The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-13 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

FIZOM OUR LONLON CORRESPONDENT.

•

MONDAY MORNING.
AMID the frecuent disturbances of party 2..,-,lAtions, and
the recurrent disrtiption'of Cabinet arrangements, it is de-
lightful 45,''knowcthat in--,at. least one'—and-that the highest
d rtment of the State—social tranquillity remains un-
broken, and domestic peace sheds its beneficent influence
around. In the sylvan retreats and regal halls of Whadsoi,
~.0,,r gracious S.ovznEIGN, ./Inving. the-past meek, has, heen
sharing the hospitalities of domestic life with a numerous
array of noble and illustrious guests. Friday was the four-
teenth anniversary of- the birth-day of the Prince of Winne,
and the auspicious occurrence was celebrated more in accord-
ance with ,tbajiiimplicity
_which ,characteriseS the domesticA
arrangement's a the Royal household, than to many observeirsc•
might seem befitting the. celebration of such an. event, 'in
cOnnelioli with the heir-apparent of so gre...,.t a throne, The-
day was ushered in... by the' ringing of merry peals npqn ,
the bells of
.the, in.`
Royal,, of _St.. George, and 4.,
John's Church, and the evening -closed with a juvenile ball, •
Meld in the Red Drawing-moth; in honour of the occasion._
Not less pleasing is it to learn that the usual pastimes for
the entertainment of the Royal Family, which were in a great
degree suspended or withdrawn last year, on account of the
serious losses incurred in the Crimea, are about ;to be, re-
sumed. The theatrical performances at Windsor, which were
the sources of so much gratification, but which were discon,
tinned last year, from the cause referred to, have been ordered
to be revived, the first performance of the season taking place
on the evening of Thursday week. HER MAJESTY is about to
receive the visit of her august Ally, VICTOR EMANUEL, King
.Of SARDINIA, who is to leave Turin on the 20th of this', and,
journeying by. Paris, will arrive in England at the beginning
of next month. This visit is already very popular by antici-
pation, and, considering the independent and spirited man-
ner in which, disconnecting himself from the trammels of
Austro-German thraldom, he has thrown his fortunes in with
the Western Powers, and joined their alliance against
Russia, this is not matter for surprise. His reception will
r be in all respects such as befits a great and loyal people to
bestow on the guest of its Sovereign, augmented, in his case,
by a sense of his-gallant conduct. As if wonders were never
to cease, we of the secluded isle are also, it seems, to be ho-
noured with a visit of the SULTAN. Such an intention on the
part of His Majesty has been for sometime currently rumoured
in the diplomatic circles of Constantinople, and the report,
"with many added circumstances," has now obtained currency
among the quid nuncs of London society. This visit, it is
said, will take place early in the sprirlg, of next year. These
expected visits, and their courtly concomitants, afford ample
scope for conversation, and furnish no trivial amount of stimu-
lus for the gossip-mongers and retailers of court scandal, _ To
those who see in every footstep of a monarch the incipient
form of a great, state Inanoeuvre, they are yet more prolific-in
anticipated results. With this latter, as with some other
classes of political vaticinators, "the wish is oft the father to
the thought," so it might prove hazardous, as it certainly would
be tiresome, to follow their conjectures; instead of doing which,
it will be safer to fall in with the general feeling, and assure
both that they will meet with a hearty and "right royal
welcome." -

THE

opponeat, SCOVELL, from the field,
and to Opearance
the " Old Commodore" will now walk the courses_. Prior t?
this consummation, and "hi anticipation 'of it, be wag on
Frid presented with a new hat. The
parties ;who thus
generously stepped forward to relieve him from the inlputa-
tion of wearing "shocking bad hat" are the , workmen
employed by Messrs. Cithisry, the eminent " GOlgotha
manufacturers." The hat is not a vulgar " four-and-nine"
affair; biif a tip-top. Admiral's "‘regulatiNa crkwner" naantit
lactured-of genuinaleavar, and edizzezed witlL
gold bullion lye. It is entirely comme it faiAti-_,-#iid is fitted-
alike for parading uPon the 'quarter-deck fl !for:swaggering
beneath- the. `..` gangwa.v."...Like other. cand.idates.for_popular
favour, Sir CHARLES NAPIER has provided - himself with a
'political manifesto, which is not, less singular for its terse
-brevity than it is remarkable foy, the bold vigour of that
political confesiio fiedi ~vhichcit eliniCiafes: It inchides.a
vigorous prosecution of the . war,---vote by • ballot,—the
franchise of all ratepayers,—shorti Pailiainents,adminiStra
tive reform,—and, removal of the Bishops from the house
_of Lords. A tolerably comprehensive budget, truly ; and
one which likely will not be quite exhausted at the termina-
7.tion of his Parliamentary campaign, if ever he should be
'permitted,to open it, even though it should extend beyond
the peridd Vnerany expected''for the land cruise of a
veteran " salt." . -5. .
r That the minds of . great .men are occasionally beset by
:vagaries, is abundantly true ; and many well-dispcied indi-
viduals_ believe this infirmity wisely imposed upon man,
" lest," in the language or"-iloV Willie,"

he owre proud and high should turn
'Cause he's sae gifted."
In following out such vagaries,' which vulgo vocantur swat
"riding hobbies," it has been found that no one rides with
such energy and determination as a man who, having obtained
some credit by flying with borrowed pinions, is still boldly
aggressive to the work. Of this kidney is RICIIARD COBDEN,
representative of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and political
Caleb Quotein! On various occasions, when the dark-lantern
of his wisdom has been withdrawn from the illumination of
parliament, its snhle, radiance and leaden lustre have been
thrown upon the path of the outer world. In each of these
instances it has revealed something extraordinary. Its virgin
splendours lifted the happy owner to a public testimonial,
value £80,000; the second application of the " magic lantern "
displayed, before the eyes of an astonished world, how the
Russian empire might be crumpled up like a sheet of ques-
tionably brown coloured paper, furnished by the necromancer
himself; in its third demonstration, the implement has
seemingly been turned upon its owner, and instead of
approaching Russia as a crumpler-up, it shows him destitute
of crushing powers or propensities, and displays him as one of
the meekest of mortals. Under the new arrangement of the
lamp he has seized the olive branch, and now presents a
twig to each of the contending parties. The picture he now
shows is one altogether, or nearly, based upon profit and lois.
He does not now protest against the war on account of its
being war. Even for the sake of bringing about peace he does
not crumple up his bullying and acquisitive friend the CZAR,
but he rates his countrymen for their unskilful way of making
war. The war, he maintains, is wrong in principle, and more
unpopular in fact. On neither of these grounds, however, is
his indignation vented. He hates the war, but he bates its
bungling conduct worse. In the war his own precious carcass
runs no risk. In paying the cost of it, his eighty thousand
pounds are trenched on. Of the injustice of the war lie is
quite convinced ; but he would rather see our injustice trium-
phant through able management than baffled, while costing so
much as to make an inroad on his,pecuniary resources. He
had no such compunctious visitiugs about useless expenditure
when his £BO,OOO were being collected. He never wished

Among the small, though scarcely to be accounted
trivial incidents, by which the last few days have been dis-
tinguished, there are two, in both of which a portion, if not all
the judges of the land, have played a part. One of those has
been the formal inauguration of a Jew Lord Mayor; the other
the formal admission of a judge to office—the first-named a
very singular, the latter a very ordinary, though a very im-
portant affair. This last, which took place in the Court of
Queen's Bench, when the newly-created judge, Mr. Justice
WILLES, presented himself to take the oaths which custom- to wring
arily precede the admission to office. The oaths were adminis- From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
tered by Lord CAMPBELL, Lord. Chief Justice of England, By any indirection,
between whom and the novice judge a scene occurred which unless it could be made to benefit himself. The war expen-
has occasioned no small amount of scandal, and given rise to diture affects the value of and the demand for cotton twist,
many a solemn commentary. Among the oaths administered and therefore he condemns it. Ile now warns us of the diffi-
was the oath of abjuration ; and the grey-haired legal veteran culties to be encountered in oppoeing the power he could at
observing that his junior brother did not repeat the words of one time so easily have crumpled up, and having heated him-
the abjuring obligation, admonished him of his omission. To self into an exaggerated idea of those difficulties, he ad-
this the newly-made judge pertly replied, that "he abjured in vises us to abandon the war as too costly a luxury, which, if it
his mind, though his lips did not appear to do their office." The could only be got through within brief time and at little
mental abjuration, not being in Lord CAMPBELL'S estimation cost, he yet could bring himself to patronise and admire. Not
seeing his way clearly in that direction, and descending from
a good legal form of procedure, he insisted on the words being
his moral rostrum, he places prominently before the editor of
expressed, but added, "the law requires such a farce to take
the Leeds. Mercury, and his readers, the heavy task which
place." Thus encouraged, the more juvenile histrione cope-
must be overcome in " humbling and reducing to abject terms
plied with the law's requirement, and so the was farce ended.
of peace an empire of sixty millions of people by invading
Every day supplies evidence of the reckless disregard with
which certain parties look upon the value of an oath, and
their territory at a distance of 3,000 miles, and thus contend-
.society has serious reason to complain of such disregard. ing with the passive obstinacy of the most stubborn race in
What, howeyer, is to be thought of the administration and existence, under the greatest possible disadvantage to our-
value of oaths, when one judge sitting upon the judgment selves." In the fearfully protracted panorama of difficulty
seat, in the act of administering an oath to a brother judge, and danger which Mr. COBDEN now draws, one consolation at
which the latter appears unwilling to emit, gravely states least presents. itself to ordinary men. The estimate he
that the oath is a farce which, under the circumstances, the formed of the Russian power and obstinacy seven years ago
law insists upon compliance with. Many people believe that was a sad mistake, and he offers no better guarantee for
example is better than precept in the inculcation of important accuracy in this. Both have their foundation in the same
' social and religious duties ;if so, the example set by some of source, the ignorance and selfish presumption of the charlatan.
HER MAJESTY'S judges does not seem very favourable to That difficulties of great magnitude and number beset the
securing the sanctity of oaths. endeavour to limit the aggressive spirit of Russia, is a propo-
The advent of a Jewish Lord Mayor is memorable on several sition which has lohg been felt in western,Europe- Nay more,
accounts, the first being the decided breach which such an the knowledge of its truth has operated in a high degree to
appointment makes in the Christian defences of our consti- check the opposition . which otherwise it would have -encoun-
tution ; another and less important consideration is the sin-' tered. Each province added to the outstretched and still out.
gular reception given at the civic banquet to Lord Jolter stretching territory of the Czar, if it has • not absolutely
RUSSELL. In answer to a toast which at the saturnalia strengthened his position, has-at least tended to weaken the
coupled his Lordship's name with the House of Commons, he means of opposition. Fear has kept many in subjection to a
essayed to offer his opinion that the attainment of the office of system which, though bating, they could not cope with, and a
Lord Mayor by Mr. Alderman SALOHONs• was a triumph of ' knowledge of this fact, together with. the reluctance magi.
the cause of civil and religious liberty, of which he (the speaker) fested by our rulers to avail themselves •of the means which
had always been an ardent and conspicuous supporter ; but those dislikes would have placed readily at their service, to
the assertion was met by a clamour of derisive cheers and weaken and humiliate Poessia, .heve concurred in fostering the
hisses, which made the city representative suddenly resume belief that ministers have never been hearty in their Prosecu,
his seat. His notable dodges in reference to the famous Jewish tion of war. A more earnest aspect appears to be settling
Disabilities Bill Were too fresh in the memory of the Lord ' on affairs. The Allies seem more alive to the advantage of col-
Mayor's friends to allow so shallow an artifice to be successful ; lateral aid. They are now, it is said, endeavouringto secure the
his instability of purpose and want of integrity in other public new alliances in the north. In this mission the Emperor of the
matters deprived him of support from other sections of the i French has taken the initiative, and, it is understood, with good
guests ; and he was left, forsaken and dispirited, to brave the 1 prospects of success. Gen. CANROBERT has been despatched
storm of popular indignation he had drawn upon himself, 1 to the courts of Copenhagen and Stockholm, ostensibly on a
Every one is now convinced that his unseated colleague must, message of ceremony—in reality it is believed to lay the
at the next election, provide himself with. a more popular foundation of an extended alliance which shall include the
political twin than HER MAJESTY'S ex-plenipotentiarY at monarchies of Sweden and Denmark in the emprise for bring_
Vienna, if the City is to be represented in parliament at an, . ing Russia back to reason and restraining her ambition. The
At the same banquet Lord PALMERSTON came out With a 1 contemplation of such a project as this gives an entirely new
speech so full of warlike energy, that the Times of the fol- i character tothe war. If either of these Scandinavian powers be-_
towing morning declares the whole symposium to have been a I come parties to the war against Russia, their safety for the future
;" warlike demonstration." I will compel theratoexact obligations from France'and Britain to-
Connected with this 'bellicose speech, the opinion strongly bear them through whatever oansegvences may arise from the;
expressed about it at the clubs is that it was a desperate and alliance. From the moment such an alliance is formed—if
not over discreet bidding for popularity. In these nuclei of
ii formed it ever shall be—all talk about non-aggressive war upon.
Political conjecture, it is held by all parties that the Paaatea-* Russia must cease, as the idle.babbling of children. Repren.
STON,Cabinet has arrived at a crisis, from which it will with: a sion, not limitation, must, in that case, be time designation of the
difficulty and diminished influence, if at all, escape. That ea I struggle. This new alliance plainly means extended abSpeeee
Ministry, which finds difficulties almost insurmountable in;' —a widened. field of action—increased responsibilities—and o
filling up a vacancy occasioned by the death of a principal 1 protracted struggle. On. the other hand, it indicates, with no
officer of state, is in a moribund condition, few can doubt. 1 less certainty, a. full attainment of the end in view—such a
That such is the condition of the present Cabinet, is a matter 1 limitation of Russian power as will render the Autocrat a
of equal certainty. Personally Lord PALMERSTON is pos- safe andeqniet neighbour. While thus seeking to extend the
sessed of considerable popularity, which has in a large measure European compact on the west and north, it is singular that
no overture has been as yet made to reconstruct the Polish
been increased by his conduct of the war during the period
empire, as a sharp and active antagonist to Russia.. This, it
he has held the reins of government ; but one man is_ not
sufficient to sustain the character and credit of an-. admi- is understood, would be dangerous. to Prussia, and: would in-
nistration,
and his lordship feels the truth of this. With evitably give umbrage to Austria, therefore it must not be
a desperate resolution to remedy the evil, if possible, thought or spoken of. Surely enough of dawdling has been
he endeavoured' to ally himself with that party. which at' i already conceded. to the nicely-poised friendship of these two
his own advent to power he treated with maan dupli- i respectable neutrals. Time has been lost, treasure squan-
city and out-manoeuvred by ungentlemanly shuffling. He tiered, and blood poured out like water, te disarm their pre-
offered the colonial seals to Lord STANLEY, as—so it is said— judices and conciliate their good will. And what progress has .
a sort of party compromise to buy off the opposition, if he been made in effecting so costly an operation ? None ; abso-
could not secure the active co-operation of the Conservative lutely none! If either of them is new more prepared to take•
section in both Houses of. Parliament led by the Earl of part with us than before, it is not owing to any increased
DERBY. In his anxiety to grasp the office of premier, in affection towards us, but has been, wrung from them by a
February last, he disdained the proffered co-operation of Lord process which would have been more effectual if it had been
DERBY ; within eight little months of that time he has seen sooner applied. The losses inflicted on the CZAR have been
the necessity of soliciting the aid of Lord, DERBY'S son, and, more persuasive advocates than our forbearance.
has been humiliated by its refusal. The present conjuncture In the meantime, the active prosecution of hostilities must
of affairs with Lord PALMERSTON is evidently a perplexing perforce be suspended for a space. The elements impel the
.I
one; and rumour takes advantage of the opportunity to cir- necessary truce,.and for some months to come preparations for
culate all kinds of absurd conjectures relative to his move- future strife are all that can be carried on with hostile aim,
ments ; the most recent being, that, foiled in his. attempt to Experience has so far been left to do its work in the period I
secure Lord STANLEY, and fully satisfied of the futility of ad- which is past, and it has read us so bitter a lesson, that little
vancing Mr. FRED. PEEL to the vacant office, he has turned surely is now to be feared on the score of ignorance and
the matter over in his mind, and sees no one now so fit to fill nothing from negligence. Our fleets and armies will be cared
the empty chair as his quondam friend and colleague the for this winter after a fashion very different from the last.
Duke of NEWCASTLE. To him accordingly it is said he has That period of the year when a campaign cannot be conducted
turned in his extremity, and has placed the Colonial Secretary- is generally selected as the time when the less formidable,
ship at his accePtance. What will be the result of this appli- although Sometimes not less dangerous agents of diplomacy
cation is a matter of anxious speculation to many, not the least are set in motion ; and already the note of preparation for their
interested of whom is understood to be Lord PALMERSTON muster is sounding in different quarters. Let us beware of
himself, who in' some of his wild dreams is said to look upon losing by negotiation what we have won through fire and
Lord JOHN RUSSELL as his stop-gap and forlorn hope in this blood.''` Already a great blow haS been struck at the most
affair. If such an idea ever seriously entered his mind, the dangerous as well as the most vulnerable part of Russia.
sibilations with which that " Wandering Jew" of state craft This is felt all over Europe, and the present time is looked to
was greeted at the Guildhall on Friday evening must have anxiously by many a beating heart. " Strike," says an able
effectually dispelled it. Other parties beside those referred to writer in Blackwood,--" we again say ' strike' at the military
affect to see in the begging for colleagues an intention to' strength of Russia—strike firmly and unsparingly. With
prepare the public mind for an early dissolution of Parliament. every blow her far-spread influence will ebb back from the
His lordship is without doubt an " artful dodger," although face of Europe,—the fetters, not less potent, because moral
hardly so deep in the mysteries as that would indicate ; the will fall from many a state,—and each people will have au
least informed on such topics looks upon the solicitation part opportunity of developing its powers and its institutions its
of the affair as greatly more indicative of a dissolution of own way That is what we are fighting for. It is at once
the Cabinet than the Horse of Commons. the Independence of Europe and the Safety of Europe. The
Apropos of the Rouse of Commons, it appears much more two go together and have their natural result in PEACE.
than likely that Sir CIIAPLES Yemen will secure his seat Peace—not a truce—not a mere breathing-time of arms—a
as the happy representative of Southwark. The vigour of lasting, healthy, righteous peace—a blessing to all, and desired
his fire and the efficacy of his broadsides have driven his by all, because continued at the expense of none."

'a

47. ignorant of, will he suitably-re-
.
CONSULAR LAW AND CO ...VS UL .1 R, , name we unfortuna, tely
't., rvOTICE, , warded by his unf..l.7:i•writers, though it is much to be regretted
-42 that the rapacity of th‘arties, at Pernambuco, into whose
hands 4 a disabled ship ~• should cause brave men to run
such a risk. A vessel belcmging to this port had the misfOr-
THE CASE OF THE SHIZ.INIERMAID. ‘ tune some years ago to fall into their clutches, and a bill was
wed home: The fees of the con-
atfuncling, the latter having,
To a country so eminently commerciatand nautical as that of run I;7' !tearlyz if not quite, t:eachin,,c, the whole value of the
jery valuable cargo 2j
~.F
Great-Britain, feW,Wtatters are md:re immediately initiortant than ship-and freigm, ~ _hen she' °4.1.-i1.7.
a well-defined code of maritime laws, which shall be so simple lifilanrdemagarervverrigerce,..a.r.g
in_their for r 9, and so comprehensive in. their principles, as toper in ad-
per cent. for landing, and similar rate for :?..shilwin,g,
admit of' ready 'application uncle!' almost ally peculiarity. of dition to all expenses. The value of thelrmn;
yvaat ;t: toff LI
tircumstances: -The-full importance-of this principle is_easily-
4preytihis Old'haiTeteento liebe`"wniregetkeri'' of Pernambuco.
A large portion of the cargo was on Irish account. •
deducible from the numerous means which have been adopted,
from time to time,'to'render those laws of general and ready__
That. there was misconception h • is probable • but the
_ _.eie„,
Application. "'-The legislature' ins 'been frevently-busietfin"state oc- affairs which co-ald give foundation for such remarks
providing remedies. for existing defects in those laws,—in is traidePlorable,an&ought to be forthwith remedied. Every
producing enactments to meefne* cases—and applying cor-
one will -be glad. to'z learn- that the suggestion of the Irish
rectives where altered cirqumstances have rendered the old
journal as to rewarding Captaiti'DEvEy. is being vigorously
regulations burdensome or nugatory. Like the labours of
carried out., The court of inquiry to which his case was sub-
Sisyphus, however, the occupation of ‘thelawgiver on this mitted, have, as We stated last week, honoUrably acquitted
important subject, is never-ending— Ness combinations of cia, him, and pronounced'his conduct Most praiseworthy. The
cumstauces are constantly occurring, which call for new legis- committee of Lloyd's have resolved to confer on him a sub-
lative arrangements. Only last session of parliament, a new ; stantial token of their Approbation ; he meets with a similar
enactment for the safety of lives and property in course of ! meed of gratitude and recognition at the hands of the Under-
transit by sea was Pasied, and has come into operation. This
writers of Liverpool; while those of Glasgow, Cork, and other
is the well-kuonn Merchant Shipping Act, which, although' aces follow their example. From the very painful and try-
containing many valuable provisions, is found also to contain ng position in which he was placed by his accidental trip to
some very dangerous, if not exceedingly objectionable ones. I Pernambuco, Captain BEVEY has reaped honour and reward
These, and the abuses to- which the- whole of our consular I
to himself—has vindicated the character of his noble ship—
regulations are liable, receive forcible illustration in the case of
!and has justified the reputation of the owners to whom she
the ship Mermaid at Pernambuco, on the occasion of her recent Belongs
voyage from Melbourne to Liverpool. The circumstances of
that remarkable case have been sufficiently sifted and exposed,
to shOw the dangerous , nature of the power conferred- on
consuls, in the investigation caused by Messrs. Pilkington and
Wilson, owners of the ship, and made in this town last week,
by Captain Robertson, R.N., Inspector General of the Board
of Trade, and J. S. Mansfield, Esq., the Stipendiary Magis-
trate.

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

ELECTION OF MAYOR.

FRIDAY being the 9th of November, a meeting of the
Council was held for the election of Mayor. There was a very
numerous attendance. The retiring Mayor (James Aspinall
Tobin, Esq.,) who occupied the chair, intimated that the first
business which devolved upon the Council was to elect a
Mayor for the ensuing year.
Mr. Alderman J. H. TURNER said be felt much pleasurein
proposing Mr. John Stewart, a gentleman so well known to
,all the members as to require no eulogy` from him. The high
character and sterling moral worth of Mr. Stewart in au
especial degree entitled him to esteem and confidence, and
these, combined with his long experience and active business
habits, together with the extensive knowledge of all matters
connected with the affairs of the corporation• which he pos-
sessed, rendered him peculiarly fitted for the office. One
circumstance connected with Mr. Stewart it was impossible to
pass over. That was, the great ability and tact displayed by
him in the negotiations for purchasing the Birkeahead Docks.
(Hear). Without offerine, disparagement to the valuable
services of others who formed the deputation to London, he
(Mr. T.) had no doubt that to the untiring zeal, patient atten-
tion, and discrimination of Mr. Stewart—aided, no doubt, by
the high and deserved estimation in which he is personally
held—the difficulties by which the project was beset, the
success of the negotiation was- mainly to be attributed. (Hear,
hear.) After alluding at considerable length to the prospect
of farther usefulness to the borough to result from the assi-
duity and judgment of Mr. Stewart, he concluded by proposing
that John Stewart, Esq., be elected Mayor for the boroughlor
the ensuing year.
Mr. Honismv seconded the nomination of Mr. Stewart, and
in doing. so said he believed it to be- universally felt that the-
valuable- services rendered to Liverpool by Mr. Stewart con-
ferred on his election to the office the character of a duty on
the part of the council.. He ,could hope for no happier for-
tune for Mir. Stewart, in connexion with the office, than that
at the conclusion of his mayoralty- he might be able to
restore the office to the gift of the council, and to retire into
private life;- possessing to the same extent the approbation,
the esteem,- and the good wishes of alf,an was possessed by
the gentleman, who was now retiring from- it.
The question was then put and carried with acclamation.
Mr. SrzwAnzc was introduced by his proposer and seconder,
and having taken the oaths of office andlthe chair, said:—
Gentlemen of Council, I feel quite at a lass- to express my-
self in suitable terms of acknowledgment, at the way in which
this office has been conferred upon me. (Hear;) It is to me
most gratifying that so numerous and respectable a body of
my fellow-townsmen have thought me worthy to preside over
them, and to act' as chief magistrate of this important
borough. (Hear, hear.) I will not attempt to- make any
vporrrusteos
—I sh
ill
duties. (Hear, heart) You have placed me here;. and lam
tquite
will unnecessary
ort how I hat
discharge uld endiena;
allo
e
he
fHe r lereatevrdwei
upon
s 0
heap)
te.
el7m: aetl
quite sure that you would not have done so, ifyoa had not
m
believed that I woul&do my utmost to discharge those duties
tell t3ll.oile wibt
spared the-nnd, of this
oystvooeoi
dohcbueeear oor
pfbomlife:o.syligffiiit
oirsencetoi
ealuf,tlcylvytgmoi
01;yability.efind'tiat. i t
;:(unanooiHuifmmerlaoeefuriiasntliiyni
t:cp.hear.)totatn r
yam have expressed this day;. by the
hll
certa
proud indeed, that in this my native town I have •achleved
side in' this chair. I ant so overwhelmed, gentlemen,_ that
the high distinction of being thought by you wort& to-pre-
-/ feel it difficult to say. more, and will not detain you from
the public business which- will occupy your attentiongurther
than again to thank you,-- and to intimate to you thatria con-
' formity with the custom.-which has prevailed, as long as I can
recollect, it is my intention to- go to the parish churclrof St.
Ater's next Sunday morning, and that I shall be happy to be
accompanied by as many members of the Council as may dome
the honour to attend. (Mr. Stewart, who spoke witlP much
emotion, resumed his seat'amid loud applause.)

That ship on the homeward voyage, in addition to a nume-
rous body of passengers, had also on board a very valuable
cargo, in bulk consisting chiefly of wool, but including gold
to the value of £400,000. Shortly after leaving Melbourne,
she encountered very rough and stormy weather, which con 7
siderably delayed her progress, and among other thingsreVealed
the fact that she was leaky. Her commander, Capt. Edward
Devey, an officer of great prudence, skill, and firmness of
purpose, on discovering this important fact, took immediate
means for ascertaining the extent and nature of the leak; and
from a most careful examination of the ship, and a full consi-
deration of all the circumstances, he satisfied himself that the
leak was in itself trifling in extent, and was not at all calculated
to endanger the iesiel. In this judgment he further con-
firmed by the fact that, after having encountered a very severe
gale, in which the ship rolled and pitched heavily, subse-
quently to the discovery of the leakage, this latter was not in
the slightest degree augmented. This fortified hini in the
opinion he had formed as to the trivial nature of the leak, and
fully assured him of the absolute soundness and complete
seaworthiness of his ship. This conviction he also fully estab-
lished in the minds of his passengers ;. the officers and crew
seem never to have entertained any doubt about it. Partly
in consequence of the delay occasioned by the severe weather
she had encountered, and partly caused by an unexpected
mortality among the live stock, it became desirable to obtain
an additional Stock of fowls and other fresh provisions, and
for the purpose of obtaining these the ship called off Pernam-
buco. That no other object was contemplated beyond merely
replenishing, is fully borne out by the evidence adduced at
the investigation, and by the fact that so soon as the captain
could get landed he went direct to the stores from which such
articles could be purchased, seeking no assistance of any kind
from any body. The fact of the leakage, however,.was by some
means communicated to the consul. That officer, it is but fair to
presume, actuated by anxiety for the lives of the passengers,
and the safety of the valuable property on board,deemed it his
duty to make inquiry into the condition of the ship, and, hav-
ing sought an interview with the captain, represented the
statements which he had heard, and suggested a survey being
made of the ship. To this proposition the captain, who had
represented to the consul the.entire absence of any ground for
apprehension, and confidently relying, from actual knowledge,
on, the seaworthiness of the Mermaid, assented, and the ship:
wassurveyed. To his surpriSea however, the report of those-
employed in the 'Survey pronounced the ship unfit to 'proceed
on her voyage without beingbrought into port, and thoroughly
overhauled, of course with a view to being repaired.. In the
correctness of this report, and. the advantage of its recom--
mendation, Captain Devey did not concur ; and here that gen-
tlenistrand the consul came first into collision.
Duty on both sides came into .direct opposition, The cap-
tain, still unshaken in his belief that his ship was- quite fit to
proeeedon her homeward voyage, was unwilling. to incur the
great responsibilities implied. in ,the detention of the vessel,
and the•heavy costs attendant upon that, and. on the large
charges which in such a port must necessarily arise in effect-
ing imperfect repairs upon saship which stood in.no immediate
need of them ; added• to all which lie had before .his eyes the
large sum which would be exacted by the consul in the shape
of a commission, which he himself fixed at two ,and a half per
cent. on the value of the cargoaamounting on the:gold alone
whichshe carried (£400,000 worth) to £lO,OOO-. To add to
the difficulties of Captain Devey in the circumstances, he re-
ceived) a notification from the agent for Lloyd's and other
societies •of underwriters at Pernambuco, that this heavy
per centage would not be paid by the - underwriters:.
In these trying circumstances the consul endeavoured to
persuade Captain Devey to yield, to have his ship lightened,
brought into port, and repaired_ Against this arrangement
he was memorialized by his officers and crew, and by the
passengers on board. Acting on the conviction that the
Pernambuco survey was wrong, and backed by the expressed
confidence of his passengers and crew, Captain Devey took
the bold resolution of proceeding on his . voyage without
deferring to the consul's request ; and in disobedience to the
lattees authority he sailed- By doing so, no doubt can exist in
anyanind that Captain Devey took upon himself a very unusual
weight of responsibility, which, under mast circumstances,
success itself could scarcely have justified... Fortunately
for him the event proved the accuracy of his judgment,
hi: relation to the geodness of his ship.,. He made a rapid.i
voyage from Pernambuco to Liverpool, where he landed his..
passengers safely, and, his cargo uninjuiled- The ship was-
im.mediUtely put undm surrey, and the trifling nature of the -
leak diseevered, the government emigration officers verifying-
upon oath the correctness of Captain Devey's estimate of LW
ship's sea-worthiness.. Mere than this, these officials, as welL
as Mr. John Wilson Green, shipwright surveyor to the.
Board of Trade, concurred in the statement that Capt. Devey
did exactly as ha-ought to have done in proceeding on his
voyage ; and that they themselves, if placed in his posi-
tion, would have -done the same : addition to all which
the court of inquiry adopted their views,. and intimated their
opinion that the captain was justified in prosecutir. his
voyage to England in the Mermaid ;
_and, so far from being to
blame in dokoir,so, did all that coulld be reasonably empected
frOm a person,in his responsible and,trying position.
So far, then, as Captain Devey and the Mermaid are con-
cerned, alLhas been right and has.gone right, but how stands
the case with:respect to the working of the law ? The consul
'was arnied:with power, in accordance with some of the pro-
visiona,?f, the Merchant Shipping Act, to summon a naval
court, consisting, it might be, of a British merchant residing
in the-place, the captain of a merchant ship, and himself ; and
if these three were unanimousain the opinion that the safety
of the ship or crew, or that theinterest of the owners absolutely
demanded it, they might have superseded evera so skilful and
intelligent a commander ae_Captain Devey, andhave supplied,
ltisplace by some parties whose knowledge and general infor--
mation on the subject might have been altin,to that possessed
by the surveyors who examined the Mermaid at Pernambuco.
Surely such a state of matters is one imperatively calling for
redress. In the case supposed, we have given all parties credit
for disinterested zeal and well-meant attention to an important
public duty. It is obvious, however, that cases may arise in
which the temptation held out by the, prospect of so. large an
amount of commission as that which would have accrued to the
consul at Pernambuco, in the case referred to, might prove too
much for the integrity of the official.
At all events, it is not seemly to place so responsible an
officer as the Consular representative of this great mercantile
country in a position where distress might yield him a profit,
and in which his interests would be brought directly into
collision with those whom it should be his duty to protect.
The law should be so constructed that the British Consul at a
foreign port may never be necessitated to debate with captains
Of ships in need of his protecting care, the terms on which
that protection shall be afforded ; and, above all, he should be
relieved from the odium of attempting to secure payment of
those charges upon misfortune, by " extorting bonds of bot-
tomry on the ships and refusing bills drawn upon the owners."
The office of Consul is one which ought to be placed above the
reach of circumstances so degrading. Its real intentiou is one
of protection and assistance, not of exaction. What, however,
is the necessary and almost inevitable inference to be drawn
from some of the painful circumstances which fortune and the
law may encumber those officers with? The misconstruction
to which they may be liable is great, and such as no honour-
able man should be subjected to. The Dublin Freeman's
Journal of the 29th ult. has the following comment on the
then undecided case of the " Mermaid," from which it would
appear that Pernambuco is a sort of Siren's island, where
distressed mariners have, ere now, been allured to their
destruction :
The Mermaid, from Melbourne to Liverpool, which put into
Pernambuco in a leaky state, has arrived safe at Liverpool,
the captain having refused to allow his vessel to be repaired
at that port, and brought her home safe. It is to be hoped
that the courage and management of the master, whose

THE MITDEN ALLOWANCE.

On the motion ofblr. H0R21,117, seconded by Mr. SAMUEL.
MME, it was unanimatisly resoired, that the sum cf 2,000
be paid as an allowance to the mayor.

THE QUA SETT MEETINGS.
On the motion to appoint the first Wednesday in February,.
the. first Wednesday in May, and the first Wednesday in.
Aligust, as the days for holding the quarterly meetings of.the-
Cduneil, in addition to the 9th of November,
Mr.. ROBERTSON GLitHOIONE revived a suggestionAmade
'est year, as to the propriety of having meetings merethan
four-times a year, at which:members of the council might in-
troduce matters considered of importance or interest to,the-
town. At present the quarterly meetings were so crowded!
math business that it was almost impossible for a private-
person to-find an opportunity of doing this, even on the • days-
an. which the act of parliament gave them the privilege.-.
Mr: PICTON also spoke in favotu-of more frequent opendays,
The TOWN-CLERK said-the-"quarterly meetings" were,tobe•
appointed in compliance.witk the express directions of-the act
of: parliament. If more freqiient meetings were thnught
necessary, there was no difficulty in the way of theik J;seing,
held; and it was in the -power. of any five members-of the-
council to present a requisition to- the mayor to convene a,
Special meeting, and,.upon. his. refusal, they could convene-a
meeting themselves.
The resolution then-.passed.
The minutes of the-last countil, and the proceedirga-of the-
dock committee, were -read and confirmed.
Messrs. T. D. Anderson,.llohertson Gladstone, anct William
Mann, whose seats hi the-dock committee had becenie-vacant
by their retirement from the council, by rotation, on :the. l..st
of November, were- unanimously re-elected members-of that
eommitt ee. •
The annual officers-were- re-elected, and the annual: direc-
tions and standingsorders.passed without amendment.
The council adopted, unanimously the recomreeaJation of
the education committee-to appoint Mr. James Ellis- second
master of the south school: in the place of Mr. lligby, resigned,
at the salary of £6O per annum ; Mr. John Dalsie4 as third
master, in the lace,of Mr-. James Ellis, at the salary. of £5O
per annum ; • and: to. increase the salaries of Mr. William
Owens from £3O to £4O per annum, and Mr. Thomas-Robin-
son from .218.-Is. to. £3O per annum-

NT Arpolia, comxifTTans:
On the motion to re-appoint the commit tees, for. th e. ensuing
year, Mr. SAnii. urged the necessity of a thorough review of
the system under which the committees wereccustituted,and
eomplainect of the unequal distribution of the work, among the
members of the. council:
w,E
He would move that the appointment
of committecs.be
postponed, and that a special committee,
consiyting of the chairmen of all the committeesof last year be
appointallto make such a distribution of the,work among the
members.of the council, as they might think, advantageous to
it,t he public interest, and to report to the council on Wednesday.
7 Mr. Woonuntr seconded the motion.
After some discussion, Mr. Sheil's motion was rejected by a
majorityof *to 23. The members who voted in its favour
were Messrs. Crosthwsite, Anderson, Woodruff, A. C. Stewart,
Sheil, W. Nicholson, Bradley, Haydeck,i Holden, McGufiie,
Godfrey, Holt,. Horuby, Banner, R. Gladstone, Kitchen, Hod-
son,. Clint,. Beckwith, Aikin, FarnWorth, Laugsdale, and
Bennett. Those who voted against it were Messrs. Mellor,
C:.Turner, Tyrer, James Holme, Fernihougli.„ W. P. Jeffreys,
Wagstaff; .ohn Lawrence, Fleming,. Brancker, W. Earle,
J. B.. Lloyd, Tobin, Picton, James. Robertson, Gregson, Hal-
head, Preston, Dover, Parker, Robinsom. Cooper, J. H. Tur-
ner, R. C. Gardner, Bramley-Mooriffnp.; Toulmin, S.
Holme, and the Mayor.
The constitution of the committees was then proceeded
with, and after a good deal of discussion was settled as
follows :