The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-15 00:00:00

We are ( Ebt from R in other rities, which might, in the pr ran artic: rpool Dock Ltbtrpool &tanbarb. TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 15, Two years ago the people of this empire absolutely revelled in visions of extending greatness, which no hand could arrest, and of individual and national prosperit7, beyond the reach of check or reverse. our arms were put forth to chastise or to ..story followed them. Into whatever re gion we sought to extend our commerce, wealth Rowed in upon us as the natural result of our efforts. ''fence was doing mighty things for us within our alm : opening out its mineral wealth—almost annihilating time and space—and bringing together, hours' journey, the congregated masses of our busy hives of industry—enabling the east to know the west, the north to know and converse with the south. The hallucinations of our pride whispered to us that the rules and the wisdom of the rest of mankind were not for us; that our high destinies were to be wrought out by unaided philo sophy ; that we had found out a new path to in- vv nerev subdue. own ri within a few creased wealth and territorial importance, to pursue which successfully it needed not that we should retain what were presumptuously styled the " swad dling clothes" of past experience—that salutary protection, by which we had been enabled to attain our then high position amongst the nations of the world. We forgot, in our vanity, that there is a Being above us, who holds the destinies of every people in his hands ; in whose sole power it is to set up and to pull down on earth. We forgot the teach ings of all past history, human and divine. We overlooked the thousand lessons breathed forth throughout the material as well as the natural world—what small and insignificant means are sufficient, when guided or permitted by him, to overthrow the projects and the power of the power ful. A needle, a pulley, or a crank out of its place, is sufficient to destroy the mighty engine, whose labours give bread to thousands. An unseen rock, no bigger than a man's hand, will sink the mighti est fabric of human pride and power which sails the ocean. An insect strips the noblest ornament of our forests of its foliage, whilst a worm at its root levels with the ground the stately trunk, which the storms of a thousand years have not sufficed to bend. We are about to be reminded, by bitter experi- ence- and calamity, of the error and blindness of which, in our presumption, we have been guilty. We are about to be shewn how little it is in the power of the mere statesman or the philosopher to advance permanently the prosperity of an individual or a peop!e. Man proposes, but God disposes. We were this year to witness the pouring of abun dance into this land. The depreciation and the partial loss of one humble root, which we have wrongfully permitted to become the almost sole source of subsistence for millions of our poorer classes, has shattered our expectations to the winds, and brought impending famine and death over the land. A blight has fallen upon our potato fields, which are blackening and rotting before the eyes of the husbandman, and spreading despair amid the hearts of our unfortunate poor, to whom that crop is the only resource from starvation. Can our avans, our philosophers, our political economists, race the cause or retard the approach of this dire calamity ? No : science and Philosophy are alike at fault. They look on helpless. They see in its desolating effects the work of a hand mightier than their own, to destroy or to save—of a Being whose attributes and power, in their presumptuous self reliance, they have practically denied ; and they wouH treat the lesson as canting, and unworthy of their consummate enlightenment, if they were to be reminded that that Being never chastises without provocation—never visits his mysterious dispensa tions upon his people without an object in view. We have a right, however, to call upon them now to tell us, in their exceeding wisdom, how our mil lions are to be fed. Their measures, which were to have wrought such miracles—which were to have placed us beyond the reach of calamity and dearth —which were to have rendered us independent of the contingencies of seasons at home or abroad— have been baffled from above. We have no present prospect of busy looms, or of active industry in any branch or in any quarter. The manufacturer, the merchant, and the trader look forward with utr'is guised dread to the coming winter, and ask, " Will the poor endure patiently their sufferings, their "—for they were tau g ht t o ex p ec t disappointments ? a very different state of things to that which they have now to prepare for. " Will those sufferings be promptly met, or can they be met, by the charity of the rich ?" We have hundreds of thousands in England, from whom both employment and their main and cheapest article of food being withdrawn, must be relieved; in Ireland we have millions in even a worse plight, or soon to be so. Whence is the relief to come ? By grants from Government, by Voluntary contributions of the wealthy, or from what other source ? One thing .:11 at least is clear. Great masses of people will not voluntarily starve. We cannot shut them up in our workhouses, which would not hold a tithe of those who, we fear, will be dependent upon our bounty. No new tinkering of the corn laws will materially aid us, for the foreigner is in much the same condition with ourselves, and will want all the food he can procure. The demolition of the whole of the existing protection would only put the amount of duty repealed into the pockets of the capitalist and the foreign agriculturists and merchants. In Ireland such a measure, as one of is wholly out of the question. That country, will seek relief for itself, in the s of agrarian disturbance. Already the anti -,ent has spread amongst the population it is too apparent, nost wretched counties; and, ill some, the population, even if disposed to do so, cannot pay. No collectable amount of poor-rates would meet the emergency there. That country will have to be subsidised, and heavily too, by the British Govern ment, who must originate and carry on themselves those great public works which the landlords of Ireland, mulcted of a large portion of their rentals, will find themselves unable to execute. The difficulties are stupendous, however we re gard them. They compose a knot which we shall cut, for untying it is beyond our hope. No conomical legislation is applicable Merely DS emoval of an evil of teriiporary emergency— which, as it spurns all established rule, and ;raced to no cause humanly remediable, may .NTe must, therefore, resort to an irregular le of action In our own country, it is clear that we can no longer be guided, as to the relief of the stringent rules of the New Poor I NVe shall be compelled to resort to the old stem of outdoor relief in cases of temporary pau perism. The pressure, in. rates, no doubt will fall heavily upon the middle and wealthier classes in our large towns ; but it must be borne. It will fall heavily, too, in agricultural parishes. The only means for both classes to enable themselves to bear the infliction, is providing employment upon useful 7:orks for the population thus thrown upon their hands for support. Railways might be pressed forward, Government lightening the draughts upon - Dockets of the shareholders by temporary loans. of the soil might in the same way be pro extensive scale. Above all, we might ortunity of our superfluity of labour to ...,ensive and thorough reform of the sa condition of our large towns, the repayment ~arns in aid granted by Government being cad over such a period of years as would obviate the necessity of oppressive rates, at a period when the population of those towns have such heavy demands upon their benevolence and their money. Anything less direct than these or similar measures, we feel convinced, will not meet the emergency of the times which are approaching. public seize t t seems to be established by general consent, especially amongst Conservatives, that the g-Radical and ultra free-trade parties are to be m►tted to manage the affairs of this great king om, and to remodel its institutions, at their own pleasure and after their own pet patterns, until something very startling —some gross outr, ge upon the feelings and principles of the Conservative party —awakens them and the country to a sense of their common danger. Lord John Russell, we are told, is a srifer minister than Sir Robert Peel : ergo, it is V pting to better ourselves by a rever e present position of parties. Men remem r lof no use att sal of 0 making inroads upo the constitution, and the gigantic blows inflicted by Sir Robert. They look to the high personal honour and the aristocratic constitutionalism of the former, and they contrast these with the unprincipled tergiversation and the plebeian spirit of the latter. They remember, too, the many sad instances of betrayal of past confi- induced . _ dences, which the plausibility of Sir Robert amongst his supporters ; and the conclusion at which they arrive is natural. " Why," they say, " should we enter once more the turmoil of poli tical strife, when the chances are that evil, as was the result of our former efforts, instead of good, will follow We doubt much the wisdom of the conclusion, and dread the adoption of the policy to which it leads. Lord John Russell's consummated measures were less injurious in their tendency than Sir Robert Peel's, we admit; but it was because his views were thwarted by a strong Conservative opposition. The same opposition would, again effect the same safety for the institutions of the country ; but the result of such success does not at all involve the return to power of a Peel ministry, or a ministry of betrayal. 'l'here are other men, able and willing to fight the battle of Conservatism, without rendering it neces sary that we should again lay the fruits of a victory over the combined hosts of republicanism and libe ralism at the feet of a renegade. We need not always be taking unworthy and faithless servants into our households. There are a host of good men and true who have passed the fire unscathed— who have clung to the battlements of the constitu tion whilst the assault was at the hottest; and who still cling to them, though weak and cowardly sol diers are, in hopelessness, almost willing to give up the fight, and to accept the yoke of the conqueror. It would be ungrateful and almost wicked—cer tainly suicidal—on the part of the mass of Conser vatives, thus to desert such men, to refuse their co-operation, and to lie down to be trampled upon by their insolent opponents. Our duty is clearly to re-erect that great party of resistance to popular aggression, which Sir Robert Peel's apostacy shat tered to pieces ; and when we shall have done this —when the cohort is formed and disciplined— surely a Christian people ought not to fear that God will not provide them with a champion. We therefore invite our fellow-townsmen, and the electors of both the borough and the county, to throw off the lethargy which, thus far, has ap peared to characterise their proceedings, with re spect to preparation for future efforts in defence of the constitution. The Registration Courts are about to be holden ; and the host of objections which have there to be met, by parties whose title to the franchise is as undoubted as that of her Majesty to her crown, will afford satisfactory conviction to most men that if Conservatives have resigned themselves to a sort of sulky sleep, the opposing faction are lively and energetic as ever. Some, once staunch supporters of the good cause, argue, that free trade having been consummated, the League dissolved, and a Reform ministry foiste.l upon the nation, we have nothing more to fear; that the worst is accom plished, and we may indulge safely in our disgust. But is there no other project of Whig-Radicalism in the background, ready to be brought forward so soon as matters are ripe ? We think the proceed ings of the Anti-Monopoly Association are of them selves sufficient to shew that other inflictions are in store for us, against which it is our duty to be fully prepared. In our humble opinion, there never was a time when the vote of every sound, lover of his country was likely to be more valuable. A general election is at hand, the result of which may influ ence the destinies of our country for years to come; we have revolutionary and infidel principles gaining ground on every side of us ; we have backsliding statesmen yielding to the pressure of those princi ples—surrendering post by post of the citadel of truth to the coercion of their opponents, or on grounds which they call those of expediency. Give us at such a crisis a sound body of representatives ; give us the materials of that strong opposition, which has preserved England on so many occa sions; and, whoever may be minister, whatever party may. be in power, we are safe, and shall not have occasion to regret that we have put forth our energies on the present occasion. FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.—On Sunday last, after sermons by the Rev. H. H. Higgins and the Rev. J. Jones, the sum of £45 was collected in St. John the Evangelist Church, in aid of the funds of this most ex cellent iastitution. SIMMON TO TH You N Thursday evening next, the Rev. Hugh M'Neile will deliver at St. Jude's Church a lecture addressed chiefly to young persons, with special reference to their duty in connexion with the society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, the annivertary sermons and meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary to which society will take place on Sundry and Monday next. NEW RECEIVING POST-OFFICE.—The inhabitants of the thickly populated district between Church-street, Everton, and Great Homer-street, comprising the great arteries of communication with Kirkdale, Netherfield road, &c., have memorialized the Post-Master General, to establish a receiving -office in a central situation. The memorial has been numerously signed, and a favourable answer is expected, when it is considered that within a small circle of which Netberfield.road may be considered the centre, the population amounts to upwards of 2,000. NEW PitAyr CurrErt.—We have of late marked with feelings of the greatest satisfaction the spirit of emulation that has influenced our Pilot Committee. Determined to progress with the rapid strides of navigation, new boats have been built, each of which has exceeded in beauty of model, accommodation, and sailing qualities, their pre decessors. It is little more than a month since a splen did new boat was launched from the south end, and we h ive now in our docks another fitting for the service. She has been built by Mr. Reid. of Ipswich, under the personal superintendence of Captain Hudson, of No. 2, the place of which boat she is intended to supply, and in point of model, she is such as all admirers of naval archi tecture will view with enthusiasm. Her length is 70 feet over all, her beam 16ft 4in., and her tonnage about 71. In fact she is a regular clipper, being as sharp as a wedge forward, and so clear in the run that she will scarcely have a ripple in her wake. Her cabin, which is amid ships, is beautifully and handsomely fitted with maho gany, not in a gingerbread fashion, bit in a style suited to her service. She has accommodation for 33 men, and so much has their comfort been studied that even the water tanks are made as tables. She is called "The Teaser," a lo not fear she will verify by the teasings she may give the noblest of our yachts. ST. BARN aims' SCHOOLS.—On Friday last the chil dren of these schools, to the number of 450, had their annual treat to Eastham. They were accompanied by the Revs. T. Nolan and E. Roberts, Messrs. T. Wagstaff and J. Lawrence (the churchwardens), the masters, mis tresses, and assistant teachers, together with the Sunday school teachers. Mr. Nichols, the spirited proprietor of the Eastham Hotel and Ferry, kindly arranged for their conveyance backward and forward : the beautifully-laid out grounds were thrown open for their amusement : the boys played at football, and enjoyed themselves through the fields. An abundant lunch of bread and cheese and milk was provided for them, and distributed as they sat in classes on the grass. At four o'clock they went on board the returning steamer. testifying their delight and thankfulness by repeated cheers for their ministers, teachers, friends, &c. They were accompanied home by the masters, &c., of the respective schools, and landed at the Brunswick-pier, near to St. Barnabas' Church, whcace tifying marched manner, and, after a concluding cheer for their conductors, &c , closed a most agreeable and refreshing day. The Sunday-school teachers remained for tea with the ministers and wardens at the Eastham Hotel, and returned by the seven-o'clock boat, as much delighted with the excursion as their more youthful companions. A few only from the Infant-schools were preent, else the numbers bad exceeded 600. The day was beautifully fine, and everything passi.d off to the entire satisfaction of all the parties concerned. A HINT TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES.—II would be well if the Town Council, or those who have the regu lation and licensing of the hackney coaches, cabs, omni buses, and other public vhicles, would adopt something resembling the system adopted in London, by which a central office is established, to which all property left in such vehicles should be brought and deposited for recog nition by their owners. A person getting into a Bus seldom notices whether he is in a Regulator, a Champion, or a Criterion. He only knows that it is going to the place, or past it, where he wishes to be set down ; con sequently if he leaves his umbrella, a book, or any other article behind him, he seldom knows where to hunt for it, and the conductor as little knows where to find him. A person arriving per rail takes the first car in the stand ; is driven to the pierhead or elsewhere, and in case of any thing lost, in nine cases out of ten, neither knows the number of the car nor the name of the owner. All this difficulty and loss might be prevented, by the establish ment of such a depot as that we recommend, to which every carman and conductor s h ou ld b e compe ll e d, under penalties, in case of non-compliance, immediately to re turn such articles as have been found in their respective conveyances ; and in respect of goods not claimed, these might be sold, annually or otherwise, and the proceeds form a fund for the reward of those me n w h o h ave mos t p rom i n e n tly distinguished themselves for honesty. We feel convinced that much good would acc rue f rom suc h a system ; and we heartily recommend it f or a d op ti on b y authorities with such improvements as their better expe rience may dictate. MR, PHILLIPS' ENTERTAINMENT. — ye regret t o sa y that the unexpected and alarming indisposition o f M r . Phillips caused his amusing entertainment, entitled "My Portrait Gallery," to be postponed on Thursday last. Having recovered from his late illness, it is now announced for Thurday evening next, when we hope a numerous and respectable auditory will participate in the humour which will be excited by this distinguished tudtvidual. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. ND GLASGOW RAILWAY ITION TO THE DIRECTORS. EDINBURGH I OPP( general imee ing of the shareholders of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company, resident in and near Liverpool, was held in the Clarendon-rooms yesterday, at one o'clock. The object of the meeting was to meet Mr. John Cheetham, and others of the deputation from Man chester, who were desirous of communiCating personally the results of their late mission to Glasgow; and also for the purpose of adopting measures, in co-operation with those gentlemen, preparatory to the special general meet ing, to be held in Glasgow, on the 22nd instant. Mr. Cheetham was not in attendance, being detained in Man chester. The deputation, therefore, consisted of Mr. William Rawson, Mr. Coston, and Mr. Thomas Greig. The attendance of proprietors from Liverpool and the neighbourhood was very numerous. Mr. A. F. JONES was called to the chair; and, after a few introductory remarks, he read the following address:— Gerolemen,—With the result of the proceedings at the late general meeting of this company, held at Glasgow, on the Ist instant, you are well acquainted. After a lengthened discussion, in which the chairman of the Board of Directors was celled on to fulfil the pledge he had given at the meeting held id Manchester in May last, viz., to resign his seat, if the shareholders declined to sanction the proceedings of the Board, in respect to the amalgamation with the canals, he has refused to do so, and, that, notwithstanding the overwhelming ma jority in support of the deputation from the shareholders. A majority, on such an occasion, involving an entire want of confidence in the directors, as I believe to be unexampled in railway experience, for the votes were 5512 against 1313—majority 4229, or fully 3to 1. True, he professes it is his intention to do so hereafter ; but, with such a result, what must we think of the man who would hold office one moment longer than was necessary for the instalment of his successor. In consequence of a request from the gentlemen of the deputation of the committee sitting in Manchester, I have found it my duty again to summon your attendance, that you may hear from those gentlemen an account of their mis sion to Glasgow, and of what is now proposed to be accomplished at the ensuing special general meet ing to be held there on the 22nd instant ; and, gentlemen, I would respectfully claim for them, your cordial, united, and energetic support. I may beg of you not to allow yourselves to be hoodwinked and deceived—that you will not allow your minds to be diverted from the main and most important question at issue ; for this has been at tempted in sending anonymous letters, as well as in the speeches of the chairman of the board, and Mr. M'Neill, in particular, whose vain endeavour has been most justly and ludicrously described by Mr. J. B. Smith, in his simile of the dogs and the red herring trailed before them, to lead them off the scent. As to anony mous writers, I consider them, in the present case, as the worst enemies of their own cause. If that cause is just, what have they to fear? Who is "An Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Shareholder" ? or who is "An English Sharehol ler" ? Let the writers put their names names to their statements, and then we may combat them —but we fight not with shadows. The main question, then, is that in respect to the amalgamation with the canals, which we contend to be neither necessary, just, or politic; and, moreover, if it were so, that the board have exceeded the powers granted under the Act of Parliament by which all their proceedings must be regulated ' • that was, if the consent of the shareh, , lders had been fairly instead of surreptitiously obtained (for this is a point that cannot be too constantly kept in view) ; neither would their consent have legalized that which required legisla tive sanction. The directors take credit to themselves, in consequence of the increased traffic on the canals, as having, in he Forth and Clyde, given them a surplus profit of nearly £lO,OOO. But I will not, for one, allow them this credit. These gentlemen have established a fallacy ; and then, grounding their arguments on this their own act, they turn to us, and triumphantly say, s " Look at the re sult." That result is, indeed, such as might be naturally expected, while so great a differential rate as Is. Sd. per ton ha: been established in favour of the canals. I have beard an eminent carrier of Manchester say, such a dif ference could not fail to throw the traffic mainly on the canals. And, when we hear the directors asserting their determination to carry out this obnoxious measure— spite of Parliament, in defiance of the shareholders, and of what we conceive to be their legal authority—is it too much to imagine that they would, by such an attempt as this great differential rate, seek to bolster uo that deter mination by its apparent necessity ? But neither, gentlemen, are they entitled to any credit, inasmuch, as, by their own admission, they have totally neg lected the plant ; so, that instead of being able to accommodate the increasing traffic which themselves have stated as flowing to the line, and which it was their bounden duty to look to, they are not even able to supply the means requisite for that already at hand, which has, in consequence, been forced on the canals—thus abstracting from the railway, and adding to the receipts of the former, a line of conduct most prejudicial to your interest. For we have it on most unquestionable authority that the state and condition of the whole plant is awful, that the rails are also much neglected, and that the whole of the business, in respect to the working of the line, has been most shamefully neglected. See, also, Lord Belhaven's speech as to the opinion of the people of Glasgow in this respect, and also as to the unpopularity of the company in parliament. Let me now, gentlemen, call your attention to the difference between the speeches of the chairman of the board and those of the chairman of the 'deputation. The former, hasty, petulent, and threaten ing latter, mild and argumentative. Mr. Learmonth asserts, again and again, that the result of the examination of the deputies in August last, and of the meeting at New castle, was " quite satisfactory" to the gentlemen who formed that deputation. These (to use a very mild ex pression) incorrect assertions have rendered it necessary now to publish the report—withdrawn only in consequence of certain stipulations between the parties, but which, to this day, the directors have failed to comply with. Let any gentleman read that report, and then say whe ther " entire satisfaction" was the result of the enquiry. A new feature in this case has arisen, having, in my mind, a most important bearing on the subject. At a late meeting of the " Sottish Central Railway Com pany," it was declared by the directors to their con stituents that, in respect to this very matter of amalga mation, as legislative sanction hash been refused, the whole business was at an end, and that the company was free to seek such other measures as might be considered best •, and yet, gentlemen, this very company was equally bound with the Edinburgh and Glasgow, a number of the di rectors of the canals being named in the bill of amalga mation. Thus we have two boards arriving at a diame trically opposite conclusion from the same premises; and I presume it will not be denied that the " Scottish Cen tral Board" are honourable men. But does not this, their opinion, justify us, if justification were wanting ? Again, gentlemen, you must not lose sight of the consequences of this amalgamation, for which legislative sanction must ul timately be obtained ; and had you all seen a draft of the hill, imposing such a tariff as would have suited even Mr. Wilson, I think your ardour (supposing you to be favora ble to the measure) would have been cooled at once. What think you of carryingiron, at a maximum rate of jths per ton per mile, and other matters in proportion? Depend upon it, should you unwisely consent to this insane pro ject, that on your application to Parliament you would be severely punished for the great boon you sought. It would indeed be singular, could no other gentleman be found in all Scotland to carry out a line of policy different from that of the gentleman who now fills the chair. Such an assumption is the very essence of egotism. On the contrary, we are assured there are many quite ready and willing to take office, under a new arrangement of the board—gentlemen quite able to protect the interests of the shareholders, and save them from the threatened injury consequent on the resignation of the present directors, who would, to my mind, have more consulted their honor, had they intimated to a colleague the necessity for his retirement. In respect to the arbiters, it has again and again been stated that no imputation rests on them, but on the parties who did not furnish them with;the proper documents, by which to arrive at a just conclusion. Fur ther comment on the speeches of the directors, and their supporters, is not necessary at present, except as to one point, that, judging from what has been said, it would seem there is a power behind the chair even greater than the chair. It is also well worthy of remark,that all the offers made by Mr. Learmonth for amalgamating, puechasing or leasing, (provided hedoes not wish for compliance there with), are accompanied by a contingency which is certain to be rejected, and thus he endeavours to throw the odium, if any, on the other party._ Such has been the. case in respect to the Edinburgh, Leith and Granton, and the Edinburgh and Northern lines, and I may also say the Caledonian. On all of which he is desirous of throwing the blame, in loose and vague assertions, while, he is met on this point by the mention of dates and per sons, and consequently capable of proof. One thing has, I think, been more:fully brought under the notice of the shareholders by these discussions, which cannot fail to be highly gratifying, and that is the great traffic which exists between Edinburgh and Glasgows—uch as, under able and fostering management, cannot fail to be remunerative to both railway and canals. Before I have done, I may, also, point out to you the neglect of the directors in re spect to the extension. Why was not this completed long since ? It ought, at least, to have been so, simul taneously with the opening of the North British. And I may also remind you, gentlemen, that when the act for this extension was applied for, one of the principal grounds assumed was—because it would establish a con nexion with the sea by means of the Edinburgh, Leith and (then) Newhaven Railway. And, now, gentlemen, let me remark that I consider an the mischief which has happened, in respect to the present dispute between the shareholders and the directors, to have arisen, firstly, from their protracted resistance to the urgent wishes of the former, for an arrangement with the canals, a mea sure which, I think, no man can doubt might have been easily accomplished by two or three gentlemen from each party, determined to effect it in an amicable spirit. I need only refer„ for example, to the contest between the London and Birmingham and Grand Junction Railways, beset with infinitely greater difficulties. And, secondly, to the assumption of undue power and authority, under which these' gentlemen have entered into engagements, of the most important nature, without the sanction of their constituents, to whom they have applied for confir mation, when the business was so far advanced, that as they have stated, nothing was left to the const;tuency but compliance, however unpalatable the measure might be. Such a system is greatly to be deprecated, and has led to much confusion in other railways, as well as this ; but•it has proceeded to the most unwarrantable lengths in the Edinburgh and Glasgow direction, since even the three English directors were never acquainted with the terms of the amalgamation ; and further, it is believed that at the late general meeting several of the Scotch directors were equally ignorant of their precise nature, although, they had signed the address issued from the board. Fur _ ther comment on such conduct is unnecessary. The second address of the directors calls for only a fev word It is a reiteration of their infallibility ; in which, ale , is ridiculously stated—of course for an especial purpose, that the discussion at the late general meeting was pro tracted by the speeches of the members of the deputation! And if it were so, was there not a necessity to expose the fallacies of the directors ? It would be curious to count the words as spoken by each party. The directors also point as if with triumph to the preponderance of numbers present in their favour. This was naturally enough to be expected in Scotland, and where they could summon all their adherents ; but reverse the business, and say if the meeting had been held in Liverpool or Manchester, in stead of Glasgow, what would then have been the result? The directors also state that they are most unwilling to expose the company to the imputation of a " breach of faith." This is the bugbear which is constantly paraded to frighten timid shareholders. Surely, we understand what constitutes a breach of faith as well as the directors." The CHAIRMAN concluded by introducing the de putation, who, he said, would explain to the meeting several most important particulars in connection with the proceedings which had been taken in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. Mr. Raw sox said he should first say something of the proceedings of the deputation at the late meeting at Glas gow. Certainly a good deal was then said on both sides. At the Old Bailey itself the accused had always something to say in their defence ; but without wishing to impute criminal motives or intentions to the directors, he roust say they were either very unfortunate in their management, or things were not quite straightforward. At the last meeting in Liverpool he stated the expenses of working the line were much larger than they had ever been before, and greater than on any other railway ; but he had no idea that Herod would have been so far out-Heroded in this re spect. He was himself the director of a railway, the income of which for the last half year: was £87,000, and it was a cu rious coincidence that the income of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company. including £5OOO from the depreciation fund, was also 4:87,000. But in the one case the com pany was enabled to divide £8 per cent., whilst, in the other, the shareholders received only £5 per cent. ;—(hear) —and he asked the meeting how it happened that one railway, out of gross earnings, was able to pay £8 per cent. ; another, only £5, which the directors said it would not have paid without receiving £9,000 or £lO,OOO from the canal? He would show the shareholders the reason they did not receive a good dividend • and, he contended, the directors m ust fall upon one of the horns of the dilem ma, Either, on the one hand, the accounts had been cooked, (he did not use the word offensively), or there was a presiding genius, for good or for evil, as was the case in every corporation, that absolutely controlled the whole. The accounts disclosed some curious things; and he was sure that many deeply interested shareholders would sill out at once, if they thought the expenses were liable to in crease every year in the same ratio. How much did the meeting believe the expenses had increased, without the opening of a single mile of additional line ? Ten per cent. would generally be thought a fruitful increase, but last half year it was more than 80 per cent., as compared with the corresponding half year of 1845. Last half year the expenses of the head office were £2,733; for the corres ponding half year of 1845 they were £633, being an in crease of about 75 per cent. How could any railway, whatever its position, exist under such circumstances ? He had never been in Scotland before, but there could be no more promising undertaking in the kingdom than this line, if it were well managed, between the magni ficent cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow ; and so far from a dividend of £5 per cent. only being earned with dif ficulty, be would pledge himself to make it pay six per cent., and leave a considerable balance to the next half year without receiving a single penny from the canal. Mr. Rawson read other items of expenditure also chewing considerable increase ; and then he asked the, meeting to consider the grounds upon which all this oppo sition was raised. The amalgtanation with the canals could not be worked without an act of parliament, if an equal division were to be made. They might work under an agreement not to injure each other, but not as a part n^rship, if a single shareholder objected. And if an act of parliament had been obtained in the late session, the result would have been, that a reduction of tolls both upon the railway and the canals must have been submitted to, nearly equal to all the canal receipts put together; so that instead of gaining an advantage by the amalgamation, the railway must have given £l5O for every £lOO canal stock, with the certainty of receiving next to nothing in return. The directors, as he had observed before, defended them selves at the late meeting at Glasgow, and the deputation talked a long time without making converts. That was, perhaps, natural. A number of the shareholders present were clearly inaccessible to their arguments; and, like the chairman (Mr. Jones), he was convinced the b!st pos &hie arguments were proxies. (Hear.) -- Mr. - COSTON then addressed the meeting. He said that on Thursday last a meeting of shareholders was held in London. About thirty attended, all of whom, with the exception of Liedt. Col. Johnson, (who was a canal proprietor) gave the deputation their proxies. The Colo nel did not like to risk his canal property, although he (Mr. Coston) convinced him it would be safer in the hands of a good board of direction, under an arrangement on fair terms with the railway, than in competition with it. He might mention too that proxies had been largely received from shareholders in other places, coinciding with the deputation. He wished to say one word with regard to the self-sufficient conduct of the chairman of the rail way, who had stated lie had been invited to meet the Manchester shareholders, who showed him great kindness and satisfaction. The chairman seemed to think that to be civil was to express approval ; but he must have a sin gular want of penetration if he conceived there was one word of approbation expressed as regarded his manage ment in the chair of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail way. Every dissatisfaction was shown; and one gentle man, Mr. Gasquoine, said, if no other proprietor would take measures to restrain the directors from ping on with the arrangement, be would he one to do it. Mr. Coston then went through some of the details of the arrangement with the canals. The Forth and Clyde canal was reduced so as to pay cnly £4 per cent. last year, and there was a prospect of the dividend going down still further, and even to pay that the directors had been obliged to tax the reserved fund to the amount of £5OOO. The Union canal, it was well known, had paid nothing upon the original shares, and even upon the allo cated shares only 255. bad been paid in three years, mak ing Bs. 4d. per annum. (Hear.) And their condition was not at all likely to be improved under the tariff which would be required by Parliament in the amalgamation act. In fact, they would not be earning half so much. Mr. Coston then read the proposed rates for the carriage of minerals, flour, &c., to prove this statement. The depu tation, however, were of opinion that with a board of di rection composed of sensible men, no difficulty could arise with the canals, but that arrangements might be made to the benefit of all the companies concerned, and to that of the public. By such arrangements not only would the public be better served, but the proprietors would be ensured a remunerative dividend. It was the end and aim of the deputation to make such arrangements. They did not mean to say they feared competition with the canals. Far from it. If the canals were determined to quarrel, the deputation were ready to exclaim, " Come on, Macduff," for they were satisfied that canals had no chance in hostile competition with railways. _ _ Mr. RAWSON remarked that in the accounts for the corresponding half-year of 1815, the receipts from rents were stated to be £1,211. This half year the account stated the item thus, " for rents received, £6BB. The ob ject of this was to make the income of the railway appear as little as possible. He contended that in taking stock, credit should be taken for good debts, among which he classed this source of income. He did not consider the carriage of heavy goods on the railway the most profitable ; and it mattered very little whether the canals continued to carry on a ruinous competition for four or five years more, or not. At the same time any board of direction who had the confidence of the English shareholders would seek all the means of reconciliation with the canals compatible with the interests of the company. he income from the car riage of goods had been raised from £lB,OOO to £28.000; but he did not believe it bad added to the dividend more than £3,000. it was a mere - bagatelle at the present mo ment. The company was receiving as much for passen gers, parcels, and mails, as they received for all the traffic this time last year. He said this in order that the canal proprietors might consider whether they had any chance in a fair race of competition. I Mr. GREIG next addressed the meeting, and said the present was the only instance on record where directors, after such strong opposition had been manifested to their policy, had doggedly determined to maintain their seats. The chairman of the company (Mr. Learmonth) had it distinctly stated to him in Manchester that this could not be permitted to go forth as a precedent, because it was absolutely necessary the shareholders should have know ledge conveyed to them, which would enable them to sanction or otherwise whatever took place in respect to their property. In other words, unless they had every information given them the bargain with the canals must be negatived The chairman said he could claim no ex emption from this rule. He had also been told that the railway, by the connection with the Leith and Granton docks, had become possessed of a lever, which would throw almost the whole traffic of the country upon the line; and that it was taking too much upon himself to at tempt to amalgamate with the canals after having fought them for three or four years, at a loss of from £40,000 to £50,000 per annum, and they would become a dead weight. The basis of any arrangement with them should have been, first, to have taken all the expenses of their opposition to the railway, on both sides, when the bill was in Parliament, and the loss of £40,000 or £50,000 a year for three or four years in competion. He would de duct these amounts from the canals, and then give them £5 per cent. per annum. (Hear.) The deputation had done some good by going to Glasgow, because it was now fully understood that the half shares were to be reinstated, for it was no less than confiscation to make them into fifths. Mr. Greig then proceeded to refer to Mr. Gregson, the manager, and his large salary of £3900, which he said would, in all likelihood, be increased another £lOOO. He was induced to take up a share list the other day, ex pecting to find the canal under this gentleman's manage ment in a very prosperous state, but what was his astonishment at discovering the shares to be at a discount ; and he asked how it was that the railway must have a manager from a canal which, instead of being at a pre mium, was at a considerable discount? (Hear.) But how stood the railways which were parallel to, or in the neigh bourhood of, this canal ? The Lancaster and Preston, on which £73 were paid, were selling at £1034-; the Lan caster and Carlisle, with £45 paid, were selling at £6B, and the North Union, with £lOO paid, were selling at £lB7. Consequently, if the directors had wanted to have obtained information whereby to have done justice to their own shareholders, as well as to the canal proprietors, England could have furnished them with sufficient evi dence. After some further remarks, Mr. Greig closed by saying, that if the amalgamation had been carried out, it would have obliterated the voice of the English share holders ; and he could come to no other conclusion than that it was a deep laid scheme to carry out a plan adverse , And hostile to their interests. Dr. DE VITRE, of Lancaster, at some length defended the proceedings of the directors, and urged that the true question was one of honour, principle, and commercial inte grity. He for one had entrusted them with the management of the undertaking, and they, having entered into engage ments for its benefit, he conceived he was bound to sup port them. The deputation, at the meeeting at Glasgow, had not met this point, and he conceived they had not touched it now. On his return from Glasgow to Edin burgh, he met with a gentleman in the train, an iron master at Falkirk, and also a shareholder in this puny, who declared that if the arrangement with the nals was upset he would cell every share he possessed Mr. ltAwsonr.—l will buy them. Dr. DE VITRE in continuation, said he had himself sold a considerable number of the shares which he held since this repudiation was attempted. He was convinced that by the arrangement the directors had made, the line would go gradually up to a ten per cent. line; but if it were repudiated, he did not know when that point would be reached. He defended Mr. Gregson from the remarks of Mr. Greig; and as to Mr. Learmonth, he was of opi• nion, that though an abler person might possibly be found, in this particular transaction he was perfectly blameless. Mr. GREIG explained what he had said with regard to Mr. Gregson, and contended that the inference he had drawn from the sinking state of the canals was perfectly just. He had no intention whatever to question the abi lity or integrity of Mr. Gregson, who was well known to have first-rate talents as a canal manager. He did, how ever, blame the directors for not having given notice to the English shareholders of the steps they were taking with regard to the canals. Mr. Cos Torr repeated that the directors had not sent notices of the meetings for the amalgamation, and in refer ence to an observation of Dr. De Vitre, who stated he had received notices of all meetings, he called upon him to state when he received them. Dr. DE VITRE did not attend that meeting for the pur pose of answering questions. All he said was that all the necessary documents had been forwarded to him. Mr. ROSSON.—They werenot forwarded to other parties Dr. Da VITRI3 had no means of knowing whether they were or were not. He protested, however, against being questioned. Mr. RossoN.—What number of shares do you hold now ? . Dr. DE VITRE apprehended he was not called upon to answer any unnecessary questions. He held no incon siderable number of shares now. All documents had been forwarded to him in regular succession. Mr. RAwsoN said it was well known that the directors had forwarded them only to a few special friends. Dr. DE VITRE said he did not know the directors, nor bad he had any communication with them. Mr. RAWSON, Mr. COSTON, and the CHAIRMAN next addressed the meeting at length upon the conduct of the directors, and in answer to the remarks of Dr. De Vitre ; and, after some discussion upon "the point of honour," in which it was admitted that all were " honourable men," Mr. RossoN delivered some remarks in support of the deputation, and moved the following resolution :—" That the warmest thanks of this meeting be given to the mem bers of the deputation for their report of their able pro ceedings at Glasgow ; and hopes they will persevere in the course which has already proved so beneficial to our va luable undertaking. Mr. HEALEY seconded the resolution, and expressed a hope that the deputation had their eyes upon gentlemen fully competent to undertake the future direction of the company. A large number of English directors would be prejudicial; and he wished to know whether the deputa tion had in view Scottish gentlemen qualified to under take the business of the railway ? Mr. COSTON was glad the question had been put. The deputation had no doubt that Scottish gentlemen, highly capable and efficient, would be found to corry on the con cern. The railway would not be left without directors. The best men would be selected, and this was a subject which would be attended to by the deputation the moment they reached Scotland, which would be in a few days. Mr. HEALEY was satisfied with this answer. In the second address of the directors, there was one remark which would not tend to exalt them in his estitimation. It was " The directors profess [it was only profession] to regret they cannot pay a dividend to their proprietors until February next." He should like to know whether directors were fit to retain office who would not take upon themselves the individual responsibility of paying a divi dend to their proprietors which they ackn)wled to be in the bankers' hands? (Hear.) He hoped the deputation would not only remove the directors, but immediately pay the dividend to those to whom it belonged. Mr. RAWSON, as a railway man, would pay the divi dend, and take his chance of the consequences. The legal adviser of the deputation said the dividend, or a sum nearly equivalent to it, might be paid, and a vote of in demnity be passed at the meeting of the company in Fe bruary next. The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution. It was car ried unanimously. Dr. De Vitre did not vote. The usual thanks were voter: to the Chairman, and the meeting separated at half-past three o'clock, having oc cupied upwards of two hours. THE LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF MODERN ARTISTS, This exhibition, which is now open to the public, con tains a collection of paintings of greater average merit than any which we have previously been permitted to inspect In the same locality. Of course, the limited op portunity which we have had of going through them will prevent us, in our present notice, of rem irking critically at any length, upon the merits of particular works. We shall therefore content ourselves with the duty of directing attention to a few of the leading pictures, reserving to ourselves future opportunities of entering into further de tail. The first picture which we shall notice is No. 94, Har vey's. to which the prize has been awarded. The subject is "The first reading of the Bible in the Crypts of St. Pauls.' " The composition, as a whole, is very fine. The lights, especially, are well managed, and convey ade quately the solemnity of the subject and scene. But we cannot say that the picture displays a very high order of genius. I'- contains little to strike observation. or to at tract the observer to store it up in memory. There is not one of the figures, which stand forward most prominently, upon which a lover of the beautiful or the sublime would care to bestow more than a passing glance. Of course, the fact that it has been judged worthy of the prize shows that we differ from those, perhaps better qualified artis tically, to give an opinion. Nevertheless, there are some pictures in the rooms which we, and we fancy many be sides ourselves, would value more highly. A Highland funeral, by this artist, possesses great merit. No. 163, by Alexander Johnston. This picture is of a very high order of merit; and, with one exception, is almost fault less in execution. The subject is the introduction of Flora Macdonald to Prince Charles Stewart. Both the composition and the figures are very effective ; some of them most striking. The figure of Charles Edward him self seems to us to be the only failing part of the picture, the character and expression being too tame, and not at all in accordance with our notions, or the historical repre sentations of them. The back-ground, light, and details, are worked out with great artistic skill. No. 116, by Ansdell, the largest composition in the room, representing a Highland scene, with a stag at bay, dogs, and a huntsman in the act of firing the death shot, forms a striking picture. No. 196, A Sunset in Frost, by Brandwhile, is one of the most striking pictures in the collection. No. 119, by W. G. Herdinan, A Market-day Scene in Ross. is a phasing composition, well worked out in its details. In the foreground is the centre arch of the market-house, from which the celebrated Man of Ross used to distribute his charities to the townspeople. No. 208, a Highland scene, with Drovers setting cut, by Ansdell, is a fine picture, worthy of this artist. The distant landscape and cattle are very characteristic, and the figures in the foreground well painted. No. 22, by Dighton, is one of the best paintings of the alternate cloud and sunshine of an April day which we remember to have seen. It is altogether a very spirited piece of landscape painting. No. 122, by Noel Patten, possesses wonderful effect. The subject is the Interview of Oberon and Titania, in the " Midsummer Night's Dream." The colouring is singularly dream-like in its lightness ; the leading figures of infinite grace and beauty, combined with the grotesque character of their impish attendants. Both as a highly poetical description of the scene and a work of high art, it cannot escape prominent notice. Another fine picture is an interior, The Smuggler, by Chas. Landseer, No. 186 The figures are beautifully brought out, and all the details in excellent keeping. Mr. Illidge contributes a very fine full length of Sir Philip Egerton. No. 7, A Morning Scene in Wales, by Creswick, is a fine landscape with water, and challenges observation as an excellent specimen of this artist. On the opposite side of the room is a picture, with fruit, called Preparing for the Banquet, by Lance, which is very truthful. No. 63, by Augustus Egg, No. 77, by Lander. and No. 49, by O'Neill, are also very meritorious. No. 169, is a fine landscape, by Pyne. No. 31, by E. M. Ward, the Disgrace of Clarendon, is a picture of some pretension, and contains some very meritorious points, with a few faults. In the foreground, the great minister is represented descending the steps of the palace, and met by the averted faces of the attend. ant courtiers. The bearing of Clarendon is dignified and firm, and many of the figures excellently painted. The scene is most expressive of the era, the costumes correct, and elaborately worked out. As a whole there is great merit in the picture. Our native artists have on this occasion contributed largely to the exhibition ; and in many of their compo sitions we observe a great improvement upon their past efforts. Amongst the number who have contributed pictures are W. Huggins (325 and 318, very fine com positions), .Dawson (370, a scene on the River Mersey), Davis (a painting descriptive of an ejection of an Irish family), Windus, Bothwell, Keel, Buchanan, Marshall, &c. We must, however, pay our respects to these and other gentlemen in our next. Amongst the most pleasin g portion of the exhibition are the miniatures, two of which especially are very beau tifully and correctly painted. We refer to No. 219, a Portrait of Lord John Russell, and 221, a Portrait of Lablache, by a London artist, Carrick. The likenesses and artistic execution of both these are inimitable. Nos. 218 and 220, by Sir John Ross, the latter a Portrait of the Queen of the Belgians, will be viewed with interest, both for their excellent painting and the characters pour trayed. Mr. G. Hargreaves has also a striking likeness of Mr. Ilugh Neill, the eminent oculist ; and we notice two more, No. 228, Portrait of a Lady, and 227 , Portrait of a You ng L a d y, b y a townsman , Mr. J. B. Cros, which are very clever. If we mistake not, we recognise in them the likenesses of a talented pianiste of our town and her sister. We must break off with these hasty remarks, not how ever without inviting our readers to pay a visit to the exhibition, which will amply repay the lovers and patrona of art. Sept. Is, 1841. FACILITIES AFFORDED FOR A DIRECT ROUTE TO INDIA BY THE GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAILWAY. There are few more interesting subjects of speculation in the present day than an inquiry into the mode by which Great Britain can be brought into a more direct and se cure connexion with her vast Indian Empire and the con tinents of Africa and Asia. Greatly improved as is the present communication, thanks to the spirited efforts of Mr. Waghorn and the proprietors of some of our leading metropolitan papers, there can be no doubt that much can be effected, and that ultimately, not only our despatches and wealthy passengers, from the East, can be brought to this country and to Northern Europe, with increased spirit and regularity, but that no trifling amount of mer chandise and produce may, at no distant period, be simi larly accommodated in their transit to and from these important markets. A writer, in an excellent periodical, the New Quarterly Review, has recently brought before the public his views as to the working out of such a scheme, the leading features of which we propose here submitting to our readers. The writer objects, with great judgment, against the adoption of the present route, via Marseilles. as not being the most direct, or the most free from contingencies to arise from an interruption of our relations with Belgium is better adapted to form the permanent route, both from the character of the country, its population, its cheaper railways, and the habits, traffic, &c. of its population. She possesses coal, moreover, of which France is deficient, and has a number of lines of road, formed and forming, which only require to be connected and extended to afford the accommodation which we require. Amongst these he enumerates : •' First, an already effected rail from Ostend to Brus sels. Next, by the Great Luxembourg, in the hands of first-rate English capitalists, who already hold half a mil lion of money, the route executed to Wavre will be carried on to Namur. Here again the Great Luxembourg, a rail 200 miles in extent, takes up the continuation, and carries us to Luxembourg. It has also a branch from Luxem bourg to Metz, where it meets a line now in progress to Strasburg, by which it connects itself with another line now making through Sarrebruck to Kaiserslautern, with its own Troves branch and the navigation of the Rhine. From Luxembourg a line to Troves furnishes another fa cility for the Indian route. A Wirtemberg railway has been projected also in connexion with this line ; and if the Venice and Milan be used for the same great object of the Indian route, here also the Great Luxembourg receives the traveller. " As, then, the advantages of the most distant foreign communication appear open to this line, which is in the Possession of English capitalists, and which will bring the East nearer to our doors, let us examine this nucleus of future operations. We do this with the greater pleasure, since we feel that it is one in which English capital is em barked, and whose future advance, even to the very gates of Constantinople, will bring the wealth of the world into England's custom. This railway, which has received the complete consent of the King and the Belgian Chamber, commences with a terminus in Brussels, at the ' Quartier Leopold ;' hence, passing Boitsfort, it arrives at Wavre, a distance already provided for by existing payments, which renders any call for the present year unnecessary. At Wavre, passing Gembloux, it conducts us to Namur. The company possesses capital sufficient to carry out this branch. It will give thirty-nine miles of railway to the shareholders of the company, without any further call. It is also requisite to note, that this line is further in di rect communication with Antwerp, around which port all parties appear centralizing. From Namur the line conti nues through Ciney, Rochfort, Recogne, and Neufcha teau, to Arlon, being eighty-two miles. Between Namur and Arlon, two important branches quit the main line ; one, twelve miles in extent, leaves Rochfort, passes Mar che, and goes on to Deulin, a spot on the Luxembourg canal, also the property of this company, thereby con veying stone, minerals, ores, &c., from their numerous mines to the company. and bringing into connexion with it the important city of Liege, a place of great manufac turing interest. The other branch to Bastogne, eighteen miles long, furnishes access to a highly important district at Longlier, at Neufchateau. From Arlon the line crosses the Grand Ducal frontier at Steinfurt, passes the iron works at Habbaye, and reaches the city of Luxembourg in about sixteen miles. From Luxembourg there is an extension to Metz due south, entering France at Frisange, the well-known iron forges, taking Thionville and Ukange on its way. The length of the line from Luxembourg to Metz is thirty-six miles. The only engineering difficulties of this vast scheme occur between Namur and Ciney : this expense is, however, neutralized by 150 miles of ex tremely low average, so that the Great Luxembourg will be constructed the choapest of existing lines ; and, in truth, the natural facilities of Belgium are too well known to need any long details on this matter. Thus far, then. the northward opening to Trieste appears both favourable and eminently practicable." The sources of traffic by this line he shows to be im mense. It will pass through districts fertile in minerals it connects together upwards of six millions of people, and will receive a large influx of the traffic along the whole navigation of the Rhine. By the adoption of this route the distance from Trieste to Ostend (750 miles) could be traversed in a day ; and India would be placed at a dis tance of only twenty-one days from this country. Pre suming that a line may be continued down the valley of the Danube to Constantinople (1500 miles) the entire distance between Ostend and that city might be compassed in forty-eight hours. Lord and Lady Sandon and family arrived at Gros venor-square on Friday from the continent. There is no truth in the rumour that Mr. Jackson hag purchased the Chamberlain estate at Tranwere. Lord Besborou g h attended the Dublin Theatre 011 Thursday, and was most enthusiastically received. The Rev. John Eddowes Gladstone, 8.A., of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, has been presented to the incumbency of St. Mark's Church, Lakenham, near Norwich. The Journal des Debars states that the fears which were entertained rel .tive to the safety of the potatoe crop throughout France have been dispelled. LABOURERS.—On Thursday, a highly respectable meet ing was held at Beaminster, Dorsetshire, when a society was formed for bettering the condition of the labouring classes by the field-garden allotment system. PUBLICANS' LICENSES.—The magistrates sat yester day, for the purpose of considering applications for licenses for public houses. Only one new license was granted, namely, to Mr. John Devine, of Netherfield road North, Evertors. NOVRL STEAMER.—We were highly gratified, a few days since, by the cursory examination of the Levantine, a new screw steamer, now lying in the Coburg Dock. This vessel is one of a line of steamers now building to run between this port and Malta, Constantinople, and other places on the Black Sea ; and having something novel in her construction, she may not be unworthy the notice of our maritime public. In addition to a spread of canvas, she will, as we have stated, be propelled by the screw, which is worked by a rotatory engine applied di rectly to the shaft. The engines are exceedingly com pact, and, from the fact of 90 revolutions per minute having been obtained on her passage here, there is but little doubt that it will open a new era in the mode of propelling vessels, particularly as, by this principle, apace is so much economised as always to allow ample stowage room. The engines are the invention of Peter Bouil, Esq., and have been fitted by Caird & Co., of Greenock. The vessel herself is entirely built of iron, by Messrs. Ditchburn and Co., of London ; and her mould is fully shewn by the fact, that under jurymasts, between London and Greenock, she sailed at the rate of 12/knots an hour. The vessel is the property of the Levantine Steam Com pany, and is here consigned to Montgredien, Esq. She will be commanded by Captain Easterby. THE DISTRESSED IRISH.—On Sunday morning last, the Rev. Hugh M`Neile. in the course of his sermon, called the attention of his congregation to the distressed condition in which the people in many districts of Ireland are placed through the failure of the potato crop. He stated that he had received letters from several gentlemen which led him to believe that nothing short of absolute famine had come upon large portions of the people. In the county Roscommon especially, he was given to under stand, the inhabitants were literally starving. He an nounced at the close, that although no formal collection for the sufferers would be made in the church that day, yet that boxes woulu be held at the doors, and he would be happy to be the medium of transmitting any contribu tions to his brother clergyman at Roscommon. A collec tion was accordingly made at the doors, which amounted, we are happy to say, to the very handsonatl sum of £42, the congregation being unprepared for such an appeal. We may mention, as a curious coincidence, that at the moment the churchwardens were taking the collection into the vestry,. the Rev. Mr. Somerville, of Doneraile , who happened to be present at the church, entered, and fully corroborated the statements of Mr. M`Neile- - ; ° : deed, he said no language could convey an adequate des of the destitution at present existing in the sister co untrY;, In some parts he stated the people were in such a state of want that they were actually subsisting on nettles. Mr. Somerville was on his way to London as a member of a deputation to Lord John Russell, to impress on Govern ment the necessity of immediate relief being granted for his starving countrymen. The amount collected at St. Judes was yesterday transmitted to Ireland. During the visit of royalty to Liverpool, Mr. Satchell, of 48, Lord-street, who has long held in conjunction with the London firm with whom he is connected, a royal ap pointment, presented two hats to his royal highness Prince Albert, one of which was worn by the Prince on the day he laid the foundation stone of the Sailor's Home, Mr• Satchell has since received the appointment of hatter to his royal highness. MARRIED On the 10th instant, at Great George-street Chapel, S. HODG SON, Esq., of Preston, to Miss CATHERINE LEWIS, of this DIED On the 29th ultimo, aged 72 years, at his residence, 12, Cum , berland-place, Glasgow, Mr. JOHN KNOX, late of Had, Cus toms, and formerly of Belfast. LIVERPOOL : TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 1846. 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