The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNI7AL MEETING.—YEsTERDAy. 21 The Treasurer congratulated the Chairman on the increase in the number of members during the year. The members now numbered 580, the increase during the year having been 30. The Chairman. said : Gentlemen, before I ask your The annual general meeting of the Liverpool Chamber adoption of the report b justtinoovsvure:nd, subjects shall et proceed e t to3 in ma k e tb a treport„ t wo or three y o dutys er va 0 :_ f Commerce was held at one o'clock, yesterday, in their will be considerably limited uu rns, Exchange Buildings. The president, Edward consequence of a great portion of the subjects having been aie atb, Esq., occupied the chair. noticed at the half-Yearly:meeting, when a report was read, T he Secretary, Mr._. The present yearly repo r t em b o d ies the follow s : Tronson, read the annual report as 6 . apps then submitted to the meeting. The first subject to whi c h I s h a ll d raw your attention is, under the head of dock extension, and I only name this question in 1 draw attention to what app ears to he of growing importanee, connected with the 'future ..rosperity of this port. of course, the port and town of Liverpool are, we trust destibed for ail time. and not merely r for the duration of a stogie life. The subject Tam goine. 0 to allude to is, the encroachment of the sea upon the north shores of the river: I observe tharthissubject is already 3 causing' a rood deal of attention on th e D art of scientific e men, and that it h as b een b' thein con s id ered possible n 'tat if th-se en- roac hm e nt s are not put a st op t o t h ey may *end even to the upper part of NCrallasey Pool. If such vent were to take place it would be found an exceed ling them awkward occurrence for this port. Of course such `3f the council bare now th e p l easure o f lay i ng be f ore the membe c h "min milker of Commerce the following summery of their pr attentigon'': on the principal sui3ects whit have oci.upied the, REPORT 4c AbIEND THE LAW RELATING TO BILLS OF LATIN(? ‘, Y t ° F , ll ..! council have the pleasure of reporting that the bill drawn xi tha"ier, ,m..rican Chamb er o f C omm - rce, after conference with thi 'vern stnl°nrzlE secure this object, was I ntro d uce d i nto t h e House e was ns ; one of i ts provisions was opposed by Government an, th litdin, out. The great paint, howevtr, of render flit legal inatrionents whereby not only the property. but a s , that bills a '°ntract, becomes transferable, has been gained; as likewif their trice Enaittna them conclus,ve evidence of the f+cts stated up , ,•ce against the m“stor or person sirr~' lUm m 'al' PROCEDURE ON DISHONOURED BILLS OF ill ' e rwo b " 111 o ,Were Introduced i n t o P a rliament t o e ff ect t hi s object, , man s of which the council se',t a petition to the House of Coin were ; n being referred to a select com Mate! parts of . both bi . lll tua r Pl• ed, and an act has passed the Legislature which, while etr eetB l ng the ostensible acceptor of a bill of exchange from the Lo w ~.e i Bud is well mitigated to give summary re..ress to the ---,..ellolde'r. large Sour f _g to the diff erent view taken in. 1834 by the Chamber a 11,. (1 °,7 n that of the counc il on the principle of limited liability irithen!eetors have considered themselves precluded from using tit: 4 e B sio r i e " the Chamb er on the bits brought into P a rli ament l as i only for etrtain changes in the law of partnership. one of wh ch he r , passed ; na^lv A bill for limiting the liab i lity of m oor Wil t ° I ceitat. irt ' - EXCHANG. LAW OF PARTNERSHIP. no dornt-Stock Companies/ Legislati n, doubtless, t n dnei Ple otP , he re ' but further changes, more or less involving the se t sssion O nlited liability, will be brou g ht un d e r di s cus s ion thi s ZPosi t t' on an 's it would be desirable if your council could be placed in hich c itil.ess an opinion on any furthcr practical measures t '''e co 11117 be brousia forward ou a subject so vitally important to n4nerc ial (las; 4 10.0 , vrL1 . COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND IRELAND BILL . This ,„ to becur;:ea_ I tinmt. -... . steam_shi,.. !tire, having . for its object:to enable railway companies prOprietara, and several other bills of like ‘,_ss-oi,4,_were brought before your council by the Steam-chip rarn imi ."'2 l ,• After full consideration a petition was presented to to iti tcr iut against the bills, as seeking to obtain powers calculated 'tere , 1 4_,re With the freedom of competition. Some of the bills t i o , B , . ttra " l , and the others so alt red as to conane their opera- I° Postal and passenger communication only. - :e u t t ie vdil be in the recollection of the Chambrr that. this impottant lint er , e t bad been, at various times, under the notice of the council, 'fell rhsiderable difficulty being experienced, (owing tO the absence of illea n n , f°ll ation,) inroming to a safe and unanimouiiipon'on the :vor t „,`'T's of any p rticular scheme, your councif limited their iind,:"rualestion to the Dock Committee, in the interview which that 1114est"dilY granted to their deputation, to suggestions that the ally de . e dgineering talent in the country should be consuPed before ee. f.ided steps were taken for duck extension on a . giTst . scale. tin ei v e .T l 4 oecui red the long-looked-for purchase of the Birkenhead ofth,ay the Liverpool Corporatlen has been effected ; be, as one les % tfaraediate consequences of this arrangement will doubt- Liv e Z lint an end to all rivalry between the sister communities of keli e r,° l and Birkenhead, your council entertains a strong hope and the n!aat, without the necessity of any intervention on the part of Lie n , amber, the measures most conducive to the trade of the th e :77 generally will be considered on their merits alone, ami that hurae'llestltuted authorities will study to avail themselves .of the )4 rer e b e enpabllities for accoatmodation now in their hand , , and 'to cot jerender ut inteessary any further extension of docks for yearn DOCK EXTENSION , order to rather reason why we st without considerat A th e jr. B ' ogees of the Board. of Trade, your President and Plopose`'opoOlte vvcre deputed to attend the Ethibition for the Frown, mojePorting on the samples of various products there b. l ar of eau,: ea PeCially thole of the English colonies. The report ; 1 °, 41 .. 4 Me , e )'„ t° °, !Ong t o . be introduced here, and your counc i l i"'ed wa s m -' to the article of cotton, a special notice on ;Laker*. 4 . 8 7,a , tt °epee, as representative of the Cotton Alptivatio ' eciation- Tem which it appears that a nzw field for the tie tbl' Cotton' has been opened in the French colony of , t 1 the rowth ot which very fair samples were exhibited. ..ati cei ; councilg May also state that they have received a sample of *Net, . grow n in the district of Moreton-bay, New South Wales, Ford totality, as far as can be judeed by the sample, bids fair to Itt SU PIy , of valuable and excellent cotton. treporttoit.inettion with the Paris Exhibition, the council have to 'at lb, "at Mr. Levi was again appointed to represent the . Chamer And tnternatianal Statistical Congress, held this year in Pa ris, T urni 7at an interesting detailed statement of the proceedings was 'd etirie l "b7 tha f gentleman which may be consulted by any member TliVf L o do 80. ooJects of the International Statistical Congresses are to pthre;t7;cocrarect statistical information, to introduce t uniformity jutges, in to and it on t 4t e i : i c i tLm r ettoss those of defects t r s e , n , t h m the pursuit of this science 1 14 'n g" ) in the laws and regulations of civilised nations. Jew, f,'?t Congress was he'd in Brussels, in 1853 the second last Oth er earls. It was attended by numerous o ffi cial deputies, and kj, statists, many of pubic note, from all parts of Europe, the 44. 0 1 rd States, am conoucting its business by sections ; the subj.cts lehallt before the ' Congre•s and reported on were various, a part of I la la ntel 0 " Only be mentioned as interesting to the Chambe-, Y , the best mode e. collecting tne statistics of the acreage of tie, under tillage and of crops; the statistics of commerciai jus 57s4P,„4ttaership, ' bankruptcy, and bills of exchan g e; the decimal eelt' Money, and the assimilation of we.ghts and measures. _ j a i t i h e subject of uniformity, as far as practicable, in ihe c?rnd 'eark..-.."w and usages of civilhe i nations appears to have . receive ,IN,.:,,,.._atstention, and no difference of opinion prevailed of its s. It Th at , e 7 cUlection and more frequent' publication of statistical infor. connected with :le domestic and foreign trade of countries I,,,,flgt.. adv ocated by the r o n g ress . thmet' s umma , v, m de from Mr. LtvPs able report, is . orner o eeabie the Ch am b er t o judg , of the bene fi ts which eo7oznunity may derive rrom keeping up a ertallexiOu with the shl..teartlext sitting w ill probably take place hi London in 1857, when ~Z r t e nities will be a ff orded to the commerc al assaiations of this co n ,' Y. to bring before its members such subjects connected with deal, Ma r' lal statistics and coaanercial progress as may ba thought PARIS RIBIBITION OF 1853 t}l : 4l. di rector a te ,,,, have azain memoralised the Government, praying ' r e 0 1 .; ' ft 'aY be taken for t , e abon•ion of these dues ; and they .414 eat; .t . tenti 4tist. .ctien of reporting 'Ltd the subj.ct is occupying the on of the Foleigo. office.; tend to allay doubt ABOLITION OF THE SOUND DUES. to a pr MONTE VIDEAN LOAN OF 1845. and I have the that upwards o strenon , wP COMITIU , in the tra his rc r, to 1815, clurin,. the 'ti ant.. !oan consists of funds advanced chiefly by British 'e eof Monte Video by General liosas, I,l4e,,fel.,,,,eerott9ite:taebilrehoth; Mon ' !e g Vid an loin to protract the !titer‘fneer!_l 'he Bri7shill'. ity. t r The o s made at the special eniil n ote v i a itiary the diPloma ic 1 4e r, ancancowof the British G u o l v s e e rrment being pledge i by its M in -11,„ b Y certair, trios of its repayment , with interest, was provided v-i.d,, after the la " , P :- :ati° n B fur the due fulfilment of the contract. he e: With, ne i t ,! c thet years, thse con mons rain uncont '44 rep air] yner lnterest nor praicipat of thenoan hav f il,g op i , it er of the .2.ir council, the; efore, en the application , o th a e hl er .,??l . or a e.,_‘-ilatinher interested in . the loan, loki;Mlized triewil,torecei,ghspoeffic ia e ll3i h ar i p v o o i h n r te o d f , t o h n e t after sullj a ec i t n° h a ye T:Okri. just claims ' of the el q - 41 e , ,1 0r • %Li end ° , tal has met with due attention on the p .rt of Lord to I)t hati t ; 4 " the couneil has received the assurance of his lord 041rae i._structions have been sent to the British Charged' Affaires otes i i i `" the Monte Videan Government the settlement of the " 1 41 loar es tion, in conformity with the stipu:ations of the e)ntract (to which the British Minister was a patty.) ates tha' in e ' POSTAL MATTERS. ki"seelell'lllifileirly. report, the council have nothino• further to of letti Post„, by 'fle Itoint3 there camel, namely, an ext . ra delivery lett e . " r a Ster or 4 nd; the approval of the council of the plan of the tkt t t t. With 'j, 4 ising the rent of the boxes for the delivery of dei o ,;:e depc ~ e 'or to the reduction of their number, so as to f or '4 " ; awl the abolition of fees to the c:erks. Ine the ::,ybhp 4 1 atn additional mail from London, bringing dowu letters five aan., and delivered here about one p.m.; and ' l ent of a later mail to Edinburgh and Glasgow. A' America in the nature sister countrif / AP ,4..0%. co°R . RIC COMMUNICATION WITH HOLYHEAD. 1, 4 , titld er ,, rl 9, in c onjunction with deputations from the Exchange tic) Do l , of %rlters' Rome waitei upon the Dock Committee for the ,eeamby t ce s aggeat rig that a more complete system of communica- Dl N ;fed i n t!,',4Ph should be adopted, so that intelligence might be toChre. the" weathers. Your council have observed with much tht e hope.) receat proceedines of that 13, dy on the subject. It is co s , c ons: c i„... t ht the great imp - ortance of the matter will gain for it sag`i ,:"ation which it dese:ves, and Viet the question of first eti ut b e Perin' m c aye _ itted to stand in the way of the adoption of the tt,,,_ to „_".ha of coast telegraph, which is so eminently .calcu `thez,tiC?ltote the safety and convenience of Ihe s ipping u e Port, and thereby benefiting the Dock Estate. l' th. hEW SCALE ti l k:-. c o , i3 . OF HEAL VALUES OF IMPORTS. k, 0: t ° pr c e „ ll have much pleasure in reporting that the measures hit cese, r e the monthly average vanes ot imports hav, been por tits 1, 40 ( no; and that lir this service the Government, recognis tte he a s , ' nanee , has made an annual grant to this Chamber. co" eil !teat e render e d by the several firms contribu t ing ret urns , begs to repeat its thanks r l ' Oet i, olled . ...c -er las: a requ'sition, very numer . onsly and t c r a esp a e m ett t ly . fort'26 of tieaa_presented to the council, req t ue c s o ta u n ri l e th i gn otA bell adopted reik7k.,a.nlber, "to conin t r e r a h eolit,ti press the the community em , w sulfecing• under the influence ' The council, having maturely . et tha!iered the si nc7, a d ry id sys ot deem . it necessary to ca 1 a meeting pr o 7 Chamberr bjut envoi not a standing committee to . watch the Whej li " °f eVentS. atiti to i tim tte to the council their opinion llble. tarnediate action onth n part of the Chamber might be dew recei4p to the present time e no intimation to that effect has been In the meathe committee sUier‘tton t oth "ne. the c ommittee has been requested to give cop effects on th e C. e d general merits of the Bank Charter Act, and its The commit and convne arduous country. llnon it, and rerinithe: to very and difficult task imposed its investigations; and ti nroceed with deliberation and caution in any t eport. tiate does not yet permit of its presenting arNeNrkth this report is received, the council, considerlug th e e , itaelf.importrince of the subjee, Will lay it before the cn.,mo BANK CHARTER ♦CTS. Si nce the l p,7.,tw0 _ List annual meeting your connell regret to report that alleles have been occaa oned: the ore by the decease of Mr• bi„7.,',i3, and the other by the resign& ion of . 31r "cer)ss. Mr. Joshua t, 1 7 e rid 111. Thomas Sellar have bezn ehtted Wild the vacancle. til,fieelavely.. tb, i,ol_!lowelth r.eference to gentlemen elected to fill vaca f n o c u l i e i s t , t a )y t ttlilleoect:/nuci tuorrotpnegrabeetwiere=ezt annual a to n e d: - t h rig, h w a , cl ). b lu er therefore. el ~Lt that an alteration be m Y e to the they that nirec.ors )Ha r :. t. fill vacancies whose Period of (ince will e, pire u ;der two aft„'' 'ball b, at to continue until the third annual m.:eting 'il l. . "hit' elec-tion. tdwge direetots ret ring by rotation to-day are Mr. F. A. Clint Mr. W. 4r„c! Hlegin, Mr. Joseph klubb irk, alr. Chas. Rob - rtson, and 31r. Wa r. ' ' olinnon, who :Ire ine ig ble tor elect on during the present 04• P. l'lve v acancies, therefore, occur, a hich must be filled up at t l , I,lesent meeting. Ihe usual return of tie attendance of direcLrs ct ou the table. RETIREMENT OF,DIRECTOES Y r , By-LAWS FOR ARBITRNTIoN. : 4 th e r eatincil have f and it necessary to make certain alterat'ons . ec Oe4l, ls4 's for the purpose of expediting references; and they ~ A re the sanction of the Chamber thereto. "yeren%lutiOn, embodying this change and that recommended i n " 4 1Arr; " t ° tile term ce• °dice or directors tie , te.i tq.hill tacancre kin :IN between the annual meetings, will be submitted for your It ! i liti on. thank:l,4'4l4 this report your council beg to repeat landther cordillael eutt„.‘4 .th. rnembe s of Parliament for the borough . It'4ve pall al von of the county f.,r , the valuable services whih they .° ,l e. 411 times ren ered to the Chamber, and for the ready ass'. -4 atr - i: 4 th '3 , hAve given to the va.luus matters in wh th their Iv .eert required. Iltate" Treasurer, Mr. John Aikin, read the Treasurer's t he 3.14" t, which showed that the total receipts during fo r % e ar had been 8391. 65. 2d., and that, after providing e eXPenditure, there remained a balance of 1261. 19s. that the only course which the merchants of Liverpool would have to take, would be to see that if "limited liability " was to become the recognised princinle Of the nation, it was carried , out at least on safe principles. lie trembled for measures of that kind carried out by a government riot of commercial men, or without the con trol and consent of such important bodies as theirs. The report also alluded to the subject of dock extension. He could sympathise with the feelings of the council on it. He believed that, representing the most irtiportant cem ent not 'Printed. mercial body in Liverpool ) they should have rvceited a n b, greater number of Communications on the subject front T she, the dock committee than they had. He did not construe 'ion, 6 that circumstance into any disrespect to the chamber, but 'ention _ „ e of still he wotild take that opportunity of saying, that, it tanee. es watt the 'future I of course, tho ii.,..). __ . . would be a highly popular thing if the dock committee would put itself into more intimate conentinitlititin with ____ •.e. Lime. and not merely the chamber on the subject thin it h a d d one . F or ,_,„,. .e. duration of a tinkle„m i life. The s u bj ect I a gone , instance, the great Atteation as to the best and most facile ude, to is, the en c r o a c hm e nt of th e sea upon the north anannei. of working their quays was yet to b e considered. = _e......e. tharthis subject is already They did not know if the dock .committee had euffii• ciently attended to that subject. Thee had. her& that the best engineering talent Was desired on the question of dock extension and tidal moats, but if such talent were required for the consideration of those subjects, it was also equally required in regard to the management of those docks they already had. Then, as regarded the question of postal communicati on , he had made emit', bat it s distance is nn l upon that account pass it over some memoranda on it, which he would move in the Pa at a .late form of a substantive motion. ,late'' pact of e and I thi n k i t would very much hadprotihesied at the tithe _., upon the p u bli c mind that attention their proceedings. Ile awn to it, and th a t some report should be the subject had first been before th e Ch am b er that it ... would h a Waste of money to 'attempt to improve the aponithe subject by some a bl e professional engineer. .ie next snbject is connected with the post-office. Mr, present post-office; and the result prove th.e.a.cciracy of Banning, as you are aware, had made a change in re that prophesy. Nearly 12,0001. was spent in improving ferenee to the occupation of boxes by mercantile firms. i. it; and now they had air. Banning requiring from the solicitude for the mercantil e convenience of the `v, is, I believe, only second in Mr. Banning's mind corn. i dock committee an enlarg emen t o f th e s p ace , an d th e committee refusing the application on the ground that her fulfilment of his duties towards the govern- they required more than they themselves had. But after consulted with the coOheil tlptin the subject of all it was no great cause of regret, as unquestionably the nd upon the reasons shewn to us we ap- The measure h as b een put i n execution, business centre of Liverpool was ge tti ng c h ance d. Th ey saw Immense piles of buildings going on in Oldhall-street ethority from Mr. Banning in announcing and Dale-street, and that neighbourhood; they were all ," 500 of the boxes have been given uin drawing as near aa possible td th e Exchange, and it was, consequence of the change, t o th e great satisfaction of the gentlemen concerned, in co nsequence of the increased therefore; desirable that the new post,-office should be near it. An idea, too, prevailed in the Town Council. that it faci'ities afforded in the deliveries. Another point con- would be prudent and. necessary to remove the offices in netted with the post-office to which Tsheuld Wish to draw Cornwallis-street to the same querter, and under these the attention of the chamber is with respect! to the future ' circumstances it appeared to hart! that On e co mp re h ens i ve site. It will b e i n th e memory of the chamber that some scheme of public offices might be arranged somewhere in years ago government wets upon the p o i n t o f t r ansferring the neighbourhood of the E xc h ange . I n regar d to t h e i r the site to Londor,-road, and had arranged to purchase own building they certainly required that the room should the site of t tie old blind school, and it Was only by the be enlarged, and he was glad that the subject was to be 's opposition of the aharnber that such an intention brought before the council. The Chamber should feel very given up, and the - P os t- o ffi ce suffered to remain much obliged to the directors f or th e i r regu l ar a tt en d ance eit was at the e x p ense o f an outlay of some £l6 000. at the meetings of the council, b u t h e o b serve d t h at one or as intimated to us at th e ti me th at t h e measure then two of the honorary directors, in con sequence , per h aps, o f n could only be te m p orary . If t h e increase or postal their not having received a n y n o ti ce , h a d not atten d e d ation goes on as it has hith er t o 'A cme, it w ill b e at all during the year. On that accoun t it was necessary ery to demand a much . itlc rease d accommo d at i on that the associations which sen t th ose gent l emen to the ecer of the. site, N ow , on t a lki ng over t h e council, should be informed th a t it was d es i ra b le that fair with Mr. Banni ng , h e i s ex t remely anxious, and he they should select not only men o f a bili t y , b ut men who the government are also ver y anx i ous , th a t th e would attend to the business o f th e c h am b er. T he sub ewe of the m ercan til e commun i ty should be expressed ject of their relations with A mer i ca had been alluded to by the chairman ; and in endo rs in g hi s remar k s, he could .yon this subj ec t. W e ' were pushed into a corner upon the former occasion. W e h ave now four or fi ve years say that there was but one fe e li ng i n Li verpool—but one before us, and I think it i s a su bj ect wh i c h t h e counc i l feeling throughout the co un t ry , t owards the people of should consider matur e ly an d d e lib erately. T he l ast America, and that feeling was one of love, attachment, a matter to which I sho u ld d raw your attention is that. and confidence. He spok e o f th e A merican ipeople, and not of any one individual, h owever hi gh in office ; and, if under the head of mon e t ary system, the bank charter act. " " I should be very fa r fr ot h ma ki ng any observations which " the word conciliation, were substituted for th e wor d should seem to give a d ec id e d expression of opinion upon concession," as used by the ch a i rman, h e could go with this subject, as it is in th e h an d s of the committee, and it him in almost all that he had said i n th e ma t ter. They had would be taking a very unf a i r a d vantage of the honour- used conciliation before in their d ea li ng w i t h the Ameri able position which I o ccu p y if I were to introduce the can people, in the fishery laws, and i n th e matter of Oregon and California; and he do u bt e d not, that" if they sabject for that purpose, or t o presume to give you my opini n upon it. acted so again (and he was sure the B r iti s h .goyer n ment eMy object i s s i mp l y to explain that that of' paragraph in the report whi c h spea k s of the object would do all it could, to bringabout so desirable au end,) the memorialists in wishi ng a special meeting of the but one feeling of confidence, kindne s s, an d b rot h er h ood, Chamber to be celled to co ns id er t h e course which should would pervade the two nations. (H ear , h ear. ) Mr. Bushell thought there was no one p resen t, or w h o be taken for the relief' of the com mun it y th en suffering under the monetary system, i s on l y a quotation from the would read his words, who would no t concur i n t h e feel memorial itself, not the lan guage or the conclusion of the ing of amity expressed by the c h a i rman t owar d s t h e council. Had this been the l anguage - of the council, it United States, but still he thought that it wou ld h ave b een might have spared itself the t rou bl e o f appointing arum- better, if, after having given e x p ress i on t o th a t f ee li ng, t mittee, because that languag e wou ld i mply a foregone the chairman had stopped there., H e k new th ere was a conclusion which the council h a d, b y no means, adopted. strong feeling on the part of m an y i n Li ver p oo l, an d th at The committee was "appointed t o watch the course of feeling might extend through ou t th e coun t ry, th at events, and to report to the council. It was committed chambers of commerce did s ome ti mes i n t erme ddl e w i th to them to consider the Bank Ch arter Act of 1844 which, things which they had better n o t t ouc h. H e (M r. as you are all aware, also emb races t h e act of 1819. Now, Bushell) had been :a member of the' council, and he knew besides the question of the cur rency , s t r i ct l y so called, no the difficulties of the chairman' s p os iti on , b u t h e th oug h t all difficulties should be dealt with on th e s af e s id e, doubt -you are all aware that th a t act em b races also cer a tain banking privileges granted t o th e B an k o f England, and that wherever there was a d ou bt, it wou ld b e b etter and also certain banking restricti ons w hi c h t en d to pro- to leave the matter undone, th an d o th a t w hi c h wou ld b e hibit the formation of other banks, exce pt upon certain the subject of difference. Th ere f ore h e wou ld rat h er that the chamber had been forced by th e pu bli c f eel i ng out of conditions. Moreover, it also embra ces th e re l at i ons which are existing between the g overnmen t an d the doors to take up the question r e f erre d t o b y t h e chairman bank in respect to the manag emen t o f revenue. Now it in regard to which there was a diff erence o f op i n i on, than was the duty of the committ ee t o cons id er t h e b ank act that they should have introduced it i n t o th e i r discussion, in relation to all th ese th ree aspec t s, and if you reflect though not immediately concern e d w i t h i t. He did not concur with Mr, ,for Macfie as to :the su b s ti tu ti on of the how many questions may b e i nvo l ve d i n t h at considera- '°conciliation ' " concession." He th oug ht th ey tion which must be t a k en account o f , and followed in all word their windings, in order t o see the' effect produced upon should leave those matters to th e i r government to deal with, and that as it was difficult to sepa ra t e th e personal all the trade an d commerce o f the country, you will not only see that the committee has a very important and from the official character and sentiments of the chair serious matter before them._ but you will see that they man, it might happen that a word uttered casually might must take a great de a l o f ti me to consider these subjects, be productive of evil, inasmuch as it m i g h t b e put forth that the merchants of Liverpool, th roug h t h e Ch amber of before they ca n arr i ve a t any conclusion. The main sub: "'ern t o consider, is simply w h e th er th e acts regu- gommerce, had given expre s si on t o th e op i n i on that con cession should be adopted in deali ng w ith th e present - - - eenntry hav e ac t e d b ene fi c i ally, , e v ert the trad e an d commerce of the vexed question between England an d th e U n i te d S tates. _„ , a have to congratulate the chamber upon the But while he made these observations he cordially con increase of its member s an d it s f un d s. The council have, curred in the motive of the chair man ' s remar k s. H e I believe, acted with grea t economy and care in the dis- thought it would be an act of m a d ness an d su i c id e f or hursement of their funds. Th e great ob j ect of the council two nations bound together b 7 language, religion, and a ll has been, if possibl e , t o t a k e a middle course between the ties that should unite people, t o go t o war w i t h each obtruding itself unfairly upon ma tt ers not within its scope, other ; but still he thought they s h ou ld b e care f u l h ow end neglecting duties prop er ly con fid ed to its charge. they gave utterance to any opinion w hi c h wou ld i nter f ere • Like 'all human institutions, th e counc il may have erred with the government in settli ng th e quest i on. (H ear, occasionally upon one side, and u p on th e other. But, I hear. am happy to say, that their earnes t i ntent i on always The ) Chairman replied that he fully concurre d i n w h a t has been to pursue a middl e course . Th ere is one had fallen from Mr. Bushell. What h e mean t was th at other matter to which I w i s h t o re f er, an d Ido so with in matters of comparatively little impo r t a n ce t o E ng l an d , eeeitation, b u t w h en I cons i der the intimate rela- but considered by the American peopl e o f great impor tance • to themselves, it would be gracef u l as we ll as con exists between this to wn an d th e U n i ted States and that in point of f ac t, we compre h end the dilatory in us to give up those little poi n ts ; b u t h e .qu it e , e ortion of the American t ra d e , an d t h at " Live- agreed with Mr. Bushell in the sentiment th a t it was no t in a great measure id e ntifi e d w i t h" t h e - American for an association like theirs to pass judgm en t on th ose ,e, I think I shall b e j us t upon the right side, if I matters, and that they were much better l e ft i n th e h an d s ,all attention to our positi on a t present, w i th regard to he Majesty's government. He should also repeat again that country. lam sure I s p ea k t h e v i ews of all L that what had - fallen from him merely e x p resse d hi s own pool, when I say that nothing_ ;ver- personal feelings, and that the Chamber as a Chamber, be more f oo li s h, more and the council as a council, had not touched on the -- side!, and more wicked I ma y say, t h an that anything of war should ex i s t b etween those two question in the slightest degree. s, countries which h ave a common langu- Mr. F. Boult observed that while admitting th e great , a common religion, and a common interest. (Hear, difficulties of the Chamber in dealing with p o liti ca l ..-ar, and applause.) Unf or t una t e l y, from the mode in matters, he should say that as a general rule he tho ug ht which the United States sep ara t e d f rom this country, no the public of England" had been far too quiescent in rela donbt angry feelings existed, b u t a ll of which must have tion to the foreign affairs of this country, and that ha v i ng passed:away with the past generations, and the:course of left them too entirely in the h an d s of governme n t th e mutual good offices, and mutual concess i ons which have consequence was constant unpl easan t ness a n d mo s t s er i ous i taken place between the countri es , must have been - sue- injury to the interests of th e peop l e. H e th oug ht th a t ceeded by kind and friendly feelings, suc h as I believe I a matter of such vast imp or t ance as t h e i r re l a ti ons w i t h t may venture to say, exist at prese n t, b e t ween all the the United States which concerne d t h e d a il y b rea d, h e dependencies of Great Britain and th e mo th er country. would say not only of every man i n Lancash i re b u t i n a Now Ido not undertake to pronounce any o pi n i on upon t h e large district of England, sh ou ld not b e le f t who ll y to two particular subjectsfat issue between th e t wo countr i es ; government without seeing th a t every means were taken Ifshall merely state that I fear lest we l oo k upon them for the preservation of those r e l a ti ons. He had no confi too much in an English aspect.- If we l oo k a t th e su bj ect dente in diplomatists, and the coun t ry h ad no reason to from the point of view presented to a n A mer i can t h ere have confidence in them. Wh a t diff erence was there may be a degree of importance from th e v i c i n i ty o f t h e between the two countries ? N one w h atever ; no change territory to Central America attached to th e quest i on b y of feeling had taken place i n E ngland towards the the people of the United States, which i s not considered American people, and he was sat i sfied that the same so in this country. If that be the 'cas e it appears to ma would be found in America. B u t h ere a diplomatist ' s that a little concession on the part of England mi g ht be squabble had arisen, whi c h th ey were told, so far as expedient as well as honourable to herself. (Hear, hear.) America was concerned was part of a political We are in the position of a man f u lly a rme d , and no impu- movement to affect the P res id en ti al election, and yet it tation that we make con cess i on u p on th e score of appre- was tried to be magnified i n t o a national dispute. He hension can be possibly en t er t a i ne d. At no period of could not say how true it was th a t i t was part of such a English history I believe wa s s h e b e tt er qua lifi e d to meet political movement, but no A mer i can whom he knew n hostilities from any part of th e wor ld, an d I therefore sympathised with the f ee li ngs o f his government, and i believe that concessions would come grace f u ll y from her. in return, ha would say th ere was no hostile feeling in this The reason that the territory ; un d er cons id eration is country towards their b ret h ren across the Atlantic. within a few hundred mile s o f th e t err it ory o f the United (Hear, hear.) The simpl es t way o f settling the question States, whereas it is removed from us by th ousands of would be to have the diplomati s t s on b o th s id es re - ca ll e d miles, may cause a little more jealousy up on th e i r part than and never re-appointed. Th e y wou ld h ave no more dis utes with America if they we re recalled ,• but if they sent upon ours. In respe c t to the other ques ti on i t appears to P be narrowed down to a questio n o f e ti quette, and persons to foreign countri es w ith noth i ng to do but to there it is the part of the wi s e an d th e strong man meddle and interfere with ea c h o th er, t h ey would always to make concessio n fi rs t. Thi s i s my own op i nion, and have national disputes. He w ou ld g i ve an ill ustration : of course does not comm it th e Ch am b er at all. I deprecate Not many years since, their a m b assa d or was sent home hostilities as interrupti ng th e i mmense t i de of commerce from Spain for some offence or o th er to t h e S pan i s h G which flows from th e s h ores o f t h e respective countries, Government, and he believed th a t f or th e ensu i ng twe l ve and the feelings of broth er h oo d an d ki ndness which, lam months, during which they had h a d no di p l omat i c rela tions whatever with Spain, th e y h a d never spen t a more happy to say in my e x p er i ence , h as characterised the intercourse between the t wo na ti ons . ( Hear, hear.) The comfortable year with Sp a i n , th an th a t one. (L aug h ter. ) chairman expressed his regret that the members for the. The institution of diplomacy was effete and worn out, and borough were prevented from attending the meeting, being the sooner it was abolished, the better it would be for all at present in London, and that indisposition kept Mr. , Mr. Bushell remarked that in M r . B ou l t ' s political Brown. M.P., from attending, w h o was so we ll qualified nations. speech they had a perfect illustratio n of th e ev il o f intro by position and experi ence t o h ave pro d uced a deeper impression upon the council, in regar d t o t h e su bj ects ducing such matters. before them, than any word s o f hi s cou l d convey. The The report was then unanimously ad o pt e d. chairman then conclud e d by mov i ng t h e adoption of t h e On the motion of Mr, Robertso n , a reso l u ti on , em b o d y report and accounts. me the changes in the laws of th e Ch am b er , as recom - Mr. R. A. Macfie seconded the moti on .M He mended by the council, was u nan i mous l y adopted. had little doubt, he said, that th e Mr. Johnson wished to know if th ere h a d b een many onerous and he was ci, duties of the council were most eases of arbitration •referred t o the chamber, if the , ~ hr. 7,-.. a e ex- , e.- -el the general decisions ' had been satisfactory, a n d if the costs had been feeling when he ,leclar..l ,:,.it L. , bell. ~ .t 1 that they hal lees than would have been incurred by the litigation of laboured most assideoesly, and also successfully, on 11 - •'i tic of the chamber. (Hear, hear.) They had given the tie , matter in a court of law? The Chairman replied, that the cost was less than it chamber along and able account of their actual proceed- would be by arbitration out of doors, but that there was legs, and what they had done they had done not merely no general scale of fees. No complaint had been received for the good of Liverpool, b u t f or th e goo d of the whole in regard to any decision, and it was, therefore, to be nation. The best proof, he thought, of the extent to which their labours were app rove d of 'by the chamber w a s the presumed, that they had been satisfactory ; b u t h e re retted to say. that the number of applications small attendance of memb ers th ere th at d ay; f or if there reference or arbitration, had not been very numerous, for were not absolute and unbounded confidence in them he believed that the room would not be able to contain all who would attend. (Hear, hear and laughter.) That was not a mere (surmise of hie, it was a matter of tact, because though it was known that the council had been carrying on most important proceedings during the last twelve moeths, yet not one of their acts had been challenged. He believed if there was any exception to that general approbation it was this—that some of the chamber thought they had not taken as active a part as they ought to have taken in the last session of parliam ant on the subject of liability in partnership. On that ques tion only he believed was'there any difference, though at the same time the delicacy which had prompted the council in the matter was felt by all. Among the matters that had :been brought before theth there were very many_ on:which he did not feel competent to offer an obser vation, but there were one or two subjects on which he ( mild remark. H e h a d a l rea d y a ll u d e d t o one —th e l aw or Par tnprship. As the report stated, there was reason to think done onthat subject . ti .that more will be been very active work going weighty „ d " c V" Perceive that it would be one of the most on d,s a s n e d ss h ' e n - a i i rl' a c l Y there had , fficult subjects the council would have to deal with i n t be for those wh o ject to attempt to he ensuing year, He thought it would not iff3;roesde t with h e g the e government m ent w ith o r n e the g sub theto principle of the extent of liability, and he presumed NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5,185 g. moved that the dock committee be requested to take the necessary steps for that purpose. N tliotis tr 4, L a a d m op on te t a. secondfd the motion, which was unani- rosrAt, ARRANGEMENT'S. Mr. Macfie then made the following statement with regard to improved :postal arrangements :---The mails to and from Scotland are still in an unsatisfactory state. There are nits mails northward; for the one, letters must be posted before 1 20 p.m.' Which is a most inconveniently early hour; for the other; letters maybe !mated about 8 lltn;,_but then they are not delivered_ even in Edinburgh and Glasgow till about eleven or twelve next forenoon, which is inconveniently late, and, of course, not till hours still later in Paisley, Greenock; Dundee; Etc. The only thoroUgh remedy Is a .I.4nacahiri niail for the North. At present the very important correspondence of Liverpool ant - Manchester is either despatched too early or kept till to late, as we have just seen, to save having such a mail, although It is clear we want one. If that correspond ence whin ' no* that LiVerpdol hak become se great Paeltet Station; esOeCially from Attierica wed Australia ; is more considerable than ever, must still go by a London mail, let the 'hours of that mail be made to suit Lancashire. Stich a mill could very well leav,e London at 6 p.m, wish the letters collected there during the day for Scotland, and reach dinburgh at 5 a.m. Indeed, the ekprest train thftt no* traferses half, the distance, „ Wight, as fortnerlY ,tra'ierie the, whole;, and be Connected with the yaiiotis trains which distribute themselves over Scotland, Now, as to the mails from the North, we have only one, gut such populous places as Liverpool and Manchest e r may well claim tWo. A second san eatiily lle err ted what more nil than for the express train that lea"ves Edinburgh at 9,25 am, and reaches Liverpool at 5, to bring a bag ? I doubt if the commercial men in the North are fully aware of the needless detention for hours to which their foreign and colonial letters arriving here must often be subjected, in Glasgow, if they g n by, th e first mail;in Liverpdol, if by the second. But there are other • respects in which Liverpool has, not all the ad vantage to which it. may well be held entiVed. 'Whereas Landon has ten deliveries daily, we bate but four. 'Whereas Liverpool has its latest delivery at 4.30, p.m., London ha, Tana after that hour. No wonder, then, that a thousand of our merchant firms cling t ) the clumsy system of service by high-charged boxes, nor that even the greatest firms in London do entirely without them, and would, no doubt, reject an offer of a ich a miscalled facility, as a burden and not a boon. Hlw can the Government ex-peret us to dispense with boxes, and how can it conceive justice is done to those firms who have consented to dis pense with them, when the • number of deliveries to boxholders is no less than nine daily, but to non holders only four ! I refer to the regular deliveries, those of the ordinary mails; bat there is another important ad. vantage given to the boxholders. No sooner does rn American or Australian mail packet arrive a matter happily of alniost daily occurrence now at our port, though not so in London—than a delivery takes place to the box holders, while the others must wait till the letter carriers go their round, which would be no hardship if, as in London, where deliveries are hourly. the delay is at the worst very short. I believe lam correct in stating that the number of collections at the London receiving houses is also ten at leant. Here they are four only. The fewness of collections and deliveries will appear grievous if we remember that, between half past seven in the morning and nine at night, there are twenty differently timed dispatches, and fifteen differently timed arrivals, of mails. 'Whereas the earliest collection at the receiving -houses is at 8, a.m. in London, the earliest here is at about 10 a.m. Whereas the latest collection there is at 10, p.m., our latest at 7 30, p.m. Now let us compare with Edinburgh and Glasgow. Those cities have their first delivery at 7 and 7-15, a.m., ours at 8. The latest collection at the receising houses there is at 10, p.m., here the latest is at 7 30, as already stated. Letters posted in any receiving-house by 9 o'clock, are delivered in any part of London by past 11, and so on for every succeeding hour till 6 o'clock. Letters posted by 6, p.m., are not delivered till between 8 and 8 same night. That is, a personl iving at one extremity of the town,or in its outskirts,may feel assured that any letter posted any time during the day, for a person living at the opposite extremity or outskirts, will reach in about two hours, and an answer be due in about two hours after the immediate posting of the reply. To prevent the suspicion of this being an overstrung representation, I have allowed the maximum tinteetheeedose of the letter-carrier's round. In Liverpool, a person living in .Upper Parliament-street posts a letter before half-past nine a.m. It is not delivered in town till between 'eleven and halt past twelve. If he posted it before a quarter to twelve, it is delivered between half-past one and three o'clock. If he post before half-past two, it is delivered between half-past four and six o'clock. Thus, the time taken to deliver a letter posted in a receiving house in Liverpool is about an hour more than that taken in London, where the work to be done, and the distance to be traversed, are both so much greater. Now as to the answer to such a letter : if it have been posted before half-past nine, the answer is due by fix o'clock, that is in eight hours; whereas in London, an answer is due a ft er a b ou t five hours. But what is worse, you cannot count on an answer the same same day to a letter posted after breakfast time ; whereas in London, a letter posted anywhere by three o'clock, is entitled to an answer in due course the same night. It must be evident that what is possible in the way of speedy and frequent deliveries in so large a city as London, must be as easy, or rather much more easy, in the comparatively limited area of Liverpool. Nor can it be fairly alleged that thy correspondence which passes through the receiving houses of Landon, for distribution within London itself, is so important as to justify ten deliveries, but that the like " intramural" corres p on d ence of Liverpool is so unim portant as to deserve only four. If there be ground for such an apology, I blame the post office itself. The excuse is virtually a confession that by omitting facilities it has stunted the growth of a branch of business which it ought to have fostered and fed, by affording such ample accommo dation to meet the natural wants of the public, as any private individual or company, if favoured with a lease of the interestpast o felt tit supplied, a make bath known, wduty tilland t swuopaply, l haveand when should be thoroughly availed of. Tho usan ds of l e tters are t sent by special messengers, and thousands are left unwritten for want of adequate frequency and promptitude of deliveries. Depend on it. the trade might be made a paying one. See the resolute manner in which, for a price no more or little more than that of the postage penny, onr news paper proprietors furnish a sheet of news, and also deliver not later than eight o'clock. I use the very words of one of their advertisements : —" At or before eight o'clock every morning in Liverpool, and within tour miles from the Exchange, and four miles from Woodside Ferry. We can promise this confidently, for the engagement is under a heavy penalty." (Hear, hear.) This matter of early deli very has hitherto been neglected—to say nothing of business convenience. Much domestic happiness depends on it. Why should the toiling man of business be deprived of receiving his private letters in the bosom of his family before he leaves home for the day ? That is one illustration among many of the advantages and pleasures which we lose in consequence of the present grievous tardiness. I should think there are few men, indeed, in this community so favourably situated that they can wait till the postman's cheerful knock and yet reach their offices, in what they, or those who employ them, reckon good time. As to the latter collection from the receiving houses, I, for one, find the inconvenience of the recent alteration, which closes them at 7 30, in place of nine as formerly. Now-a-days when evening attendance at places of business is nearly at an end, these receiving houses have acquired a social import, and an importance that did not belong to them in the bad old times, when merchants and their clerks loitered down town till nine or ten at night, after simmering away the forenoon and afternoon in such intermittent half-employed ness as to have plenty of leisure for throwing off their poivate letters, in the intervals, by the dozen, if they had chosen. But choose they would not then, either in the c o u nting-house or at home ; f or the penny postage h a d not yet been introduced, whi c h h as so great l y an d so happily increased the means an d t h e occas i ons f or l etters of the class I refer to. I h o p e th a t t h ese grea t b oons can be conferred on th e pu bli c w i thout increasing the tolls of the letter-carriers, who come to their work quite early enough already, at half past five in the morning. An earlier delivery can easily be accomplished by enlarging the staff, a change which would be generally beneficial, as it would facilitate an increase of the number of deliveries, as well as the bringing the time taken to perform them within the London standard of an hour for each de livery. These subjects have already been represented to the Postmaster General by the Council. I hope, notwith standing the silence of the present report respecting them, they will be again ureed, and c3ntinue to be urged, till success crown your efforts. The subject was referred to the council for consideration. On the motion of the Chairman, thanks were voted by acclamation to the members of parliament for the southern division of the county and the borough, and also to those firms who contribute monthly returns of the value of the imports of various commodities, to enable the secretary to make out a return for government. On the motion of Mr, Lamont, thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated SUPPRESSION OP THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.—MR. HARRISON'S LECIURES.—Last night, the first of a series of five lectures upon . the Maine liquor law was delivered by Mr. A. S. Hatmon, under the auspices of the United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic. The first lecture took place in the Teutonic Hall. Mr. B. Fowler preside. There was but a very limited attendance. After an introductory address by the chairman, Mr. Harrison proceeded to deliv er hi s l ec t ure , of which the basis was a resolution declaring that the traffic in strong drink is a curse to the people, a reproach to the rulers, and a disgrace to the church, and ought therefore to be suppressed. Mr. Harrison expressed some regret at the absence of such a numerous audience as he bad been led to expect, and then proceeded to argue the different points of the resolution at length and in detail, shewing the many evils, morally and physically, which result from the consumption of so much of the material of food for the people in what proves the ruin of so many. For these evils, he contended that a law suppressing the traffic in intoxicating drinks would be one of the only effective remedies. The resolution was earried by acclamation. Mr. Harrison will deliver four other lec tures in different parts of the town. THE ELECTIONS, The chairman then announced that deputies had been appointed to the chamber by eleven out of the twelve other mercantile associations existing in Liverpool; and- that. in consequence. the number of directors to be appointed at the present meeting would be five. The election would remain open until four o'clock, in the ante. room. The directors who retired were Messrs. F..A. Clint, Edward Higgin, Joseph Hubback, Robinson. and W. J. Tomlin son. Mr. Boult, Mr. Mcfie, and Mr. Bushell were appointed scrutineers. _ _ . _ The scrutineers; subsequently declared the following gentlemen to be elected : namely, Messrs T. B. Forwood, W. J. Lamport, F. A. Hamilton, C. Bushell, and T. 11, Holderness. TELEGRAPH TO HOLYHEAD Mr. F. Boult, in introducing this matter, took occasion to refer to the Sound Dues, and hoped the attempt to capi talise them would not he allowed to take effect, but rather that they would belotally and immediately abolished. As to the necessity with Holyh ea d , it was so evident, that i t required no or improved telegraphic communication comment from him to enforce it. Even if an arrangement could be effected with the Holyhead Company, their sta tions would not answer, and it was therefore necessary that an independent telegraphic communication with Yslolrisoad should be established. In conclusion,. he IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY, Their lordships sat for a few minutes, but no business of public interest was transacted. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-AiONDAY. The SPEAxxit took the chair at six o'clock, Mr. AI AcEvoY took tho oaths and his seat for Meath county Lord PALMERSTON gave notice that to.morrow he should move a vote of thanks to Mr. William Ley, late clerk of that House. PASSING TOLLS ON SHIPPING. The House having resolved itself into a committee, to Con sider the subject of local and poising tolls on shipping, Lobs Mr. Lou robe to move resolution, on which _to introduce a bill for their abolition. He stated that, in 1852 1 the total amount of shippi ng d ues was no l ess t h a n £1,095,3A Or 011ie!) £820,000 was applied to maritime purposes, leaving £275,296. Tlio passing tolls, in 1852 amounted to £12,000 at Dover, £14,000 at Ramsgate, £2,835 at Burlington, and L-111 at Whitby. The town dues levied by municipal corporations aniotinted in 1852, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, to £182,058, which was expended for local purposes, and tti 'Which Liverpool contributed the enormous sum of £105,000. Then there was a eonipany called- the Russian Cpmpany, which was .established in the time of Philip and Mary, for the ditieovery of unknown lands, and it had the power of levying toIIS for that purpose at Cronstadt. The annual sums collected in that wrist reached £12,000, of which £1,400 went to the Russian custom-house. The stina paid by England to the Russian Company amounted to an annual sum of £2,100, which was expended in plate for the governor, in pciitraits, and ether similar Ways. Ile could not understand the principle by which tolls collected from Shipping were applied not to maritime purposes, but for the benefit Of the ratepayers. (Hear, hear.) The legislature coull be doing no wrong in putting an end to such unjust taxation, btit the means were not as simple as might be supposedi tor th6se Shipping dues were, many of them, charged with debt. Ito Vroposed in this mea sure tQ respect Lie claims of the creditors, and td tiiake such an arrangetnent as the following—Tl 0 debt chargeable on town dues amounted to X2;578,378; The dues on shipping to £182,058, and the municipal dues to £i46,600, and in pro porsion as the municipal dues were to the dries eo shipping ; so should the amount applied to the liquidation of the debt by the town and by the shipping he. According to such an average nount,, shipping would have to contribute annually £786,272, and thus the whole sun] would be paid off in about three and a half years. With regard . to the tolls levied by the Russian Company, these levied in England would be done away with b the provisions of this bill, and ho hoped that at the restoration4:A peace care would be taken to prevent the tax of £2,000 bein paid by . , . . tnglish shipping for Russian purposes. In conclusion, the right hon. gentleman etpresded a hopo that the house would accept the bill, and do an act of justice L 1 the maritime interests of this country. Mr. HEADLAM saiethe bill inflicted an unlooked for injury on the rights of property; and he would give it his most de termined opposition. Mr. HousFALL made some observations in reference to the Sanitary condition, and Municipal regulations of the town of Liverpool, which Mr. Lowe had declared to be notoriously bad. The hon. member (Ur. Horsefall) denied that that Was the case, and added that he could not imagine what the sanitary condition of the Corporation had to do with the amount of the Town dues. After a few words from Mr. RICE, Mr. M. Giasow said that, from communications he had received from several of his constituents, lie felt sure that they would hear, with the greatest satisfaction, that the government had resolved to deal with this important question, and no longer to allow the trade of Manchester to be taxed for the benefit of the corporation of Liverpool. Mr. IL LIDDELL generally approved of the measure, but, at the same time, disapproved of the principle of treating private and corporate bodies differently. Mr. W. S. LINDSAY accorded his warmest and best thanks to the introducer of the measure. Mr. WATSON approved of the principles laid down by Mr. Lowe, but reserved to himself the right of opposing it in detail. Mr. LOWE having replied, the resolution was agreed to, and leave given to bring in the bill. The house having resumed, THE POLICE ACTS, Sir H. GREY moved for leave to introduce a bill to amend the Metropolitan Police Ac's. The object of the measure was to place the control of the metropolitan police under one commissioner instead of two. A vacancy having occurred by the death of one of the commissioners, he proposed that the vacancy should not be filled up. This arrangement would place the metropolitan police in the same position as the police force of Ireland. The control being under one Inspector General, with two assistants in the commission of the peace. With regard to salarieQ, he proposed that the Inspector General should receive £1 500, and the assistants £BOO each. Leave was given to bring in the bill. THE QUEEN'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS Lord DRUMLANRIGG then appeared at the bar with her ilf,jcsty's reply to the address of the House of Commons, thanking the cominissioners, and expressing her Majesty's confidence in their support. BURIAL GROUNDS (IRELAND.) Mr. HORSEMAN obtained leave to bring in a bill on the sub ject of burial grounds in Ireland ; and also a bill applying the English act in reference to the case of youthful offenders in Iceland. The Marquis of BLANDFOILD moved for leave to re-introduco his bill of last session, for the better management of episcopal and capitular estates. Mr. HADFIELD objected to the introduction of the measure. He thought that a matter of such importance (right to have been brought before the house by her Majesty's government. Lard PALMERSTON said there was an engagement entered into with the noble lord last session that he should re-introduce it this session. Mr. WILLIAMS depreciated the principle of allowing mea sures to be introduced when there was no chance of them being carried. Leave was then given Leave was also given to bring in a bill for facilitating the formation and endowment of separate distinct parishes. The bill differed will the measure of last session. It did not repeal the Church Building Act, but gave increased powers to Ecclesiastical Commissioners. ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS BILL Mr. CRAWFORD moved for leave to bring in a bill, to enable execution to issue in any part of the United Kingdom under judgments or decreets obtained in certain Courts of Record in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Lord NAAS observed that the bill was objected to last session as unjust to Ireland. In reply to Sir F. KELLY, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, the bill of last session was no doubt objectionable, but the question was one of great importance. Leavo was then given to bring in the bill. COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL, Mr. WHITESIDE obtained leave to re-introduce his measures of last session, with regard to the Irish Court of Chancery. ENCUMBERED ESTATES COURT (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. JOHN FITZGERALD asked leave to bring in a bill to abolish the Encumbered Estates Courts in Ireland, and to amend the Court of Chancery. At present the Encumbered Estates Court cost the country £15,529 163 10d per annum ; and he proposed also to abolish four masterships in Chancery, and other offices, by which £14,900 per annum would he saved. There had to be set off against this, however, £16,760 for new offices, and £13,383 compensation to officers who would lose their appointments by this bill. Thus so far from the cost of his measure being £40,000 more than those of Mr. Whiteside's plan, it would cost the country nothing, and ultimately, after the life compensations were at an end, a permanen tsaving of £14,000 per year would be effected. Tho lion, gentleman introduced the history of the Encumbered Estates Court, which had been of great advantage in develop ing the resources of Ireland, to a much greater extent than could have been anticipated. It had sold property to the value of £17,000,000, and had only once committed an error. Under these circum stances it had been thought advisable to transfer from some fixed day the powers of the Encumbered Estates Court to the Court of Chancery in Ireland. I❑ place of the four abolished masterships, he proposed to create two Vice-Chancellors, at salaries of £3,500 a year. The hors, member then, at con siderable length, detailed a number of other charges, which he proposed to make in the arrangements of the Irish Court of Chancery, of which the most important was a proposition for abolishing or gradually absorbing fees and stamps. The loss occasioned by the removal of certain fees which would be abolished immediately on the passing of the bill, being made up by a poundage not exceeding two per cent, on estates sold, and he believed it would not be necessary to take more than three pence in the pound for that purpose, Mr. WHITESIDE spoke in condemnation of the Encum bered Estates Courts, arguing that it was more expensive to sell an estate through its means than privately. To the abolition of stamps and fees he contended, that if they were abolished in the Irish Court of Chancery, they should also be abolished in the English Court of. Chancery ; and if they were abolished in the superior courts, they should also be abolished in the inferior courts. Ile condemned the removal and pen sioning off of four men of ability, who were only 40 years of age . lie viewed the proposition for the transfer of the Encumbered Estates Court to the Court of Chancery with alarm, when lie recollected the amount of business now in the Encumbered Estates Court, and the confusion which existed in all its papers. The effect of the measure would be to make the Irish Court of Chancery an immense conveyancing engine, and to put all Ireland into Chancery. If the principles laid down by the hon. and learned Solicitor• General for Ireland (Mr. Fitzgerald), were to be established with regard to Ire land, he should move that they be extended to England. Mr. CAIRNS defended the proposed measure, and replied to some of the remarks of Mr. Whiteside. Mr. MA:LiNs criticised the measure, and stated as his opinion, that the proposal to transfer the duties of the Encumbered Estates Court to the Court of Chancery would be found impracticable. Mr. GEORGE and Mr. V. SCILLY generally approved of 're of the Solicitor-General for Ireland. and subsequently the bill was the mea, .Leave BANKS A. PELLATT brollg o banker's cheques, t may not be imperative up cross-written, though payable to bearer SCOTCH LAW BILLS, nend the law relating bill is to provide that o pay a cheque when The LORD ADVOCATE brought in the following bills bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to bankruptcy in Scotland. A bill to make further provision for the removal ^nd the prevention of diseases, in Scotland. 1 e the procedure in actions, causes, and proceedir , which are at present competent before the Also a bill bnurt of Was n nninated reZulat n of Mr. WILSON', djourned ,e printing committee a quarter to eleven o'elock, MURD ER OF A WHOLE FAMILY. On Sunday morning, a man described by the police as being about 34 years of age, and of repulsive 'aspect' presented himself at Bow street station, with a recoest that he might see the inspector on duty, and was at once .tor Dodd, to whom he stated, introduced to Mr. In9pe with the most perfect calmness and composure, that h® had murdered his w self-accused murderer stated that his name was William Bousfield, and that he resided at No. 4, Portland-street, Soho-square, and that he was by trade a neusvender and tobacconist. He said that he had that morning killed his wife by stabbing her in the neck with a chisel, and that in consequence of that act he was desirous of delivering himself into the hands of justice. This statement having been duly entered, 'lnspector Dodd immediately proceeded to Port• land-street for the purpose of instituting further inquiries. The inspector learned that Bousfield occupied the shop and parlours of the house, and be accordingly tried the parlour door. Finding it locked he.burst it open and entered, when, to his horror, he found not only the body of the nierde.red wife, but the dead bodies of three young children lying on their beds, all the bodies being cold and rigid. His first business was to send for a surgeon, and Mr. J. Hadaway, an able practitioner residing in the neighbourhood, was called in. This gentleman was informed that the murier of the Wife, ccording to the murderer's own confession, had been ed with a chisel, and an instrument of that hat is commonly called a t chisel—was found Mr. Hadaway glanced at the wound in the woman's throat, and then at the chisel, and at once remarked upon the probability that the murder was committed with some other weapon. The chisel, although a sharp instrument, would, he thought, have left a jagged wound, whereas on the right side of the poor woman's neck there was a transverse incision four inches long, two incisions on the right arm, and two on the left. The wounds on the arm might, he thought, have been inflicted by a sharp chisel, as it appeared to him that there had been an evident inten tion to bleed the woman to death before the larger and More serious wound was inflicted. On the neck of the eldest child, Anne Bousfield, aged six years, he found two incisions on the right side, and one on the other side, either of which would have been sufficient to cause death. On the neck of the second child, Eliza Bous field, aged four years, he found a deep incision, and another a little beneath the collar bone, between an inch and an inch and a half deep. On the neck of the infant, John Bousfield, aged eight months, he found a deep incision, and be thinks there was a slight one on the other side, but there was so much blood that he was unable to ascertain the fact in the hasty examination he made. On removing the bodies, the surmises of Mr. Hadaway received a remarkable confirmation. Under the body of Mrs. Bousfield was half the handle of a razor, and under the body of one of the children the blade. The remaining part of the handle was not found. The Surgeon's opinion (subject to a further examination which he intends to make), is that the great wound in Mrs. Boustleld's neck was inflicted by a razor, after an ineffectual attempt to bleed her to death, and that the wounds in the necks and on the arms of the children were inflicted with the chisel, which was found in the room. It is evident, from the state ot:t he bodies, that the murders were committed about five or six o'clock in the morning, and that soon after his wife and children were dead, Bousfield went to Bow-street station and gave Limself up to the police. At that time his hand was cut, and appeared to have been bleeding considerably. When Inspecto tered the in the loom )odd returned to Bow-street he ell, large against the prisoner. When the charge was read over to the prisoner, he said !somevi hat gloomily, "I hope the children are not all dead," but added nothing more. He was examined by Dr. Snitch, the :medical officer at the police court, who at once pronounced that he had not been drinking, and that he had no reason to suppose that he was of unsound mind. The house, No. 4, Portland-street, in which this 'hor rible murder was committed, was the property and in the occupation of Mr. J. Jones, a carpenter and joiner, and the owner of several houses in the neighbourhood. Seven or eight. years ago, Bousfield married Mr. Jones's only child, the poor woman now lying dead, and since that time has carried on the joint business of tobacconist and newsvendor. lie seems to have borne but an indifferent character, and to have left the whole of the business to his wife, who was a most industrious and persevering woman. and a most careful and affectionate mother. On Saturday night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, Bousfield returned home, and shut up his shop according to his usual cus tom, but there was nothing in his manner that called for remark. As far as the inmates of the house are acquaint ed, he retired to rest. with his family almost immediately afterwards, and n o thi ng more was heard of them until the arrival of Inspector Dodd in the morning. Mr. Jones, th e f a th er, always showed the most marked kindness towards his daughter, and supplied her and her family with everything they required. Every one who is acquainted with the family is at a loss to account for the motive which prompted the brutal murder, as there was no poverty, and the murderer never evinced the slightest indications of mental aberration. It appears that after committing the murders, he locked the parlour door and put the key in his pocker, where it was found on his arrival at the station. From a conversation the reporter had with the father of the unfortunate woman, he ascertained that the mur derer was not a drunkard, but, on the contrary, drank very little. He had, however, been exceedingly indolent ever since he had been married, and made no attempt to support his family beyond what the business of the shop, usually carried on by his unfortunate wife, produced. Before his marriage it is stated that he used to work hard, and earn considerable wages. The wretched man does not seem to feel much his awful position, and since his incarceration in the station-house has said very little concerning the awful sacrifice of life he has caused. EXAMINATION or THE PRISONER. Shortly before one o'clock yesterday the prisoner was brought up in custody of Inspector Dodd, and was at once placed in the dock, at the Marlborough-street police court, before Mr. Bingham, the presiding magistrate. The pri soner is about six feet high, and was in such a state of nervous depression, that he was obliged to be supported into the dock by Bendall, the deputy gaoler, and police constable Silverton. The prisoner at first refused to give his name, and struggled so violently that he was obliged to be handcuffed. The evidence of the witnesses, as far as examined, was only a repetition of the several facts as given in the foregoing statement, and eventually the pri soner was remanded for further examination. The Indus 'arrived at Marseilles yesterday morning with advices from Constantinople of the 24th, and from the Crimea of the 22nd ult. The Queen has been pleased tl grant an annual pension of £5O to Mr. John D'Alton, the author of several works on Irish history. The Northern Bee, of Jan. 5, published at St. Peters burg, states that the demand for tallow and meat, for some days had been enormous. Engagements had been entered into for 4,000 tons yellow tallow, for delivery in August, at prices varying from 1.3.5 to 1.40 paper roubles per pond. A great business had also been done in flax, wheat, rye, and other products, for delivery in May and. June. THE APPROACHING ELE CTIONS. - -MiEtUrSt : Mr. Samuel Warren's canvass at Midhurst has been thoroughly suc cessful, and places him beyond the reach of opposition. The writ, we understand, reached Midhurst on Friday. It is considered a singular incident in the history of what Mr. Disraeli would term " literary statesmanship," that on the same day—the 19th of January—Mr. Macaulay announced that he had taken leave of political life, and Mr Samuel 'Warren, claiming the suffrages of the electors of Midhurst, stated his intention to commence his political existence. Rochester : The mayor has appointed Thursday next for the nomination, and the polling will take place on the following day. Mr. Bodkin (Conservative), and Mr. Martin (Liberal), are the candidates. Leeds: The election will take place on Thursday next. Mr. Baines, it is expected, will he elected without opposition. for COLONIAL EXPENDITURE.—A return move_r i by Lord Seymour, M.P., sho ws th a t the g ra nd total expenditure incurred by Great Britain for the year 1853-54 for the colonies amounted to the sum of 3,288,:i3t'1., whereof 2,941,6871. (gross) was devoted to mllitar y c h arges, the net total: amount having beet... 1012. ,687,0701. ; 590 ,0401. to civil charges (gross), and 90 to naval expenditure, civil, military, a n d nava l The Yost -office collections establishments making exceeding the civil expenditure amou n t e d to 3,3251. O f a net total o o t a f 1 3, a 2 m 91 7 6 u 6 i 3 t fo r the above amounts for civil and military expenses 238,9811. was appropriated to Gibraltar, 295,740/. to Malta, 513,9691. e Bermuda, r G m o u o d d a .. 6511. to St. H e l ena , 149,376/. to Hope, 104,57 4 1 . t o th e I s l e o f F ra nce, to the 01. to the lonian Islands, 72,4661. to Hong Kong, 152,536/. to Jamaica, 2 8 3,613/. to Canada, 120.9431. to Nova Scotia, 94,7651. to Ceylon, 87,3261. to New Zealand, 71,3131.. to New South Wales, 26 4,2871. to Van Diemen's Land, and 133,8351. to Western Australia.