware what right Mr. Wray has, by marking the passage as a quotation, to lead the public to conclude that we had ever used such language as applicable to the conduct of a minister of the Church. We need not say that no such serious charge was brought against him. The rev. gentleman has, however, himself furnished us with something very like the materials for such a charge, when lie says that " about £6O was voted for improving the kneeling accommodation, and it was applied to this object." Now let us see how this assertion is borne out by fact. On the 30th of April, 1845, the following letter, signed by the minister and churchwardens, was addressed to the Church Expenditure Committee : " Gentlemen,—We beg to call your attention to a very serious inconvenience which is felt by St . Martin's con gregation, in consequence of the want of proper kneeling accommodation throughout the church. This, though an essential part of church furniture, was not supplied when St. Martin's was built ; and the height and narrow ness of the pews render it almost impossible for the pew holders to kneel devoutly with such boards or hassocks as are ordinarily brought from other churches, or are usually supplied for this purpose. " A form; however, made according to the accompany ing model, bas been tried and found fully to answer its PutesQ. It is intended to be firmly secured to the front of the pew, and to become a fixture. " As we are deeply impressed with the importance and duty of providing what is necessary for a decent and humble deportment of body in divine worship, and the means of the congregation being inadequate to accom plish this work, we are in hopes that you will undertake for us to supply this great deficiency, which will be a boon very thankfully received by all." Such letter received the consideration of the com mittee; and upon it the following resolution was adopted at a meeting held on the 11th September, 1845 : " The Chairman and Mr. Tiornby having reported on the memorial from the Minister anfi Wardens of St. Martin's Church, for certain articles to be provided, and some repairs, that the same are necessary, and are esti mated at one hundred and twenty pounds,— " Resolved,—That the kneeling forms and new furni ture, as also the repairs, be ordered by the wardens of that church, at a sum not exceeding the estimate." There is a discrepancy between the statement of Mr. Wray and this resolution of the Church Ex penditure Comthittee, which really calls for some explanation. The committee voted £l2O, the amount of the estimate, for the kneeling benches, applied for by the minister and churchwardens. Mr. Wray says —"About £6O was voted for im proving the kneeling accommodation, and it was applied to this object." What became of the addi tional £6O granted ? Hap dly we possess the means of answering this question, and of pointing out the application of the entire sum voted. But, first, we request the reader's reperusal of the letter of the minister and wardens. The application in that letter was clearly for the providing in St. Martin's Church the means " necessary for a de cent and humble deportment of body in divine worship" ; and the form of the pews being such as to render the ordinary benches or hassocks in convenient, " a model" was sent in to the com mittee of a peculiar sort of kneeling accommoda tion, taking up less room, "which had been tried and found fully to answer its purpose," and which was " intended to be firmly secured to the front of the pew, and to become a fixture." Nov, - how has the money granted for this pur pose been actually expended ? We have befor4s an extract from the Corporation accounts, of which the following is a copy : " Amounts paid on account of the vote 11th Sept., 1845, for kneeling forms, new furniture, and repairs. " 1846. X. s. d. April 17. Rev. C. Wray, for altar cloth, &c. 2l 14 4 0ct.14. Geo. Thompson, terracotta bench ends 57 9 0 Do. cleaning baize, &c 6 3 0 Dec. 22. Terra Cotta Co., for tiles . Before the Coinmittee. Geo. Thompson, widening benches .£1 0 8 Geo. Bowers, masons' work in widen ing pews £ll5 10 4 8 1 3 £123 11 7 We leave it to the public to decide whether ihi; expenditure of £2l 14s. 4d. in a new altar-cloth, and £93 16s. in terra-cotta bench ends and tiles for Mr. Wray's new chancel, only £8 Is. 3d. being expended in widening benches and pews—we pre sume to afford better kneeling accommodation for the parties immediately in the neighbourhood of such chancel, or in the chancel itself—can be considered a proper application of a hum of money granted for the providing of proper kneeling ac commodation "throughout the church," on the terms and according to the model sent in with the memorial of the minister and churchwardens. Mr. Wray goes on : " Fourthly.—l deny that I have defrauded the poor of their rights by ' curtailing their free sittings.' On the contrary, I have largely added to the space formerly occupied by the labouring classes, who have now more ample accommodation, and this in a better situation than is afforded in any other church in Liverpool." To this denial the report of the Surveyor, given above, must be our reply. Perhaps there may have been an unauthorised conversion into free seats of the benches or stalls, now occupying the site of a portion of the pews removed, in which case the labouring classes cannot certainly have " a better situation," whatever may have become of the revenue previously derived from them by the Corporation. " Fifthly.—l deny that the ' alterations were made without due authority.' On the contrary, we had the authority of a resolution of the Church Expenditure Committee, which the chairman subsequently assured us would sanction the widening of the pews, and the conse quent diminution of their number. The surveyor was not troubled in the matter, simply because the terms of the resolution placed the superintendence in the church wardens." We are confidently assured that no such alterations were sanctioned by the Church Ex penditure Committee ; that the only resolution, giving any authorization at all on the subject, is the resolution of the 11th Sept. above quoted, which, it will be seen, related to the supply of kneeling accommodation. A letter was, more over, addressed by the Committee to the minister and wardens, expressly discountenancing any such alterations. The concluding sentence, stating that " the Surveyor was not troubled in the matter, simply because the terms of the reso lution placed the superintendence in the church wardens," is an evasion of the question. Our readers have the resolution to refer to, which, it will be seen, only refers to the construction of the kneeling benches, &c., prayed for as the founda tion of the grant of money sought. But wesmay go further than this, and remind Mr. Wray of a fact, which he pretty well knows, that the commit tee had not the right to authorise any such altera tions as the removal of pews; that to warrant any interference with the freehold of the church, a faculty from the Bishop was indispensable ; and that, for presuming to act without such faculty, all the par ties concerned render themselves liable to ecclesi astical censure, if not to penalties as well. " Sixthly.—l deny that it is my custom to preach upon forms and ceremonies ; or that I preached on this subject on Sunday week. " Seventhly.—l deny, also, that the notice given on the same day had anything to do with alterations in the services,' as you suppose ; or, again, that the services are ' unacceptable to the congregation'." We couple these two concluding denials toge ther, inasmuch as a few words will dispose of them. We do not know what is the ordinary custom of Mr. Wray, in selecting the subjects, of his sermons ; but we believe we are tolerably cor rectly informed, with respect to the character of his sermon of last week. If a long tissue of com plaints of the informal manner in which the Queen's Letter was drawn up and transmitted to him, was not a sermon on formalities, we know not what to call it. We say nothing of the intro duction into it of a tirade against the selfishness of regraters and forestallersisof grain. If the notice as to " alterations in the services" really did refer only to a proposed change in the time of performing " evensong ", as one of Mr. Wray's apologists states, we owe him thus far an acknowledgment of error. But that the services are " unacceptable to the congregation"—or rather to what would otherwise become the congregation —is too notorious to be doubted, were it not even proved that the seat-rents during the past year were only £ll7, against £174 in the previous year. The rev. gentleman must account for this fact, or the figures themselves will confute him. A church cannot be a very acceptable one to the public, in which, out of 119 pews, still left undisturbed, there are only 41 pews and 9 sittings which are let ; and in which, on ordinary occasions, a large portion of the congregations are composed of strangers, attracted by the novelties in practice. In referring to these novelties, we directed attention to the introduction of a cross upon the communion table. Mr. Wray, it will be observed, offers no denial of this fact ; and we conclude, therefore, that he con siders it an authorised practice of the Church. We beg to refer him, on this point, to a judgment delivered by the Bishop of Exeter—a prelate who is not generally regarded as being very far from the toleration of Tractarian practices—in a case instituted by him, under the Church Discipline Act, against the Rev. W. G. Parks Smith, minister of the Chapel of St. John, in the parish of Tormo ham, in his diocese. The charge was " for placing or causing to -be placed, and suffering to remain, during the performance of divine service, on Easter Day of this year, in various parts of the said chapel, and especially on the communion table, certain ornaments and other unauthorised things"; and, amongst the rest, a cross about two feet high. The bishop, in the course of his argument, laid it down that the 82d canon, which " appoints that the Communion-table shall be covered in time of Divine Service with a carpet of silk, or other decent stuff , and with a fair linen cloth at the time of mi- nistration," must beherdas 7l VirTually to exclude all else except what is used, or may be used, in the service itself"; and the reverend defendant was ad judged to be admonished and to pay the costs of the proceedings. Mr. Wray must be aware that as to the e x hibiti on o f th e cross t o h n e Communion-table, is held by hi s own Di o ., cesan. the sam C e We cannot conclude without repeating our sor row that Mr. Wray's unwise letter has compelled us, in self-vindication, to enter into the above de tailed explanation. For the sake of the Church itself, and for the avoidance of such scandal as is involved in the public discussion, in a newspaper, of the conduct of a minister of that Church, we shall not readily be induced to return to the sub ject. THE London Times, a few days ago, taking its text from a statement made to Ministers by a de putation from the operative classes in the manu facturing districts, administered to the brokers and merchants of Liverpool what that journal doubtless considers a merited and severe castigation, with respect to the mode in use of transacting the busi ness of this port. The deputation complain—and their complaint is backed by some of our contem poraries in the manufacturing districts—that the brokers and importers of cotton are in the habit of furnishing to speculators the opportunity of laying hold of that raw material, and thus intercepting its transit to the spinner and manufacturer, except at such enhanced prices as they choose to dictate. The process is said to be somewhat like the follow ing :—A, the importer, or B, the broker, has a parcel of cotton to dispose of, the present value of which is, say, £lO,OOO. C, a speculator, steps for ward and says, " I will pay you down in cash £l,OOO, or £2,000, according to the estimated extent of risk of depreciation to be run, and accept bills for the balance and in the event of the offer being accepted, the merchant or the broker holds the cotton, with power of re-sale, as a security for the re-payment of the acceptances given. Such a transaction, the Times maintains, is illegitimate; and argues, on the part of the commercial commu nity of Liverpool, a disposition to foster an un bounded spirit of speculation, which ought to be discountenanced, and, if possible, put down. Of course we are aware of the animus by which these occasional flings at the mercantile body in Liverpool are dictated, so far as regards both the Times and the organs of the manufacturing interest. We have never taken the diatribes of the former at more than their true value—never mingled amongst the crowd of Jews and jobbers, who prostrate themselves daily before the feet of the Gamaliel of Printing-house-square. The animus of the latter is of a more vulgar character. Manchester grudges us our freights, our brokerages, our commissions, and every other source from which the commercial greatness of Liverpool flows. Her spinners and manufacturers would have us to be the mere hewers of wood and drawers of water for their use ; the humble carriers of their staples and their wares. The merchants, the shipowners, and the brokers of this great mart of commerce, are somewhat more than the characters they would fain have them to sustain ; apd " hint illce inv." Let us, however, examine the nature of such a transaction as that described, which the Times— with an amount of ignorance of the ordinary na ture of commercial affairs which may well shake the validity of his opinions upon matters recently treated of by him with such an air of triumphant cleverness—considers so illegitimate and injurious. The merchants of Liverpool, amongst other com modities, import cotton. The brokers of Liver pool are in the position of agents between the im porter and the consumer or the capitalist, who may wish to invest his spare money in some com modity, from the sale of which he fancies that he sees the hope of a profitable return. The mer chant wishes to realise, and instructs his broker to sell; and the opportunity to buy is open of course to the manufacturer, as well as to any other man— the speculator for instance. The latter, however, sees the manufacturer indisposed to buy other than —to use a well understood phrase—from hand to mouth. The manufacturer thinks that prices will come lower. He may be so unreasonable, even, as to imagine that the article will be held as long as he likes for his convenience, and sold as low as he chooses for his profit. The capitalist, however, unconnected either with the business of importa tion or consumption, and hence called the specu lator, has made his calculations; has watched the amount of stocks on hand and the prospect of crops to come, and instructs his broker to buy at the priee which the monufacturer has shown him self indisposed to give. What has the world to do with the terms of such purchase, as between the broker and such a man ? As little as we have to do with the transactions between the manufacturer and the banker, or mortgagee, who has assisted him with funds for the erection of his factory or machinery. Between the broker and his client, on the one hand, and the importer, on the other, the transaction is an every day one; no more peculiar to the cotton trade, or to Liverpool, than it is to other branches of trade and to other towns. The broker of C., the speculator, pays A. or 8., the importer and his broker, their demand of £lO,OOO. Were the transaction a bargain made for the con sumer, the only difference would be that, instead of a margin only being paid in cash, and the broker of C. retaining possession of the commo dity on his security for: the remainder, the con sumer would pay the whole amount possibly in bills, and himself remain the holder of the self same commodity. It is a piece of consummate absurdity to suppose that the stock of cotton in. Liverpool, of which we have, in ordinary years, from 500,000 to 600,000 bales, can remain in original hands, unsubjected to the ordinary changes of opinion which induce commercial men to realise or to in vest. What other kind of produce is so dealt with ? If our Manchester friends think that there is any great amount of profit in importing the raw material, and then holding it until it is wanted, bale by bale, we have ourselves, and few Liverpool merchants have, the slightest ob jections to their becoming the sole importers, as well as the consumers. WE have seldom approached a more grateful duty than that imposed upon us, in expressing our conscientious sense of the efficient and urbane manner in which the high office of mayor of this important town has been performed by the gen tleman who is shortly about to resign the chair of the Council. Mr. G. H. Lawrence was called to that office in no ordinary times, and not light has been the task imposed upon him, A famine in Ireland has had to be relieved, in part by the be nevolence of the British people; and in the move ment for this object in this town, few can forget the zeal displayed by his Worship. Difficulties of an unexampled character have been felt by all classes of the commercial community; and it is but a few weeks since we had to observe with what readiness, at the sacrifice of his private ease, Mr. Lawrence placed his influence and his active ser vices at the disposal of his fellow-townsmen. In every detail of his office—to the humble as well as to the wealthy—he has been easily approachable and kind ; and we feel that we are not misrepre senting the feelings of his fellow-townsmen, when we say that he will long carry with him into another station their heartfelt affection, respect, and ad miration. THE glorious results of the Municipal Election, yesterday, ought to read a striking lesson, not only to the Conservatives of Liverpool, but to her Majesty's Whig Government, and the Empire at large. Upon the former, they ought to impress the conviction that, with unanimity of purpose amongst the constituent body, nothing like defeat can await the cause of Conservatism. Out of the sixteen wards of the town, we contested fourteen upon the good old principles of the Constitution; and in thirteen of those contests we have been tri umphant, and secured majorities unexpectedly overwhelming. Two seats, held by liberals — Castle-street and Vauxhall—we abstained from contesting. Their occupants were honourable and good men, though politically opposed to us, we do not grudge to see them occupying, not only their de servedly high position in the estimation of their fellow-townsmen, but as well devoting their honest exertions towards the promotion of the general welfare. In this respect we differ from our Radical opponents, who can appreciate and approve no thing, however worthy and honoured of all men, which is not clothed in their own piebald livery. One contested seat only we have lost. Everton and Kirkdale ward, for the first time, has returned a member of the Radical faction, and discarded a tried and respected representative in the person of Mr. G. G. Hornby. We beg, however, distinctly to proclaim to our fellow-townsmen and the world, that this result is not the triumph of Radical prin ciples in this ward. Mr. Walthew sits as the re presentative of a strange coalition of Puseyite Churchmen and Radicalism. The petty " high Church" (!) faction in that ward has leagued with the Papist, the Socinian, and the Dissenter, to oust an honest and sincere Prote,stant. Men have shaken hands on this occasion, who are in their heart of hearts at this moment loathing each other's principles—shutting out each other from the hope of Christians;—and who can no more meet amicably on any common arena of public affairs, than fire can mingle with flame, or oil with vinegar. Can we point to any event more directly showing the active cause which prostrated the Conservative strength at the past general election than to the return of a Whig for this ward ? Against the Con servative candidate for Everton alone the Trac tarian party and their organ directed their venom ; and, unhappily, they have been successful. Their fellow-townsmen, however, will all the better know the rattle of the snake, which is lurking in the grass ready to sting them. We wish our con temporary and his friends joy of their triumph ; and to Mr. Hornby we offer our assurances that, though temporarily consigned to a private station, he is not likely to be less in the esteem of his fellow-townsmen on account of his defeat yester day by such singular instrumentality. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. THE MAIL AND ST. MARTIN:S CHURCH. We would with pleasure have inserted the ably-written letter of Nigel had we received it a little earlier. The only passage we can possibly find room for is the following; and it is the only notice we will condescend to take of the scurrilous attacks to which our correspondent's letter is so effective a reply.—".lf that which prompts the im puted presumption and censoriousness of his neighbours have as the Mail says, the least palliative character of " religious (though mistaken) zeal" in it, how naked stand your contemporary's malevolence and rancour, when their only excuse is the mercenary motive of previ ous pay or of expected gain, or the diabolical desire of befouling and calumniating an antagonist. You are accused, sir, of applying insulting and abusive expressions to a clergyman, yet after all his blustering lisservation not one such expression can he adduce. The only expressions quoted to justify so serious and blackening a charge are directed not to the minister but to the ceremonial, and those of the most harmless kind. You have insulted a clergyman, how ? by designating his proceedings " eccen tricities,' and ' extraordinary gyrations' ! Parturi unt montes ridiezdus mus' ? But pray who is this vindicator, so scrupulous, so tender, so jealous of the clerical character, so keen in his perceptfon of clerical conventionalities ?—Who ? The very man,—the same low-minded reviler, lost to all refinement of delicacy and impervious to all reproach, who, in giving publicity to an afterwards admitted falsehood and libel on the character of a clergyman, could not desist from befouling an unof fending minister of Christ's holy church " with his ill-mannered epithets, stigmatising him as one of a class of ignorant, stupid, and malicious Irish fanatics, who did more harm than good in their ministrations ! Who, then, I would ask, is the low assassin of clerical character and usefulness ?—who the Swiss mercenary of the press ? A candid public may be left to judge ; but what shall we say of his paraded tenderness and respect for the clerical character ?—what of his pompous professions of reverence to religion ? What, but that his pretended championship of Mr. Wray is only a cloak for his personal malignity to the Standard newspaper,—same ancient spite still un spent, some private grudge still unrevenged ?—what, but that his hoarded malice no time can diminish, and that an unworthy desire of revenge still rankles in his mind ?" LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (BY EXPRESS.) LONDON CORN MARKET.-YESTERDAY, The supplies of all descriptions of Grain and Flour have been moderate during the past week, with the exception of foreign Wheat, of which we have received upwards of 30,000 quarters, chiefly from Mediterranean and Black Sea ports. The show of Wheat samples, by land carriage, from Essex, Kent, and Suf folk, was again small, and, the demand being good, a clearance was speedily effected, at an advance of fully 2s. per qr. upon last week's rates. There was a fair retail trade in foreign Wheat, but previous prices could not be exceeded. In some instances Is. more money was obtained for fresh-barrelled Flour. Barley was a slow sale, with the turn in price in favour of the buyer. Oats were in limited request, and last week's rates were barely maintained. Beans and Peas without altera tion. SMITHFIELD CATTLE v MARKET .-_ ESTERDAY. We have had a large supply of Beasts, bnt the choicest de scriptions form a very small proportion. Owing to the very hot weather, the demand is exceedingly small ; a large number of inferior Beasts cannot be sold, although there is a disposition to take lower prices. The number of Sheep is also increased, with a remarkably small attendance of buyers. It is very difficult to dispose of second-rate qualities, the dead markets being very full of this kind. The best are lower, but these being scarce purchasers are found for them. Trade for Calves is about the same as on Friday. Pigs are lower. From Holland and Germany we have 2,790 Sheep and 23 Calves. MONEY MARKET-YESTERDAY. The more favourable accounts which have been received from various parts of the country this morning, have had the natural effect of stimulating purchases and prices in the funds. We have bad Consols, which opened at 81-fL, to for account, advance to 82 to *. This rise however brought forward sellers, which led to a reaction of about per cent. in a short time. They have since recovered to, and now are again, 82 to * for time, and Bli to 2 for money. The transactions have been of much less importance to-day than last week, and the attend ance of dealers less numerous. Reduced Threes are 80} to *. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., :812 to 2. Exchequer Bills, 19s. to 14s. discount. Bank Stock, 183 to 5. We have a report of a deputation of bankers in town from Liverpool, to communicate with the government, but what may be the particular object in view has not tvanspired. WARRINGTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION, 1847. FINAL CLOSE, FOUR O'CLOCK. NORTH-WEST WARD. Rowson (c) Reynolds (c) Guest (a) Hurst (n) 89 84 85 77 SOUTH-EAST WARD. Okell (c) Leftwich (c) Ashton (n) Milner(R) 44 48 54 55 NORTH-EAST WARD. Greenall (c) Litton (c) Edelsten(R) Robson(n) 72 70 71 72 SOUTH-WEST WARD. Nicholson (c) Kendrick (c) Hobson (n) Tickle (n) 44 46 33 29 LATCHFORD WARD. Wright (c) Gaskell (n) 33 36 The Gazette of Friday contains a proclamation for the assembling of Parliament on the 18th instant. An advertisement which appears in another column in reply to one from the Guardian Society, will amuse our readers. We would have sent a reporter to the drapers' meeting alluded to, had we heard of it before. SMUGGLING.—At the police-court, yesterday, a seaman belonging to a vessel from America, was fined 205., or to be imprisoned for seven days, for smuggling 21 lb. o Cavendish tobacco. POLICE-COURT.—There was not a single case yesterday, at this court, of commitment for trial, either for felony or misdemeanour. This is, we believe, due partly to the vigilance of the detective police, partly to the rainy weather on Sunday evening, and, in some degree, perhaps, to the somewhat improved morals of the people—though this is rather questionable. There were several petty thieves sent to the house of correction for various terms,. but no case presenting any feature of general interest. THE UNION BANK AT NEWCASTLE.—A committee of shareholders has been formed to examine into the affairs of this bank, and it is stated that should the results of the investigation sanction such a step, the committee are em powered to resume the operations of the establishment. It was considered probable that a call of £2 per share would in that result be made. The capital it was intended to increase to the extent of £300,000, the new shares being open preferentially to those at present holding stock. The pressure upon the other banks in the town had ceased. CHURCH OF ENGLAND NORTH SCHOOLS.— It is a source of regret that these schools are not visited more by the subscribers. They are situated in a densely-populated district, Bevington, and the only person who appears to take a lively interest in them is the Rev. F. Power, M.A., minister of the district. His exertions cannot be prized too highly. There are 600 children in daily attendance, and we feel assured that if the public knew how they were working, they, would not lack support. Great credit is due to the master, Mr. Bowes, who is an excellent teacher ; and although he entered on his charge under many disadvantages, he has been making steady progress, and we are confident that by the time his zeal and abili ties are as well known as some of his contemporaries, they will be fully appreciated. The same remarks apply to the other teachers. THE WEATHER.—The past ten days have been rather humid for the sowing of wheat, but a good deal has been got into the ground at drying intervals between frequent showers and heavy fogs. In this neighbourhood farmers continue to sow this crop, as weather and circumstances may permit, even up to the last week in December ; but, if the weather remain moderate and somewhat dry, this operation may be gradually accomplished during the pre sent month. Yesterday was one of the finest we have had for many weeks, and so remained throughout. Though the first of November, the temperature was as mild and agreeable as that of a day in early summer ; and the sun shone out splendidly from his rising to his setting,—show ing a remarkable contrast to the usual anniversaries of the incoming of the gloomiest month in the year in these lati tudes, and especially in this island. Beyond the sowing of wheat there is comparatively little going on of field labour. The grasses are still luxuriant, and turnips keep growing a little where not yet gathered. DREADFUL SUICIDE.—About half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning, a man unknown, of middle stature, dressed in a black coat and vest and corduroy trousers, called at Mr. Farrell's, Temperance Coffee-house, No. 4, Cazneau-street, and asked for the key to look at the next house, which was to be let. The key was given to him by a female, but, as it was not returned, she went in about an hour afterwards to ascertain the cause, when she found the door of the empty house a-jar, and having gone into the front parlour, saw the key lying upon the chimney piece. She closed the window, which the man must have opened, and went out, locking the door after her, sup posing all to be right. About half-past three o'clock, a person, having got the key to see the house, found the deceased lying dead in a pool of blood, on the floor of the first back bed-room, with his throat cut, and a razor lying about a quarter of a yard from him, It appeared the deceased had, before committing the dreadful deed, taken off his hat, and coat, which he had folded up and placed on one side. Au inquest will be had QA the body to-day. MUNICIPAL ELECTION. (Continued from page 5.) 6. - CASTLE-STREET WARD. The Conservatives have seldom offered any opposition in this ward, as the candidates brought forward by their opponents have been of the most unexceptionable charac ter. Yesterday, Mr. John Holmes was again returned unopposed, having been one of the members for many years, and given, by the whole of his conduct, the most complete satisfaction. 7.-ST. PETER'S WARD. Considerable interest was felt during the day as to the progress of the election in this ward, more especially as for the first three hours Mr. Bell, the Reform candidate, was considerably in advance of his opponent, Mr. R. S. Henderson, the retiring member, who has been of the greatest service to his constituents, and has conferred numberless advantages on his native town, both as a councilman and as a member of the Dock Committee. After the middle of the day, however, the Conservatives began to poll a little more briskly, and showed a deter mined spirit not to lose the services of Mr. Henderson, who succeeded in obtaining a majority, which he conti nued to increase until the close of the poll. At the close of the poll, Mr. HENDERSON presented himself at the windows of his committee-room, and was r eceived with loud cheers. He congratulated the burgesses on the result of the election, and said that their oppo nents, afraid of trusting to the popular voice, were at tempting to deprive 128 electors of their votes ; but, not withstanding every disadvantage, the exertions and energy of the burgesses had nobly maintained their posi tion, and the flag of Conservatism still floated in peaceful triumph over the old rock of Gibralter. (Loud laughter and cheers.) He hoped he should return to the Town Council with greater experience and with increased use fulness. He contended that it was necessary to carry out the sanatory measure with all due regard to the circum stances of the burgesses, and with due regard to economy. The speech was hailed with loud applause, and the assem bly quietly dispersed. S.-PITT•STREET WARD. In this ward the Radicals have been almost at their wits' end. Mr. Denton did not meet with the unanimous support of his party ; on the contrary, he was vehemently opposed by a section of them, who covered the walls with placards tending to damage the political standing of their candidate. Mr. Rimmer, the retiring candidate, was at the head of the poll during the whole of the day, and at the close was returned by a majority of 38. 9.-GREAT GEORGE WARD. This has been a somewhat singular election ; Mr. H. G. Harbord was returned without any opposition. Mr. G. G. Hornby was the retiring member, and, for some unexplained reason, did not again solicit the suffrages of the electors, preferring to offer himself for Everton ward. On Mr. Hornby's retirement, a committee, composed of both the political parties, waited on Mr. Harbord with a requisition to allow himself to be put in nomination, and having complied, he was honoured yesterday with a unani mous election. 10.-RODNEY STREET WARD. Rodney-street Ward has again become wholly Conser vative, in the return of James Aspinall Tobin, Esq., by the overwhelming majority of 119. Looking at this ma jority and the three gentlemen who now represent the ward (Mr. Wood, Mr. Holme, and Mr. Tobin), we think it likely to continue Conservative. Our advice to the Reformers is this,.that if they wish to make an attack on this ward again, they had better attempt some other mode than that of wholesale objections. In 1846 the Conser vatives made no objections, while the Reformers made many, we forget how many, and yet Mr. Samuel Holme's majority was 80;: and in 1847 the Conservatives made 29 objections, and the Reformers 179—and their agent on the revision (Mr. Hull) acknowledged in open court that he had not a good objection against 20 of the 179, and though the Conservatives attended very well in support of their votes, some 30 were struck off for non-attendance, and yet in the face of these disadvantages the Conserva tive majority is 1.19. For Mr. Lewin's sake we are glad he is only second best, for he would have been much dis tressed to have obtained a seat in the Council through such unworthy means. At the close of the poll Mr. Tobin appeared at one of the windows of the Messrs. Holme's offices, in Benson-street, and in a very excellent address, thanked the assembled crowd for their exertions which had been crowned with such triumphant success. 11.-ABERCROMBY WARD. Yesterday, Mr. James Procter, who has for many years represented this ward, was again returned without oppo sition. Great exertion was made by the Liberals to bring forward a gentleman of tneir party, but one and all shrank from an encounter with so popular a gentleman as Mr. Parker. Last year, the contest in this ward was one of the most severe of any that took place at that period— Mr. Kaye and Mr. Todd being nearly even on the poll during the whole of the day. The Conservative committee on this ward is one of the most active and persevering in the town, and the success of the party is owing, in a great measure, to their untiring exertions. 12.-LIME-STREET WARD. From the first the success of Mr. Lloyd, the retiring candidate, was by his own party held as certain ; but the vigorous exertions used by the opposing candidate's (Mr. Picton's) friends were such as needed the sturdy energies of thorough Conservatives to meet. At nine o'clock there was a rush of the friends of each party to poll, but out of a dozen votes tendered, the first and nine following were for Mr. Lloyd, and from; that time he continued to improve his position in a well contest to the end, the result of which will, no doubt, be more gratifying to Mr. Lloyd, as in the two last years his Conservative col leagues were defeated. immediately after four o'clock, Stubbs's Royal Har monic Band struck up " Oh, dear ! what can the matter be ?" a somewhat popular tune in the ward ; at the con clusion of which Mr. T. Parkinson appeared at the window of the central committee room, Mr. Prescot's Swan Inn, London-road, and stated that he had the great gratifica tion of announcing another glorious victory that they had that day achieved. The state of the poll at the close was,—for Mr. Lloyd, 313; for Mr. Picton, 282 . ; leaving a majority of 31. He concluded by introducing them to the gentleman they had returned, and who for the next three years would represent them, and felt satisfied, from a personal knowledge of his character, that he would fully warrant the estimation they had formed of him. Amidst the most enthusiastic cheers, John Buck Lloyd, Esq., appeared, and after thanking the electors for the honour of having returned him as their representative in the Council on three successive occasions, said that he would be wanting in gratitude if he did not, after the response that had been made, lay before them, in a few words, some explanation of the malicious reports that had been circulated with a tendency to injure him. When oppo nents descended to personalities, it was ever a proof of the weakness of the cause they had to support; but there was to the burgesses of the ward some explanation due, and he felt a gratification in giving a faithful ac count of his stewardship. The town of Liverpool was so rapidly improving, and new streets so speedily erected, to meet the growing influence of its proudly acknowledged eminence, that in the promotion of sanitory measures it was necessary to use the most strenuous exertions. It was not the duty of a member of the council to discuss the currency question, but the sewerage question. They wanted fewer politicians and more workers, and from the first he had heen a worker. In reply to the charge of his not having attended the duty required by the ward, he might state that he held in his hand a return of the attendance of the members of the Town Council ; and by that he found that his attendance not only equalled that of their last returned representative, Mr. Danson, but far surpassed that of his colleague, Mr. Vincent Higgins. The duties of such an office were by no means light. There had been within the past year, special and general, twenty-five Council meetings, and he had been charged with attending more to his professional business than to the interests of his constituents ; but after what he had stated, he thought a confidence might be extended to those who were diligent in their private business ; for ihat formed, in some measure, a guarantee that they would discharge well their duty to the public. He then elo quently alluded to the contemplated measures of the new Council—amongst them, the furthering of the provisions of the sanatory act by the purchase of the existing water company's works ; the erection of public fountains, troughs for cattle, &c.—and said, that with the increasing value of property, the increasing commerce of this now greatest port in the world, and the increasing magnitude of the town, he conceived that, under the guidance of the Council, they would be able be able to supply water, year by year, at a yearly decreased rate. (Cheers.) But this and all other measures that involved a considerable expen diture should be so arranged as not to fall immediately on the town, but to be extended over a series of years. (Cheers.) He then urged the necessity of the electors calling periodical ward meetings, at which they might express their wants, and be aided by their representatives in obtaining their desires, either by memorials or through the committee. After again returning his thanks to the electors, and also to the ladies of the ward, ,he retired. amidsfloud applause, and was accompanied• by many of his friends, headed by a band, tp, procession W the Town.ball, Nov. 2, 1547. 13.--rST. ANNE'S WARD. Our readers are aware that the most unmitigated hostility has been directed against Mr. Parker, and the Radicals would have been content to have lost everY ward if they could have succeeded in ejecting him from the Council. The most unworthy means have been re sorted to in order to withdraw his supporters from ten dering their suffrages. During the canvass his opponents have called on some of the electors of the ward and by purchases have endeavoured to secure their votes. Yester day morning each of the medical gentlemen resident in the ward received a beautifully written epistle folded in a silver-edged envelope, politely requesting their attend- , ance about the middle of the day at places some miles out of the town. Dr. Hawthorn was solicited very politely to attend at Ivy-cottage, Parkgate. Mr. M. Nicol 'S presence was required by a lady at Parkgate, and Mr- Ferguson was requested to attend professionally at Orms kirk. We are happy, however, to say that all these stratagems failed. Mr. Parker won his way triumphantly, and though his opponent, Mr. Mellor, was, perhaps, the most formidable opponent he could have met, he was re warded with—what, atter seven years active and untiring exertions, he richly deserves—the continued confidence of the electors. We congratulate him warmly on his re election. A correspondent has sent us the following parody on 3 favourite song, with a request that we will give it publicity : _ _ TUNE—" Marble Halle." I dreamt that I into the Council went, With Walthew and Earle by my side; And of all the new members the Radicals sent, That I was the hope and the pride. I dreamt that at length I could boast ' • Of " councillor" tacked to my name; But I only find ? what grieves me most, That I'm plain Mr. Mellor, the same. I dreamt that the Radical members all rose, As I gracefully walked to my seat ; And I heard them whispering—" There he goes— The man that has Parker beat ?" I dreamt that one of them hinted " Perhaps Some day the mayoralty he'll claim :" But I'm only returned to my vaults and my taps— I'm plain Mr. Mellor, the same. Shortly after the close, Mr. Bennett appeared at the window of Mr. Glegg's r- Tavern, (Mr. Parker's nCom mittee-room,) and announced the result in terms o ,f, e gratulation to the assembl age o f people who peon.' th space beneath ; after which Mr. PARKER presented himself, when he was 10 1 - 18 1 applauded. The cheering having subsided, he proceeded to thank his brother townsmen and brother burgesses for having again conferred the high honour on him of repre senting them at the Council board. He felt called upon to thank his opponents in the ward—he meant those who differed from him in politics, but who perfectly agreed with him as to the manner in which municipal affairs. should be managed—for having assisted him to the proud position which he then occupied—an honour which more than ten-fold compensated him for all the exertion he ever had made, or ever could make, in the cause of his fellow burgesses. (Loud cheers.) He would be sorry nst tradesman a d speak esman one who word had hee n disrespectfulbrought hotf forward rw e respectable ardaga him, more than to express his regret that he had allowed himself to be named. But whilst he thus respected an honourable and upright man, he would be but stating the fact when he said that some of the men who brought Mr. Mellor forward, formed a most coil' temptible clique in the ward, and one which had then met its proper reward. (Cheers.) Mr. Mellor, he was aware, was a man of honour and principle, who could not have been cognizant of the proceedings which those gen tlemen had taken with the sanction of his name in order to effect his (Mr. Parker's) defeat. (Cheers.) For big own part his instructions to his committee were, if one halfpenny were to buy the ward do not give it. (Cheers.) He felt that he had still the confidence of the burgesses of St. Anne's (Cheers) and he hoped to enjoy that con. fidence long amongst them. (Renewed cheering.) After again thanking them Mr. Parker retired, and the as semblage quietly dispersed. 14.-WEST DERBY WARD. We did not expect that Mr. Booker, the retiring member, would this year have met with any opposition ; neither would he if the Liberals had been true to their• professions of not making party politics any ground of opposition, provided the candidate was possessed of the necessary intelligence and respectability. They have not , however, made any way in the district since the last con: test ; and we presume, that after Mr. Beckwith's defeat yesterday, they will not again disturb the peace of t__, ll 2 ward. We rejoice in Mr. Booker's re-election; he co w not have been spared from the Council. 15, 16.—NORTH AND SOUTH TOXTETH. After the Conservative defeat in these wards last year a little apprehension was felt, yesterday, as to the prospec t of f,+uccess for both North or South Toxteth• It was known that the Radical ascendancy party in the Vestry had been successful in swamping the votes of many of the electors, known to entertain Conservative opinions ; and if there were no other grounds of trepidation for the Conservative Candidates, the elation of the Radical party previous to the Election, fully warranted some de gree of doubt. Mr. Mann took the lead of his opponent, Mr. Freme, at the commencement of t he ,h a P s o l l i li gh ng tly ; v a ar nd ym ma m in a t j a o i r n i e ty d such lead up to 12 o 'c l o c k , irit from hour to hour.' At 12 o'clock, Mr. Freme ' 's friends evidently made a push ; but they were manfully met br . Mr. Mann's supporters, and nothing was lost. Fr °lll 1 o'clock to the close the Conservative majority increased ; and at the close the numbers were— ;For Mr. W. !Mann ..... 281 ~ Mr. W. P. Freme ...... 230 Majority for Conservative ..... 51 In the commencement of the day's polling we observed the Head Overseer of Toxteth Park, Mr. Applebee, and several of his friends particularly energetic; and running alternately in and out of the parish-office and the Whig Committee-room—a public-house. next door but one — with anxious haste. Later on in the day, however,— " We miss'd him in th'accustomed place." He had vanished : had perhaps sought for consolation sowewhere)ut of the reach of the taunting looks of mis led friends and insulted opponents ; and long before the close of the contest, whig-radicalism in this ward seemed to have given up the ghost. In the south ward, the fate of which was even more feared than the north, Mr. R. L. Jones also took the lead from the commencement ; and steadily increased it to the close of the poll, when the numbers were, — R. L. Jones ( Conservative) 220 T. Avison ( Radical) lB5 Majority for Jones.;.. 35 A few minutes after four o'clock, the committees for both wards assembled at Mr. Atkinson's, the Royal Oak, in the Park-road, in front of which was a large concourse of voters and others, belonging to both wards, waiting to learn the state of the poll at its close, and to hear an address from the two successful candidates. W e c ard heers first ; li ese r n . M ed N ' himself,tl the member er fo c r an th in e g Northfor three for their triumph, stated that he had en t er t a i ne d little tANa ex pectation of having the pleasure of addressing the electors. of North Toxteth as the successful candidate. Instead of occupying his present position on the poll, he expected to have been 100 votes below his opponent. The num bers recorded on the poll were 281 against 230, leaving a majority of 51 against his opponent. He thanked them for this signal proof of their confidence ; and it would be his study, as it had always been, to repay it by an earnest attention to their interests. He would now consider him self as one of the representatives for the whole of this ward ; and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to receive and attend to the communications of his con stituents of both parties. It was not essentially necessary that a member of the Council should be a strong party man. He himself entertained the good old Tory princi ples—good church principles—and most sorry should he be to see the ultra Radical principles again dominant in the Town Council. Having thanked them, once more for the honor they had done him, and congratulated them on the victory they had achieved, Mr. Mann begged to, make way for his colleague, the successful candidate for the south ward, Mr. Jones. Before retiring, however, he informed them that the Conservatives had been victo rious in every ward except one ; and called for three more cheers for the good old cause, which were given with en thusiasm. Mr. R. L. JONES then presented himself, and was re ceived with renewed cheering. After thanking the electors warmly for the support afferded him, he pro ceeded to congratulate them upon the successful result. He was not a speaker; but he prided himself as being a man of undeviating truth. As a merchant, connected with them in interest, he pledged :himself to use his best efforts for the maintenance of the welfare of the wards, undeviatingly and fearlessly. The electors had proved themselves good warriors ; they had fought well, and the battle was theirs. Mr. Jones, after paying a well deserved compliment to his colleague, Mr. Mann, emphatically denied a statement which he said had been made, that it was his wish to take away the timber trade from the centre of the town, and concluded by again cor dially thanking the electors for their support. Mr. J. SHEPHERD then presented himself, and briefly congratulated the constituencies of the two wards upon the glorious victory which they had gained, expressing, in very flattering terms, his sense of the character of the two gentlemen elected. The proceedings went off with the greatest good hu mour, the Radical party being invisible at the close. LIVERPOOL : TUESDAY, NOV. 2, 1847. 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