Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

At the request of the Council, your president put him self in communication with the chairmen of the Exchange Buildings, regArding the proposed alterations and improve =ants of this great centre of commercial information and intercourse, and received satisfactory assurances that whenever the plans were as far advanced as to permit their being submitted for inspection, they should be shown to the Council. The Council believe that ve - y great addi tional convenience may be afforded to the public simul. ianaonsly with the urgently required enlargement of the public rooms. The subject is, undoubtedly, one deserving the earnest attention of the mercantile community, and your Council agobastrely for CLOTHING BOYS frca Six to Twenty Years LEWIS & COMPANY, itanslaga-strios CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUARTERLY GENERAL MEETING. A quarterly general meeting of the members of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce was held in the offices st one o'clock yesterday, for the purpose of receiving a ;report from the Council, upon several important questions which had occupied their attention during the past three months. The chair was taken by the Vice-President, Christopher Bushell, Esq. Among the gentlemen present were Messrs. Thomas Berry Horsfall, M P., Charles E. Rawlins, R. A. INlcfie, Jones, Reid, Dawson, Booker, George Booker, Watson, Aikin, Zwilchenbart, King, Forwood, Boyd, &c , &c. The CHAIRMAN stated, that he had received a note from 31 r. J. C. Ewart, M.P , expre.sing his regret that he was unable to attend the meeting, being en aged as a memter of the Grand Jury. The Secretary, Mr. TaoNsoN, read the notice convening The meeting, and the following REPORT. The Council have nowThepleasure of reporting their proceedings upon the questions brought before them during the last three months. As Parliament had already risen at the date of last report (in August), of course no subject requiring legislative action have progressed, and therefore the present resume is, of necessity, a very short one. The matters embraced in it are as follows COMMERCIAL LAW. On the invitation of the National society for the Pro motion of Social Science, which held its first meeting in Birmingham in October last, your Council forwarded a memorandum cf subjects bearing on commercial law, for the consideration of a section of that body, devoting its attention to jurisprudence and reform of the law. The memorandum embraced the following points, viz :- 1. The laws relating to Bankruptcy. 2. The United Kingdom Writs Bill. a The Judgments Execution Bill, and • 4. The Registration cf Partnerships. Several papers on these and kindred topics, having been read, it was suggested by Lord John Russell, the president of the section above referred to, that, for the better consideration of the subject, of the laws of bank ruptcy and insolvency, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce should call a subsequent meeting in that town of delegates from the chambers of commerce and trade protection societies of he kingdom, and take the necessary steps for the preparation of a bill for the reform of that branch of the laws, to be referred to the Attorney-General for his approval, before its introduction into parliament. Your Council having, in accordanc , with this suggestion, received from the Birmingham chamber an invitation to send thither delegates to a conference on the 17th instant, Messrs. Heath and Denson were requested to attend accordingly. The report of these gentlemen have just been received, wherein they state that a sub-committee had been ap pointed to draw up a bill; but as certain unavoidable expenses will be incurred in its preparation and intro duction into parliament, it will become necessary for this Chamber to contribute its proportion thereto—the Council feeling assured, from the earnestness, promptitude, and decision expressed by the delegates on that occasion, that the laws of bankruptcy and insolvency will shortly be placed on a much more simple, economical, and satisfactory footing. The United Kingdom Writs Bill (up in which your Council have received, from the commercial law com mittee, a report explanatory of its provisions) has been referred back to that committee, with instructions for its introduction into parliament, which will, if possible, be done in the ensuing session. MERSEY DOCK AND HARBOUR BOARD. The recent act of Parliament, - which transferred the management of the Dock estate to a new board, comes into operation on the Ist January next, when the new board will be elected. A committee of your Council has examined the act, and has presented a report, showing the provisions which will govern that election ; and in consideration of the importance of the subject, the report has been circu lated among the members, for their information. DOCK COMMITTEE AND ACCOMMODATION. This subject is one which the members are aware, has for some years past, been under consideration by your Council, and upon which your directors have abstained hitherto from expressing any opinion upon particular plans. But, seeing that the present dock accommodation is quite inadequate for the requirements of the trade of the port, you committee joined in the generally expressed idea that the Deck Committee should apply to Parliament for such powers as may be needed to provide the due and full extension of dock and quay accommodation on the Lanca shire as well as on the Cheshire side of the Mersey. and they forwarded to the Dock Committee a communication of that purport. The published reports cf that com mittee's proceedings have informed the members that =dice has been given for a bill to procure the necessary powers. _ _ The committee of your Council on dock arrangements have just presented a report, suggesting that steps should be taken for improving the present system of working the docks, which report is under the consideration of your Connell. EXPLORATION OP THE ZAMBESI RIVER IN AFRICA. Your Council forwarded a communication to the Earl of Clarendon in favour of the appointment of an expedition to survey the river Zambesi, as a continuation of the dis eoveries made in that part of Africa by Dr. Livingstone, and they are happy to say that the subject is receiving the best consideration of the Government. In connectioa with this quarter of the world, it may here he stated that a committee has been appointed to consider the plans adop*ed by the French Government for procuring labourers from Afric% for its West Indian colonies. As that committee has only recently been appointed, no report has been presented, but the questicn is receiving their best considerations; but, in the meantime, your Council cannot refrain from expressing its satisfac tion that the Government seems to be quite alive to the importince of the subject. DIRECT TRADE WITH DETROIT AND THE PORTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN L MRS. Your Council hive have had the gratification of receiv ing an address from the Board of Trade at Detroit on this subject, together with samples of produce of the state of Michigan which they have suitably acknowledged in the name of the Chamber. POSTAL AFFAIRS. The Council have the pleasure of observing, in relation fo the removal of the Post-office, that by the published notices of the bill to.bo introduced into Parliament by the Corpers ion powers are to be sought for constructing a Post-office on the site proposed for the new public cfaces in Dale-street ; and your directors trust that this intention will be fully carrisd out. its to the late deputation to Government relktive to the postal arrangements with France and the Continent, to which allusion was made in the half-yearly report, your Council have received from the Postmaster-General a reply to the representations made to his Grace cn that occasion. This communication, which entered very carefully and fully into the subject, evinces a strong desire on the part of the Postmaster-General to meet the wishes of the deputation ; and, although there would seem to be great difficulties in the way, yet a suggestion is therein made by which some adiantages may be obtained over the present postal arrangements with the Continent; and your Council Seel assured that the Postmaster-General will do all in his power to meet, as far as possible, the wishes of the mer cantile body. TILE MONETARY CEISIL For some days prior to the recent suspension of the Bank Act of 1844, your Vice-President (in the unavoida ble absence of the'President) had deemed it# part of his duty to the chamber to keep himself in frequent communi cation with the leading mercantile and banking authorities of the town, with a, view to such action, on the part of the Council, as any emergency might seam to require ; and a requisition having been received by him, asking him to call a meeting of the C uncil, to take into consideration the then pending commercial distress, a special meeting was then called for that purpose, and held on the l''th instant, the day on which the Bank Act WAS suspended. After giving the question the fullest consideration, the Council appointed a deputation to proceed to London at once, to confer with the directors of the Bank :ef England, and also, if requisite, with her Majesty's Government, to urge upon them the necessity of adopting a similar measure of relief to that adopted in 1817, or such other measure as might be requisite to afford relief to the com mercial community. But, immediately after the rising of the Council, news was received that the Bank Act had b een bn.pen led, and thus any action by the deputation was rendered unnecessary. EXCHANGE BUILDINGS. The decease of the late Mr. Wainwright, who held this office for more than thirty years, has caused a vacancy therein, and your committee, seeing the necessity of an agent in London, to represent the various public and commercial bodies, and other, the mercantile and trading interests of Liverpool, have conferred with deputies from the mercantile associations represented at thieboard, and it is their opinion that the officer should be continued They have also had interviews with the Dock Committee, and the finance committee of the Town Council, the result of which has led your council to hope that an arrangement may be arrived at for the continuance of the office. INCREAZ•E OF MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER. Seeing the growing influence of the chamber, and the necessity that it should adequately represent the various interests of the Wen, your council have appointed a committee to consider what means should be adopted for the purpose of rendering the chamber still more efficient in its action, and of increasing the number of subscibere ; as they feel in such an extended community as Liverpool a much larger constituency might be expected, by which means the utility of the institution would be greatly increased. The CHAIRMAN said, in Mr. Three unavoidable absence, it was his duty to preside over the meeting, and he moved the adoption of the report. The report treated upon many interesting subjects, as they had heard, but since the last half-yearly meeting of the Chamber, Parliament had not been sitting, and, therefore, action could not be taken for the present upon many of the subjects of which the report treated. The Commercial Law Committee had had under its consideration some important subjects, and especially those relating to the laws of bankruptcy. Perhaps there were no laws affecting the commerce of the country of greater importance than the bankruptcy laws. Although they had a most complicated and expensive machinery ,with a view, of course. to facilitate the receipts of the assets of insolvent estates, and justly to distribute them among the creditors, yet, for some reason or other, either in relation to the complication of the machinery, or the expense attending the working of it, those laws had been compa ratively but little availed of. It then became perfectly clear that either the Court of Bankruptcy must be abolished altogether, or such alterations must be made in the laws affecting it, as wou'd render it of some substantial use to the commercial community. With this object, a meeting was held in London, in the early part of the year, by the Law Amendment Society, to which the Council sent a deputa tion, when that subject, among many others of deep interest, was fully discussed. Since that, at one of the depar - ments of the Birmingham Conference, the subject was again discussed, and depu ies were sent from that Chamber to lend their aid to those measures which should be deemed necessary, for the preparation of any bill which might give confidence and might induce success in the working of the bankruptcy laws. He trusted that the thing was now in such a course that they should see, ere long, such a revision of the bankruptcy laws, and such facilities given in the Bankrupt Court, which had hitherto not been given, for winding np bantrupt and insolvent estates ; for it was proposed to consolidate the two courts into one—that the bankruptcy machinery might really become effective in its woking, and might give that which it had never done before ensured confidence to the mer cantile community. The United Kingdom Writs Bill and the Judgments Executive Bill were bills to be introduced in the coming session, which would deal with an anomaly at present existing, by which writs issued in Scotland, England, and Ireland were not avail able in each country, a writ issued in Dublin not being available in Liverpool, a writ issue I in Liverpool not being available in Dublin, a writ issued in either towns not available in Edinburgh. These writs should be made current, and the judgment current throughout the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. With regard to the New Dock Trust they were all aware that under recent legislation the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board was to be re-organised and re-framed. The Council had given to that subject their most anxious consideration. They desire I to act in relation to it, not in any dictatorial spirit, but rather to step in as mediators, to ensure, as far as possible, the organisation and composition of the Board, such as might result in giving general confidence. lie trusted that the steps which had been taken, and which were not yet complete, by the committee of the Council, to whom the matter had been entrusted, would be such as would lead to a favourable result, but should such be not the case, at all events they should have done this, they should have put forth what they conceived to he right and just in spirit in relation to the composition of the Board, and, should they fail in their efforts, they must only have deeply to regret it. He did believe, however, that there would be a disposition to act upon the sugges tions which had been given, not, perhaps. in all their details, but in the spirit in which the Council had put them forth, and that they should have a new Board in existence on the let of January next, which would have the general confidence not only of Liverpool alone, but of the mercan tile communities of the whole world. (Hear, and cheers.) Another subject of deep importance was that of dock extension and accommodation ; and it had been thought— justly thought—that, however desirous they might be, in the spirit of strict justice, to carry out that which the Legislature had told them they should carry out, the accomplishment of the dock works at Birkenhead, yet that there was en undue restriction imposed upon Liverpool if she was not in the meantime, while rigidly adhering to the dictation of Parliament, and completing the docks at the other side, permitted, s hould she see fit, to carry on a dock extension at this side of the Mersey also (Hear, hear.) Another subject of great interest was the question, how far the present dock space—whatever they might think of the necessity for future docks—might be made more available than it was. They thought— at least some of them thought— that the mechanical agencies which had of late years been introduced into the country and the great advance in the skill of their mechanical engineers, might, perhaps, have led them to hope that they should have had greater faci lities of that kind in connection with their docks. Some thing had been done in the right direction, as the Albeit and other docks showed, but they thought that with the more general application of mechanical skill which might be applied to the Liverpool docks, they could make the present dock space do a great deal more work than it at Present accomplished. (Hear, hear.) If this could be done, it must be evident to all that they might save the making of a new dock for the present, which would involve the outlay of a large sum of money, and therefore the incubus of a great amount of interest. Therefore, the more they could work their present docks with advan tage, the more rapidly they could turn out the ships which now lay too long by the dock quays, the more would they be able to reduce their dock rates, and to facilitate the greatly increasing commerce of the port. (hear, hear.) He had no doubt, that many of the gentlemen around him were present when Dr. Livingstone gave his most interesting lecture in the Cotton Sales' Rooms, a few weeks ago. In consequence of the interesting details Dr. Livingstone then gave, and in consequence of what was laid before them, and what they were led to anticipate from his discoveries, in regard to communication with Central Africa, the Council felt it its duty, in connection with the African Association, to memorialise the Govern ment, and to point out that that was a time when they could isot afford—either in relation to commerce or civili sation—to let any part of the world which could be made product's-a for commerce, and c vilised for itself, remain any longer as it was, unproductive and uncivilised. A memorial was, therefore, sent to Lord Clarendon, pointing out to him the duty and the necessity of the case, which received a very favourable reply, ant he (the Chairman) believed he might tell them without doubt, that the Go vernment had already sent, or if they had not actually sent, would send out steam vessels, with scientific engineers and surveyors, to report to the Govern ment how far the river Zambesi might be made navigable. Navigable it was at present for, he believed, 300 miles, at which point there was a great rapid, and the Government required to know how far this rapid offered a physical impediment, and if it were an im pediment, to what extent, and by what means it could be removed. With regard to their postal communication, for some time back, he believed, they were aware that the Post-office authorities admitted, although they had not been quite willing to confess it, that the present Post office would, ere long, be utterly inadequate to carry on the postal arrangements of that port and of the country in general. The attention of the Council had therefore been directed to the removal of the Post-office, seeing that they c, uld not have any alterations made in the present site which would improve the space sufficiently to allow the business to be carried on The Council conceived that a fitting site had been found in Dale-street, end he was happy to find that the Corporation had sough for power in their present bill to purchase Ihe land suffi cient for the site. Another important topic was the subject of the Continental mails. It had been a source of great annoyance to many merchants trading with the Continent, and particularly with the north of Ge-many, that the letters which they sent to London from Liverpool at night were kept lying in London f rom the morning on which they arrived until the departure of the evening mail. It was thought that although the number of letters sent to Hamburg, to Bremen, and to Berlin and other districts might not be very great, yet the great amount of business which they represented, something like an export trade of ten millions, would demand that every facility which could possibly be given for the despach of the Continental letters should be given Exchmerely for CLOTHING BOYS from Six to Twenty re47B LEWIS & COMPANY Renelagh-streeL —(hear, hear)—conseqnently, a deputation from the Chamber waited, in conjunction wi'h other Chambers, upon the Postmaster-General, and laid before him the whole facts of the case, making the general suggestion that, not only in relation to that, but to other postal arrange ments, it would be exceedingly desirable that the railway trains, which were now sent without mails or letter bags, should be made to supplement the general postal regula tions. They suggested, for instance, that certain trains leaving Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Liverpool, should be made the means of conveying letter bags to London, to meet the difficulty he had laid before the meeting. From Mr. Rowland Hill they received certainly a most elaborate and painstaking report, in which he showed that railway companies were not disposed to concur in the views the Chamber took of the subject, but would wish, that whenever a mail bag was sent by any train, they should be paid for it as if it were a regular mail train Now he thought a little more liberality on the part of railway companies which were really in connection with the Post-office, seeing that if merely supplementary bags were sent, they woult not interfere with the regular traffic of the mails, might be exorcised without any isjury to their own interests. However, after the very elaborate report which was presented, indicating a great deal of research and anxious attention to the subject, Mr Rowland Hill summed up by pointing out certain trains which, although they might not fully meet the wishes of the memorialists and the deputation, might, in some degree, be made avail able. Liverpool, for instance had a train leaving at 10.30 every morning, which would enable a mer chant who was early at his counting-house to write his letters in the morning, which would be despatched by the night mail from London to the Conti nent. Now, he considered even this a great privilege and a great boon to those who had much business with the Continent, because when the letters from the Continent came in at five o'clock in the evening, instead of having to stay in their counting-houses, and endeavour to get the answer written in time for the night train, which would only convey them up to London to lie there until the f )1- lowing night, they could now take them home and either answer them at home or early in the morning. He rate now to a somewhat difficult and rather painful subject, namely, the observation made in the Council's report up el the monetary crisis. He had been urged, not by Liverpool alone, but by persons who were exceedingly nervous as to the state of things, and also from London, to take some action a week before any other action was taken. He felt that that was a responsibility he had no right to take upon himself. Not daring to put the communications into his pocket as if he hal never received them, he was impelled by their receipt to put himself into communication with the le - Kling bankers and merchants of the town, to ask them what they considered it was his duty to do under the circumstances, and they one and all advised him not to touch it. They said he might meet with nervous people whose fears carried them beyond their judgment, whose discretion was not sound, seeing that their fears were great; but it would be a very unwise thing for Liverpool, strong as she was, having no element of weakness in her, to indicate a weakness by such a course. He, therefore, resisted the urgencies, although they came upon him day by day. But on the morning of the day when the restrictive clause of the Bank Act was removed by the Government, he did feel that the time had come when somethirg should be done, and he again put liimself into communication with the gentle men of whom he had spoken. They then raid, now that London had moved, he might move with safety. It could not be charged upon Liverpool that she had taken the initiative in the matter, and it was the duty of Liverpool to give strength to the London movement, seeing that it had originated in the very centre. A requisition having been received by him, he called a meeting of the Council together, the result of which they all knew. The chairman then said : A few words more upon this subject. We are constantly charged with a desire to hush up what are termed commercial delinquencies. Now, although the late monetary crisis may be considered both a difficult and a delicate subject to touch upon, we are not aware that the merchants of Liverpool, as a body, have ought in relation to it, deeply as they have suffered by it, to be either ashamed or afraid of ; so far from it, considering the intimate commercial relationship between Liverpool and New York, where this panic originated, and the fear ful decline in every description of produee consequent upon it, we have the greatest reason not to boast, but to be thankful, that up to this time so few of oar merchants' houses have fallen. Whatever charge of reckless trading may be justly brought against some in every commercial community, the fact of so much stability under such a crushing pressure must, in fairness, be taken as an evidence of the prudence and legitimate trading of the majority. But while we feel and say this, let as not shut our eyes to the fact, that these oft-recurring crisis, through which in our own day commerce has passed, are evidences, true as cause and effect, that there is something wrong in our system, some disturbing cause in the commercial body which periodically breaks out into these fearful. epidemics. Now, it cannot be denied that the natural in &nation is to seek for the cause in some legislative enactment which we think interfer©s with the sanitory action of trade ; well, let us by all means inquire into such enactments immediately and without delay, and to bring alike upon the principles and details involved in them a wise and just and temperate consideration ; but let us not stop here, but let us also inquire whether there is anything within the commercial system to which we may, in some degree, if not altogether, trace these great calamities. The financial and commercial credit of Great Britain is, urquestiouably, one of our greatest elements of national prosperity ; so far as that credit is based upon our wealth, industry, and prudence, it is a great blessing ; but credit, like other good things, may be used or abused ; •it is lee ' itimately and profitably use d w h en it is, as we have said, based upon our capital, our industry, and our prudence ; it is shamefully abused when it has no other foundation than a bold and reckless daring which, regardless of all consequence; deals with hundreds of thousands as though they were grains of sand, upon the principle of heads I win, tails you lose, and unfortunately too, when too often the condemnation or applause attending it depend too much upon the measure of failure or success which may result. It is well known that such a system of credit, so deeply to be condemned, not less on moral han on commercial grounds, has of late years too much prevailed, not in Great Britain or America alone, but throughout the commerce of the world ; that it has raised up and fostered a daring and speculative spirit, which has rendered even the legiti mate and prudent operations of commerce, as carried n by the fair trader, both difficult and dangerous, and which has in so small degree tended to produce those periodical convulsions which involve whole communities in almost one common ruin. Now, seeing that the credit system of commerce is carried on chiefly by means of bills of excharg 3—seeing that there must be three parties to each bill, a drawer, an acceptor, and last, not least, a discounter, it seems reasonable that capitalists, our money lenders, discount brokers and bankers, should regard the character and means of those who make those bills, more than the mere magni tude of their transactions. They do hold the check-strings in their own hands, and have, individually and collectively, the power at once and henceforth to remedy one great cause of these oft recurring evils, and to restore prudence and safety, in a great degree, to the future operations of commerce. It is perfectly clear that by some means a larger superstructure of credit has been raised upon the capital employed in commerce than the foundation, how ! ever strong, has been able to bear, and the superincumbent weight has caused the whole fabric to totter, and hes brought no small portion of it to the ground. This structure of credit has now to be rebuilt. Let us all earnestly inquire how and to what extent it can best be rebuilt to insure to the utmost extent stability and safety. (Hear, hear.) Gentleman, I may seem bold in having made these ob servations I have made them after grave censidera ion, because I feel that it ought not to be charged upon b:dies of this kind, as it has been made a charge, that they are influenced by a determination to hush up and to keep silent upon such questions. Let us all honestly speak forth our opinions with a feeling of duty and a sense of right, and we have nothing to fear. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman then referred to the question of appointing a London agency in the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Wain wright, by whose advanced age, he observed, that the services of the office had been, of late, somewhat im paired. The Council being impressed with the great necessity of continuing the office, had been engaged in preparing a scheme of the duties to be carried on, and had received, from the va , ious commercial associations, intimations that they would be ready to render them pecuniary support. He urged the necessity of endeavouring to obtain from the public a greater measure of support for that Chamber. He directed attention to the great results which the silent labours of its committee had produced, and mentioned a number of important questions on which they had taken action with advantage since 1850—the Mer cantile Marine Bill, the customs' regulations, the transit trade, the remodelling of the bonding system, the Absconding rebtors' Act, the abolition of the duty on soap, postal arrangements, dock arrangements, the Con solidation Act, the laws of partnership, the Bills of Lading Act, and many others. The influence of the Chamber was growing more and more every day, especially in London, where their deputations • and communications received He eatest thpeosseiebeileiereersepieeict and a w t e t e r t e o. com munity would sea that machinery of that kind could not asl) w e a e r u r ie ns d th on ei w r i t d h u o t u y t t f o u g n v s e , a t n h d e c t m i t b e w r a t s h e t h ir e isiprecinterest 301S' CLOTHING MADE WITH GREAT TASTE, atILZWISiand COMPANY'S, Ranirlagli-MCOot support—not, as was too much the case, to be contented with receiving advantages from its labours without giving it any aid or support in return. The chairman then con cluded, by moving that the report just read be received and adopted by the Chamber. Mr. T. B. HORSFALL, M.P., seconded the motion. He said that it was only since he entered the building that he became aware he would be called upon to second the adoption of the report which had just been read. He regretted that he had not had the opportunity of looking at at that report before, because there were in it many impor tant questions proposed for their consideration, bat upon which he was sure they would not expect him to give, in the present position of affairs, any very decided or unqualified opinion. He rejoiced to find that the attention of the Chamber had been directed to the reform of com mercial law, the registration of partnerships, and the reform of the law of bankruptcy, as well as to a measure which had been already once or twice before the House of Commons—he alluded to the Judgments' Execution Bill, With reference to that bill, he thought the Chamber had already expressed a very decided opinion, and it was perhap right that he should state to the Chamber why, in his opinion, that measure was not now the law of the land. There was a general acknowledgment in the house that some such measure was desirable, but unfortunately Mr. Crawford, who had charge of it, was (he said it with respect), a lather obstinate member, and was very unwilling to give way upon some minor details, which, if he had sanctioned, would have promoted the passing of the bill. His (Mr. Horsfall's) impres sion WAS that the bill would never pass, as proposed by Mr. Crawford, but if Mr. Crawford had rested his case simply upon the principles which the most emi nent lawyers in the House of Commons considered essential, he had no doubt whatever that a very proper and efficient bill would have been adopted the first time the question was submitted, in 1852. Unless based upon these principles, he feared they would never get a Judg ment's „Execution Bill. The president had made some very proper observations with regard to the Mersey Dock and Conservancy Bill, and he (Mr Horsfall) quite con curred in what he had said on the great importance of proceeding with docks on this side of the Mersey. He could not conceive why any jealousy should exist on the part of Birkenhead. There was no disposition on the part of Liverpool to do injustice to Birkenhead--(hear, hear)—and why they should alttempt to prevent the construction of docks on the Liverpool side of the Mersey, he was at a loss to conceive; (Hear, hear.) During the last session of Parliament, when the Mersey Conservancy Bill was pending, his honourable colleague and himself had frequent interviews with the President of the Board of Trade, Lord Stanley of Alderly, on this very subject, and at the very time that the Board was pressing for the completion of the docks at Birkenhead. Its President was applied to to know why the docks on the Liverpool side of the Mersey should not be allowed to be proceeded with at the same time. (Hear, hear.) It was only justice to Lord Stanley to say that he did not wish to stop the docks on the Lancashire side of the Mersey being proceeded with, and that all he wanted was the observance of perfect good faith towards Birken head. He (Mr. Horsfall) was quite sure that Liverpool was perfectly willing that that good faith should be kept with Birkenhead, but at the same time they would not have an act of justice to Birkenhead accompanied by an act of injustice to Liverpool. (Hear, hear). He could not conceive, looking at the commerce of Liverpool, and looking at the manner in which it had extended during the past half century—he could not conceive why docks at Birkenhead and Liverpool should not progress together. (Rear, hear). He should state it then as his humble opinion, having witnessed the trade of Liverpool for the last thirty years, and hiving witnessed the progress of the Liverpool Docks during that time, that if the New Dock Committee proceeded with the construction of docks in Liverpool and at Birkenhead, at the same time as rapidly as they could, they could not keep pace with the require ments of the port. (Hear, hear). Everyone, knowing anything of the port, knew that its trade had doubled every ten years, and never within his recollection had the dock accommodation been adequate to the wants of the port. (Rear, hear). At the very time even when this question was being argued before the Board of Trade, it was his duty to draw attention to the fact that there were then not fewer than 150 vessels with large and valuable cargoes lying at great risk in the river Mersey, from want of proper accommodation, and that if all the docks at Birkenhead were then completed, there would not be sufficient dock space for the trade of the port. He was glad the Chamber had expressed a decided opinion on that subject, and he hoped it would be pressed on the Board of Trade, until justice was done to the commerce of the port. (Hear, hear.) Reference had been made to the pro ceedings of the Chamber in connection with the African Association, relative to the survey of the Zambesi River. He thrnight thar was n must important subject, not merely in connection with the African trade, which was now carried on with Liverpool, but that it was an important subject, as opening up an entirely new trade, which would be most valuable if it could be carried on. The chairman had said, that the duty of the government in the matter had been clearly pointed out to Lord Clarendon, and he (Mr. Horsfall) thought it right to say that Dr. Livingstone had told him that he had had repeated opportunities of seeing Lord Clarendon, and that Lord Clarendon had promised to do everything in the power of the govern ment, to promote the views which the commercial in terests of the country might entertain in regard to it. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Livingstone was now gone on a mission to Portugal, under the sanction of the government, with the view of having the Zambesi River —the mouths of which were claimed by Portugal—thrown open to the trade of this country, and if successful, Lord Clarendon would not be backward in discharging his duty to the commerce of the country, by taking every step in his power to have the river surveyed. (Hear, hear.) Reference had been made to the Bank Charter Act, and without venturing to go at length into that question, he could only say that he concurred mainly, if not altogether, in what had fallen from the chairman on that subject. He entirely approved of the course which was recently taken by the Government. The Bank Charter Act—the act of 1844—was acknowledged to have failed in the great object which it was intended to accomplish. Its most strenuous supporters admitted that it had not been altogether successful ; and, he remembered Mr. Huskisson to have said, with reference to any bank charter act, that there never could be one wh ch would be perfectly satis factory, but that it should be an act the responsibility of suspending which should rest with her Majesty's govern ment ; and he. (Mr. Horsfall) did not believe, so long as there was reckless trading, (and, to some extent, he thought they should all agree there was such)—ho did not believe, so long as there was reckless trading, that any bank charter act, however perfect, would ever be the msans of prevent ing those consequent panics which had periodically taken place in this country. He remembered the panic of 1825 he remembered that of 1837, and also of 1847, and they all knew perfectly well what was taking place in the present year. He did not think that the panic of 1837, or 1847 equalled that which he hoped had now passed by, but from which they should expect some depression, and he hoped that all the efforu of the Legislature would now be directed to make the Bank Charter Act as perfect as it could he made. (Hear, hear) He would not ven ture, in the presence of so many practical gentlemen. who understood the subject better than he did himself, to give a very decided opinion on it ; but he would be most happy to give every consideration to any measure which the Government might bring forward for the amendment of the Act, and would avail, with thanks, of any suggestions which the Chamber might afford him in so important a question. (Hear, hear.) There was another question to which he would just venture to allude, which, he thought, was not referred to in the report, because not having been brought under the consideration of the Council, and that was the state of India. There was no question that some material change should take place eith regard to the government of that country. (Hear, hear.) He saw it mentioned in the papers—whether by authority or not, he did not mom to say—but he saw it mentioned that there was to be a complete change in the government of that country, that the East India Company's charter was to be abrogated, and that for the future they were to have a Queen of Hindostan. He had no doubt that, in many respects, that would be a very great improvement, but they should bear in mind that any any such change would place an immense degree of patronage in the hands of the Government—(hear, hear) —and the question was whether that patronage had not been better appropriated by those who hitherto had the management of it, than it would be in the hands of any Government. He was merely throwing out that suggestion, as being well worthy the consideration of the Chamber, taken in connection with any reform or any plan which might be proposed with reference to the East India Company's charter. In reference to ihe subject of the Liverpool office, the chairman had observe I, that, owing to the increased infirmities of Mr. Wainwright, the office had not been so efficient of late as in former years He (the chairman) felt it due to the memory of his respected friend Mr. Wainwright, to say that there never was a man who had the interests of Liverpool more thoroughly and devotedly at heart than Mr. Wainwright. (Rear, hear.) He remembered that in the days of Canning, and Huskisson, and Lord Harrowby, and others who preceded his humble self and co'league, the successive testimony of all who ever had an opportunity of knowing him, had ever been, that no individual could have been selected who would have devoted his time and attention, and even sacrificed his health, if needs be, so readily for the interests of Liverpool, as Mr. Wainwright. (Hear, hear.) In reference to the BOY'S CLOTHING MADE WITH GREAT TASTE AT LEWIS aad C Rantdagiwkeet. THE N ORTIIERN TIME S.-LIVERPOOL, TUES DAY, DECEMBER 1, 1587, are now waiting the promised communication on the matter from the committee of the Exchange Buildings. THE LIVERPDOOL OFFICE IN LONDON. office itself, Mr. Horsfall observed, that, although very possibly his honoured colleague and himself could do without it, he was perfectly convinced that Liverpool could not do without it, and the commercial associations, the Dock Committee, and the Corporation of Liverpool, would make a great mistake if they did net, not only con tinue the office, but put an efficient man into it. Mr. Horsfall then alluded to the measure brought forward by him last session with reference to the Board of Trade. No answer, he remarked, was given to the state ments which were made on that subject. Sir Jas. Graham made a speech on free trade, which many of his own friends admitted might as well have been made ten years before. He was followed by Mr. Lowe—and having had frequent opportunities of speaking against Mr. Lowe, he (Mr. Horsfall) felt bound to say, that upon that occasion Mr. Lowe met his motion in a spirit of fairness and a spirit of good humour. The only fault he ha 1 to find with Mr. Lowe was that he denidd, in a very unqualified manner, a statement made by him (Ar. Horsfall) with regard to some regulations of the Board of Trade of a very inquisitorial character, in the case of the loss of vessels. Mr. Lowe said, in reply, that the house with which Mr. Horsfall was con nected was the only one which had ever objected to those proceedings on the part of the Board of Trade, although the measure had been in exietecce for years. Now he (Mr. Horsfall) had in his hand at the time, and read to the house, the official statement of the Board of Trade, having just within a very short time before made that rule, which Mr. Lowe thought proper to state had been in existence for years. In conclusion, Mr. Horsfall said the 'Chairman had very properly alluded to the duties and the importance of,that chamber. He might, perhaps, be permitted to say, that he felt a sort of parental pride in its proceedings, having had the honour of being its first president, and he could fully confirm all the Chairman had said, not only as to its importance, but as to the duties which it had to discharge. He had on many occasions—and he said only that which he was sure his honourable colleague could support him iu saying—derived assistance from that chamber which he could have derived from no other source. Gentlemen could not well imagine Ihe import ance and additional weight which it gave to their members when they could gi to any member of the Government and say, 1' Here is the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, and in that opinion, as practical men, we entirely and cordially concur." He never knew a repre sentative of that kind which was not received with becom ing attention by any member of her Majesty's Government ; and without intending any undue compliment to the mem bers of that chamber, he might say that he knew no place, he knew no constituency more competent to advise not only its members, bat to advice her Majesty's Government upon any commercial questions which could be brought under their consideration or under the consideration of the House of Commons. Mr. Horsfall concluded, amid load applause, by seconding the adoption of the report. Mr. R. A. MACPLE asked whether it was the case that the Deck Committee, as stated in the report, had made provision for extended docks at the north end ? The CHAIRMAN said the published notices of their bill included power to that effect. The Council thought them very ample Mr. FORWOOD rose to make some observations on the question of railway amalgamations, and part 7 culerly in reg trd to the contemplated amalgamation of the Lan cashire and Yorkshire and East Lancashire Companies. He said he hoped that at some future day the Chamber would take the general qnestion of amalgamation of rail ways, so far as Liverpool interests wera concerned, under their consideration, and that the Council of the Chamber would appoint a standing sub-committee to take charge of the subject. If they looked to the Com nerce of the port they would find that last year their exports alone were no less than 134,000.000. That vast trade depended on their proximity to the hives of industry of the country—Man chester' &c.—and the means of conveying that trade should be as open and as cheap as they c mild obtain it. Such, however, was not the case ; for that was a compact among all the Companies, whereby the rates of passengers and goods were kept up at a very extravagant figure. They had none of the advantages which competition brought with it, and if the amalgamation now in question took place, the probability was, that the service rendered by the two companies would be very materially reduced.. They would strive to do as little as possible, and at as high a rate as possible. Now he thought that it would be taken for prantel that whatever tended to raise the rate of carriage from Liverpool to the interior, or vice versa, was by so much injurious to the Commerce of the port, and that at this moment when they were themselves, through the opposition of certain railway companies with the competition of ether ports, they should be very cautious how they permitted interference with that traffic. This view had suggested itself to the Chamber of Commerce of Preston, and the Corporation of that town were about to tako oorao stops in regard to the amalgamation of the two companies already alluded to. He thought it was a subject deserving their serious consideration also, and he would therefore move—" That the meeting request the Council of the Chamber to watch over the proposed amalgamation, with a view to ascertain whether it was calculated to prove in jurious to the commerce of the port, and to take such further steps as might seem desirable." _Mr. R. A. AtAci:lE seconded the motion, and in doing so, urged that they should seek the Corporation of their Chambers to gat the Board of Trade to put this subject of amalgamations on a more satisfactory basis. The principle of rivalry could not exist in amalgamation, and so long as there was a monopoly in such matters as rail ways, they should be subject to the control of the State to see that their rates were reasonable, and their ramifications such as trade required. lie considerel that Government ought to empower the Board of Trade to supervise matters of that kind, and that that was another reason why that Board should be reconstituted and made more commeicial than it was. Mr. TIORSFALL concurred in the importance of having all railway bills watched, but he did not think that they were sufficiently considered at the Board of Trade with reference to the commercial interests of the country. The bills were merely considered by the Board of Trade, with reference to the merits of the lines themselves, but he was sorry to any that the Board of Trade was in such bad repute with some committees of the House of Commons, that the moment its report was laid before them, they threw it under the table. (Laughter.) Mr. DAMSON observed, that if the remarks of the mover and seconder of the motion were taken in their literal sense, they would convey to the public a very erroneous impression of what those gentlemen, he thought, really meant. He was sure that neither Mr. Forwood nor Mr. :',laefie would advocate that dictational power should be given to Government to interfere with mercantile interests, even where those were railways. They should choose between the dictation of the state as to what the toll should be ; a principle to which he should be strongly opposed, and which, if tried in this country, would un- questionably fail, or they should fall back upon the economic laws which regulated those tolls. It would be found that the true general interests of railways were contained in the principle not yet sufficiently recognised. That whenever a commodity to be supplied was practically inexhaustible, the lowest price which could be put on that commodity consistently with its due and effective supply to the consumer, was that price which woull best pay the sellers and best satisfy the consumers. The motion was then unanimously agreed to. Mr. DAMSON moved that the Council of the Chamber be directed to apply its attention to the two great subjects about to occupy the attention of Parliament in the coming session, namely, the revision of the Bank Act of 1844 and 1845, and the re-organisation of the Government of India, in order that the Chamber might, in due time, be prepared to express a deliberate opinion thereon, or to take such action as may seem to be requisite to promote the interests of Liverpool and the country generally. Mr. WATSON seconded the motion. Mr. Jonrr AMIN supported it, and in doing so, took exception to the idea that they should look to legislative enactments for the cause of such evils as that which they were now suffering in the commercial world. It was in the prudent loaning and the prudent control over capital that they should look for the remedy of such evils, rather than in legal enactments. (Hear, hear.) As to the Act of 1844, its promoters declared that its main object was to secure the convertibility of the bank-note ; and it would be arinrtted by all that neither in the crisis of 1847, nor in this crisis, had it failed in that object. They should, therefore, first ascertain the object of till Act of 1844, and, if that object was not to prevent great disturbances like the present, they should not condemn it as the cause of them. Mr. HORSFALL replied that the convertibility of the bank note was secured by the Act of 1819 and that the promo ters of the Act of 1844, claimed for it as one of its great merits, that it would prevent future panics. Had it done so ? In that respect, its most strenuous supporters admit ted that it had failed. Mr. ATKIN answered that every bill must fail in that respect, in the preve n ti on o f p an i cs , w hi c h h a d their origin in commercial imprudence, and not in legislative enactments. Mr. MELLOR observed that much of the mischief of the present disturbance was caused by fear. Mr. MAEFIE said, there was no doubt but there had been over-trading, but the present crisis, he thought, would have arisen had there been no over-trading. The CHAIRMAN : Do you include America? Mr. Macrtz : No, I only speak of our own country. The CHAIRMAN : Yes, bat on such a subject you must speak of all. We were all bound up together. Mr Ronan agreed with Mr. Atkin ,that they ought At LEWIS & OMPANY'S, Ranelagh•street, BOYS an CLOTHED from tke Ago of Six Twouty Yeas. not to attribute all the disasters of the alga to t f li , i o l4ll Charter Act of 1844, or to any other act. Pitsl consequence, no doubt, in the first instance, 0 1 , r". of trading, but it was a fact established before the Commons, that the Bank Charter Act was not . at all, at least for good, and where it was opera , increased the panic which it could not prevent , Mr. WATSON said, he was one of a deputation, to London upon the subject of the Bank Charter 1847. The deputation was unanimous in th( thought necessary, which was, in a few word s, money dearer in England than anywhere else tunately, however, they separated whiten' new being elicited on the subject. Re was one of the first bankers of London, that it was table as that the sun must rise, that Governral have to interfere with the Act of Parliamelf end of the year, and his words proved true. , incompatible with the institutions of the coll n. there should be a monopoly in money, and free everything else. The two things could together, and it was a monstrous thing to give tion like the Bank of England the right of purse-strings of the nation, and making st" change in the value of every article of commerce. the last three months there was a differenr millions in a few of the important articles of that country. Government alone should facility of making !money, and not the Bank If the Government would put what were, Treasury bonds into circulation as PI notes, ( army and navy with them, and make them be t ; :, as legal tender, they would not have such fea r ': sions as3they now experienced in the money oa r ' The question was then put, and the motion carried. Mr. HORSFALL moved a vote of thanks to el s which was carried unanimously. The meeting then separated. LITERATURE. PROCEEDINGS OF THE LITERARY AND PH I ' SOCIETY OF LIVERPOOL during the 4 6 t 1856-57 ; printed by Henry Green' Castle-street. IT is gratifying, in the first instan' so prompt an issue of the leading par i during the past session at our Liverpool Philosophical Society. If such an ass' meant for anything better than the me meat of a winter evening, its principal s r be found far more in the diffusion and record of its proceedings by publicatio , the mere recital of essays and treatises to number of members. Even those who privilege of being listeners must find tl advantage in being subsequently read , written letter remains, while the mos pression of the most valuable spoken must soon pass away. It is, however, gratifying in the second instance, to fill proceedings of this society, are of a olu deserve and repay publicity and parman! The union of literature and science, in t , and conventional acceptation of the terra to have happily succeeded in this socif fair proportion of the published proe assigned to each. The opening addre; President, Dr. Inman, is indeed for the devoted to a refutation of the happily CE, that there is anything necessarily lino] antagonistic in the study of letters and , of scientific facts. It is somewhat surpr in the face of such examples as Dr. In' and of numberless others to which we DI references if we thought it necessiol should prevail that a man who desire' in any one pursuit must keep to that indeed that it is at all possible for a ma' real excellence even in that one pursuit to extend his labours far beyond its ti Brooke's description of his visit to the fi Battle of Bosworth is one of the most h papers in the pamphlet—interesting, ne t the antiquarian, or even the historian, V I reader, whatever the leading vent of b' : The papor by Dr. Ihne, on the 28th Ode Book of Horace, the much debated `‘ tam," is an ingenious, and it scenes ~ sustained attempt to elucidate t i .h . g e , r of a puwai which i s genera ll y as obscure in its object as it is be' expression. The translati on given, ; cessful effort at rendering the 111 : the original melodious and r ythra" English tongue. Dr. Ihne's " Plea for peror Tiberius," will seem to n ll/ astonishing effort on behalf of a man why have pretty generally disposed of as as they have of Richard the Third, oil' taking the doctrine which his predeeesl along to him and handing it on withon,', of giving it a personal consideration. opinion of the nature of the case, which has made out, would require more time than we can now devote to the subjec t ' the papers of an especially scientific. which the volume contains, we may n ote( the Rev. H. H. Higgins, on the study of t ! Mr. Brockhole's "Entomol o gical Ratnul Sandhills between New Brighton and and " Facts about Fernando Po," contr . ' Mr. Thomas J. Hutchinson. There are , many other essays contained in tilis' which will be read with fully equal in to there is nothing made public in its P ti g c i, has not some special merit, and communicate soma portion of inform s some suggestion of enquiry and thong" be added that the typog ra phi c al Per ," 1 „ work is very creditably executed by Ml. (-I`. EMIGRINT RUNNERS AND Bg°Sll' TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTH TERN - I , Sir,—Why are Emigrant Runners ne . , °e- ' the port of Liverp o ol ? Why shot- 11 ' mo licensed to look after persons going t° •'"„ Australia, and not for such as leave our any other part of the world ? Arc tile 1 0; passengers paying their fares for their ' detinations ? Is it that passengers t° „,; and Australia are such idiots that 1, ""6", look for a lodging, or select a ship arrive here? : t her e, If runners are so necessary for the 1 , 0 , the stranger, why not carry out the P ri i i ; appointing runners to look after evert rS steam-boat arrival ? ;1 . 00; If the custom is a p ern i c i ous one, .. t9 vo o abandoned, or such cog en t reas ons Volt , continuance as must sat' f every y d ik mind. a r Jeri: ° As this subject has become st le „spo ll A r question, perhaps some of your O r ': f orr -, 1 7,,, will answer these queries, and oblige 4CO" beside,--Your obedient servant, Nov. 27, 1857. UNIVERSITY HOPTOUItB' I' e for Ei 411 1 P Ic,te rat c 'fkiNto 1\141,,, YN'q N Ne t a, , at the Souse a in operstioo, tratife,itoa ';i, t, nn, who 1 00 t Act, '" V A arter t h e retak Tut,' ids, to 00 .11 100. ViLor rut asytkiz told thell was eg itter, a 7amea t • a t b Oita e fore It was f e r ° e ti e lit tr ri b aeill9° i(O 4 , 'enever a corpo,rra holdifig ach cifevi:thil ace of tv`!.. prodtlee; ;! I posses! j; T c of Eoglej r 9 now City land p,,d , be constoes earfri l 11111reIkcallifira. w"-°al 111 115" noiDos to el N 4,11 tie g pay l,ie PI t l j t h Sessi°,7 'at ter , wood, ,004 saa ttPti ince, 03 ; ,spars d )01000 \?1,,,,0. Vila ir e a s so t 0i0100,,,,e,..01 pre , - yr, uoc P'► is Ab ion, 0 19 ! toe litaltio Le befe,.,„ r their : ‹ l!!... le,rs. .0, 31 irifo,l,4o lk PC i3CO P to , stilllso,. clO, ad dist P'v ti k._ l araC ter wtL , 'eat roC° 41 I' the PO4O pc s off' 'A, to ' t iOLY , 9 !r u ceetl io 0 'OO r 4440 tai c 59 of A 'lro4 0 105 t cpiria I , of eth DiigectiP ?rrr, 15t"i I°o4'P th o 1 1 0 C( andol' ¢3, • itt f° 1; (11tg .100 - y, the 1:601 es to e',016 o 0 01 .ve a lo La to op ttl:piq, o d nof F if tile... field of ° ,o; in tete 0 t to rer°110(1 a ec,; 'ac,irEA 3is I:t 4 of thePl.f, Ntlthe eo I n from' tO US, f, kG,3OA. ineso tkt, " fed to tta4s'rit, a utifu l ig 01, LeaStir° , Att3l,l3l:sl is it 1;„ iibp)4k r 010 -% of 31 0,16 toot P-;e1 4Es peer effoet"dot ;sor r 00 t• har gC t jf ~~ silos i c e tU 0' of riaf , )10 1 " A ore: th VO C OI ribate o 1 r , 44 a 4 r ar ", pooraPo 0 d \fA ;eresto,,ljicS ;*,44 aes pot III -lister oes ot t stiofitl, i et f tlO ° Sr s ° OJ . ‘k Neaoti tf 0 14. I‘ll A .1). -01:13 i "A to" 1). "kit if( illett,s of ',4kikit .~o~ ® s of iijiittbttC4i.. 9100; #ll I!,°,,Olif° •e sr ic# .app" coti Ariitso; ~41 tanse'he py 011°04 0;14 toll 4 9 • 0 + '6h e amt 1i.0017 %, o iP ,/ to \ N t , k it iiut ti t's th, Pt 010 ktht eri" a ° , a 6° Pli 4 ; 1 0 P- 11 d 0 t°f TO THE EDITOR, OF THE NORTIM /131fid ~ - h Sir,—ln your impression of the 24%; 1331t9 forwarded to me to-day, you menti°ll voi"000' received certain honours, (to , fr° l3l cor rec a 3 were Coll it not e?e.l t l h vo at a l ulc linotne iin trouble youyr puawpietril 3 03 floir to ri i ot dissipate much confusion which Ig bif prevalent on the subject. It is the 1 -) g' d ev London, not University College, wl.ll.cColib9o° degrees and awards honours. Unive rsl i tY chev e sb* d •4 merely ono of the affiliated Collegn6 00, 4 6 0 chief of them), and stands in renis 9 "" og ei relation to the University of Lon ,$ don 115 o° ll 0 ' College, Liverpool; or as St. ,Tobn s e escl' Cambridge does to the University P u bridge. University College, Lon-°o rate d ' g it is true, when first incorObe resaii\s power of granting degrees ; but ii . e if-d e 0 064 it to the University of London by ; t he t ire d ordinance which some Colleges 0 , 1 , 110 might, nerhaps, do well in imitating. t :L . tioic l .o 9 Scholarships, however, are granted by 1 . 1. 13° 51' Collage.—l am, sir, your moats beniv University College, London, Nov' so ----- At LEWIS & COMPANY' S . Manslaghlwetrefa* firA. BOYS aro CLOTHED from t W S's Xs t()