The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-11 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

to the 12th of Nov. he had not penetrated more than three
leagues into the interior of the country. Selim Pasha wal
Still in the same position on the Erzeroum-road, not having
advanced beyond Hassan-Kaleh with his troops and convoy
of provisions and ammunition, On 'Lt.', I.oth ef Nov. Gen.
Mouravieff Was establishing a winter camp before Kars, and
had sent off the militias of Grassia and Georgia to the army
of Prince Bebntoff. As respects the corps of Mustapha
Pasha at Batonm, competent persons declare that it was not
yet in a condition to take the field.

lifensuAL PELISSIBIL has officially notified to the Constan-
tinople papers, that henceforward no mention whatever is to
be made of the movements of the French troops ; and even
the list of arrivals of steamers with troops and ammunition s
to be discontinued.

PEACE NEGOCIATIONB.—We believe we may affirm that
the proposals have in substance been sanctioned by Lord
Palmerston's Cabinet ; that they have bee'n returned to the
Emperor of the French; and that direct communication upon
them is now opened between the Courts of Vienna and St.
Petersburg.—The Press.
THE VICEROYALTY OF POLAND.—Letters from St. Peters•
burg speak with some degree of certainty of the Grand Duke
Constantine having been definitively fixed on by his brother
to assume the dignity of Viceroy of Poland, on occasion of the
now probably approaching death of Prince Paskiewitsch; and
it is affirmed that the Grand Duke is in a high degree popular
in:that country.
PEACE RIIMOURB.—The Vienna correspondent of The
Times writes : —" In diplomatic circles it is related that Count
Buol is inclined to believe that he has found a basis for peace,
`which is likely to be acceptable to both parties;' and it is
also known that Prince Gortschakoff has, within the last few
days, somewhat lowered his tone, but still the prevailing im-
pression is, that Russia will continue to refuse to consent to
any limitation of her fleet in the Black Sea."

THE EXPENSES OF THE WAR.—The Times is the object
of attack on the part of the Paris Pays and the Assemblie
Nationale. An article, in which the payment by Russia of
the expenses of the war was insisted upon as forming one of
the points to be considered in the re-establishment of peace, is
criticized by the Pays, which complains of the intervention of
the press in this matter. The Assemblee Nationale severely
rebukes the Times for its reflections on the inaction of
Marshal Pelissier. It says, " When only three months
separate us from the day when French and English marched
with equal courage, but with a fortune so different, against
the two principal works of Sevastopol, we cannot conceal our
surprise at reading in a journal like the Times, so great a
partizan of the alliance and of the war, attacks similar to those
to which we allude, and on which we could not maintain a
complete silence."

LIVERPOOL SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF
FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.

Yesterday, the fourth annual meeting of this society was
held in the Clarendon-rooms, the Mayor, John Stewart, Esq.,
in the chair.
His Worship, in opening the proceedings, said he was not
much in the habit, and never had been, of attending at meet-
ings of that description, but when invited to preside there he
could not resist the invitation, especially when he saw that its
objects were such as must commend themselves to every right-
minded man. He considered a very good mode of operation
was adopted by that society, Great pains were taken to see
that unworthy objects were not imposed on the benevolent.
A great deal of benevolence had been expended upon unworthy
recipients. He could only say, that if his attendance could
aid the society, he would be very glad to give it. He would
call on the Treasurer and Secretary to read the statement of
accounts and report.
The Treasurer, Mr. BBNCZE, then read a statement of the
financial position of the society. It showed that the receipts
from subscriptions during the year had been £379. 18s., from
donations £42. 19s. The grants amounted to £329. 10s. 4d.;
the loans to £43. 12s. 3d.; and the balance carried forward
was. £Bl. 12s. 9d. The Treasurer recapitulated the figures
with a view to show how necessary it was to obtain an in-
crease of aid to the society, and he particularly urged upon
the members the desirability of. enlisting the sympathy and
co-operation of their friends.
The Secretary, Mr. Boss', then read the fourth annual re-
port, from which we extract the following, which are- the
principal passages :
The Society of Friends of Foreigners in Distress has suc-
cessfully accomplished the fourth year of its existence. This
fact is, in itself, a proof of the interest which the public take
in it, for it depends entirely upon voluntary subscriptions and
donations.
It is, therefore, with sincere pleasure that the committee
avail themselves of the present opportunity to thank their
subscribers for their kind support, and also for the handsome
way in which several of them have come forward to assist, by
extra donations, poor people in special cases, where the com-
mittee did not feel justified in granting relief, to an amount
quite out of proportion with the means of the society's income.
Gratifying as this result may appear, the committee hope that
the subscribers will not consider it as a reason to relax in their
charitable work, but that they will increase, if possible, their
contributions, and use their influence to procure new subscri-
bers ; for, in a great commercial community like Liverpool,
there are daily changes which affect our income. From time
to time several subscribers leave town: others change the ob-
jects of their charity; so that, if we wish barely to keep it up
to its present amount, we must find new subscribers a for-
tiori must it be so, if the income is to increase.
sittrimbuaytin b
ge
it is giving
becomingundue yimportanceeurly in n
more
eo tuhsiesfusociety,relief in the right direction; the demands upon it increase,
staWtediththoautt
and the applicants seem to be of a more respectable class than
previously, which would tend to show that vagrants and beg-
gars by trade think it not so easy to impose upon us as at the
beginning of our work. We have a better knowledge of the
channels through which they come, thanks to our corres-
pondence with other societies, mentioned last year, and to our
experience.
After appealing to your generosity, the committee feel it
their duty to give you a summary account of the way in which
your money has been distributed.
The entire income, from donations and subscriptions,
amounts to £422, showing an increase over last year of £4.
The amount given in relief amounts to £329 10s. 4.d., showing
a decrease over last year of £52 ss. The amount of loans not
repaid is £lB, against £5B last year. The number of applica-
tions has been 1,144, of which 1,004 were relieved, against
1,354 last year, of which 1,198 were relieved. The average per
head is about 6s. 6d.
Moderate as the expense has been, we have been obliged to
encroach upon last year's balance: it is not, then, without
cause that your committee apply to the public generosity for
increased support.
The causes which made last year one of great difficulty for
the poor are still in existence and rather aggravated.; we have
now had dear food for three years, and work is not plentiful.
If we have had fewer applications than last year, it is owing
to the enormous decrease in the number of foreign emigrants
going through this country to America and Australia, and the
almost complete absence of foreign peasants and workmen
coming to try their fortune in England. Last year we had a
great many of this class who arrived without any plan or
means of support, merely with the idea that it was sufficient
to land in England to find work and good wages.
A fresh source of distress has been the arrival of many poor
foreigners returning from the United States, in most cases
against their will. Some of them were aged and infirm
people who had been in the first instance sent out by their
parish, so as not to be a burden, and who afterwards have
through an equally harsh policy been sent back to Europe
quite destitute by some charitable society in New York.
Others are men in all the bloom and strength of life, who
have been enticed under false pretences to go on board of ship
as sailors, although totally ignorant of the work, and have
arrived in Liverpool stripped of the little money they had, and
very often ill from bad treatment on board of ship. This was
already noticed last year, but the committee think it necessary
to draw your attention to this point again. It would be well
if all influential men, and particularly shipowners and consuls,
would use their best endeavours to prevent this kind of press-
ing into the commercial navy in America, and warn their
countrymen against it.
[The report instanced a number of cases, giving an idea of
the sufferings which have been caused by this system.]
We have also had lately twenty-seven old people sent back
from America. Seventeen found their way home by their own
resources, ten were sent to Rotterdam jointly by us and by
the parish; our share of the expenses was increased by the
board and lodgings we had to provide for them, and amounted
to £l2.

The following hard and expensive cases of distress, arising
than
to
principally from bad trade and from the inexperience of parties
travelling in a foreign country of which they do not know the
language, will show the direction in which your committee
have laboured. Yon will notice that most of these people, up
to that time, seemed to be quite secure from poverty and had
borne good characters ; therefore it appeared to us desirable
to
recoverin eur a a
greater
good
position, expense
tahsatnheuisrual,
case
is in
to givoerethpe
painful
afch
that of people who have lived on the verge of destitution for
many years, and have in some manner become accustomed to
it. [Cases enumerated.]
If you question the policy of granting such large amounts,
we would state, in our defence, that as we have met with
fewer imposters than last year, we have acted with more con-
fidence in our distribution, thinking it more desirable, as we
said before, to assist respectable people, thrown into temporary
distress, towards retrieving their misfortunes, than to give
with a chary hand to a multitude of people who have habi-
tually lived for a long time at the public expense.
One difficulty we have to contend with is, the dislike of
most English workmen to work with foreigners, so that if a
German or a Frenchman falls into distress here he has a poor
chance to find employment.
As we promised last year, we have curtailed the loans, and
must say that, generally speaking, we find them the most un-
desirable shape of charity. People who deserve loans gene-
rally find amongst their acquaintances friends who will trust
them. In most cases a request for a loan is merely a blind to
get a larger amount than by asking a gift. In a few cases,
however, our loans have done good. The amount laid out in
this way is £3B, of which £lB have been repaid, against £74
last year, of which £l6 only were returned.
Another item of increased expenditure is an advance of 10s.
a week in the assistant-secretary's salary since the month of
June. Your committee has consented to that alteration be-
cause the work is daily increasing, and the responsibility is
also very great.
Lastly, your committee request all gentlemen subscribers,
or non subscribers, who are applied to by foreigners for assist-
ance, to send them to the society ; this being the best means
to guard against imposition, and to enable the society to ob-
tain a knowledge of the wants and character of the applicants
in general.
Appended to the report was a statement showing that the
number of individuals, including women and children, who
applied for assistance from 14th Nov., 1854, till 15th Nov.
1855, was 1,496, viz., 582 single, 151 widows, 411 married, 131
children, not included in the table below, because they came
with their parents. The table itself showed that 1,004 appli-
cations had been granted and 140 refused; total applications
made 1,144. The operations also included the following aids :
—Assisted towards America, 33;' passages to Hamburg, 38;
passages to Rotterdam, 76 ; passages to Havre, 27 ; passages
to Spain, 2 ; fares to London, 25; fares to Manchester, 16 ;
fares to Hull, 16 ; fares to Birmingham, 12 ; passages to
Dublin, 10 ; passages to Glasgow, 14 ; returned from America,
172 ' • medical advice, 80 ; clothing, 89.
It was moved and seconded that the report and Treasurer's
account be approved, which was adopted. The list of officers
for the ensuing year was read and agreed to.
The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Bossi, the
honorary secretary, who, the mover said, had done as muclias
any one for the society. Thanks were also voted to the
treasurer, Mr. Bencke, who had been very successful in his
efforta on behalf of the society.
Thanks were voted to the Mayor, who made a short reply,
and the meeting separated.

I LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

Tli
quarterly meeting of the Town Council was held on
Wednesday, John Stewart, Esq., the Mayor, presidinf,P. The
attendance of members was full.

VISIT OF THE RING OF SARDINIA.
The MAYOR, before proceeding with the ordinary business,
intimated that, in discharge of what he considered a part of
his official duty, be had addressed a letter to Sir George Grey,
the Home Secretary, intimating that if it were the intention
of His Majesty to visit the provinces, the people and Corpora-
tion of Liverpool would be happy to receive him with a cor-
dial welcome. In answer he had received a communication
from the Home Office, intimating that the stay of His Ma-
jesty in England would be too short to allow of his visiting
Liverpool. He also intimated that he had received an invita-
tion to the banquet at Guildhall, in London, on occasion of
the presentation of an address to the King of Sardinia, which
his engagements, however, prevented him from accepting.
PROPOSED NEW POLICE COIIRTS, FIRE-STATION, &C.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee contained re-
commendations :—To purchase from the New Hebrew Con-
gregation, for the sum of £2OO, property in Hardman-street,
and to complete the improvement of that street; to purchase
from Mr. Henry Booth, for the sum of £l3O, sufficient land
to preserve an area of not less than two yards wide in front of
property intended to be built in Hope-place, and as considera-
tion for abandoning the right to erect any buildings except
dwelling-houses; to erect courts for magisterial business,
police-offices, coroner's court, and other public buildings, on
property in Dale-street and Hatton-garden, purchased from
the Gas Company ; and to sell, for the sum of £7OO, the re-
version of property in St. James's-street, Hardy-street, and
Upper Frederick-street, on which it is intended to erect a
Roman Catholic place of worship. The committee reported
that the cost of constructing new police-courts, bridewell,
coroner's court, fire-station, &c., was estimated at £27,800, and
that when these buildings were ready for occupation they
would release the present sessions-house and fire-police sta-
tion. The latter was valued at £lO,OOO, and the old prison at
£18,025, altogether, including the other property, worth
£70,000. The total cost of the new buildings, including the
value of the site, &c., was estimated at £45,000. The plans
had been laid before the Watch Committee and the borough
magistrates, and been approved by them.—On the proposition
of Mr. HORNET, the recommendations of the Finance Com-
mittee were confirmed.
- POLICEMEN CHARGED WITH RECEIVIICG BRIBES.
The proceedings of the Watch Committee included the re-
port of an investigation before the head-constable and the
Council, into a charge preferred by Messrs. Mackay and Co.,
timber merchants, against police-officers Murphy and Mac-
millan, of receiving bribes to prevent them laying dock in-
formations. The circumstances were stated to be as follow : Offi-
cer 754 (Murphy) recently laid an information against Messrs.
Mackay and Co., for leaving timber on the Brunswick Dock
Quay, for which offence the defendants were fined 4.05. by the
presiding mvistrate, Mr. Alderman S. Holme. On that
occasion, Mr. Mackay stated in court, that if he had given the
officer a few shillings, as he had done on former occasions, the
information would not have been laid. This :resulted in the
inquiry ; and the report stated, that after a long and patient
investigation, the Council had arrived at the conclusion that
the charges had not been proved. Mr. Gregson, in moving
the confirmation of the proceedings, suggested that all the
persons rated for the fire-police, who had refused to enter into
composition for their rates, be now required to pay the full
amount-711r. Godfrey, a member of the Watch Committee,
impugned the accuracy of the report of the investigations in
question, and entered into a long detail of the whole case.
He asserted that every means had been taken by the com-
mittee and by Major Greig to shield the officers, and to throw
doubt on the statements of the witnesses adduced by Mr.
Mackay.
A debate of some warmth ensued,in the course of which a very
acrimonious discussion arose, in consequence of Mr. Gregson,
chairman of the Watch Committee, in replying to the ob-
servations of previous speakers, saying " There is one gentle-
man in this Council who is systematically bringing charges
against the police-force."
Mr. HODSON : And will continue to do, until it is altered.
Mr. GREGSON : Before a gentleman attempts to take away
the character of others, he ought certainly to have his own
character secured. That gentleman possesses an unenviable
public character; and, if he understood his proper position,
when he enters the door of this room, he would hang his
head and find the darkest corner in it. [These unusual ob-
servations produced the greatest silence in the Council, broken
only by Mr. Gregson's own voice, and the restless motion of
Mr. Hodson, who turned round, and, with compressed lips
and knitted brows, looked keenly at Mr. Gregson. That
gentleman proceeded.] He has brought a charge against a
policeman of receiving £2 a week in the shape of bribes. I
call upon him to substantiate that charge. I can assure him
the freest and fullest inquiry, and I think he is bound to bring
it forward. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HODSON rose amidst profound silence. He said, Mr.
Mayor, I ask Mr. Gregson whether he alluded to me when he
spoke of the darkest corner in the room ? Was that an allu-
sion to me ? I call upon you, Mr. Mayor, to support me as a
member of this Council. I again put it to Mr. Gregson
whether that observation referred to me ?
Mr. GREGSOI4 (after a slight hesitation): Mr. 11layor, I did.
Mr. HODSON : Then, sir, I call for an explanation before
this Council. Mr. Gregson has made a charge, and I demand
from him, in this room, to state what he means.
The MAYOR : I hope Mr. Gregson will withdraw the objec-
tionable words.
Mr. Gregson, at the instance of the Mayor, rose and said, if
he had said anything to injure or pique Mr. Hodson, he was
sorry for it.
Mr. HODSON : That will not satisfy me.
TheMAYOR: Sit down; Icannot allow these personal matters.
The subject was allowed to drop, and ultimately the pro-
ceedings of the committee were confirmed.