The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

•
ot Of
TSB annual general meeting of the Liverpool 'h
Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, at one o'clock,
the purpose of receiving the report from the CO
and also for electing new Directors in room of the follelm
gentlemen who retire, and are not eligible for re-election 4/'
Messrs. F. A. Clint, Edward Higgin, Joseph linbback,
Robertson, and W. J. Tomlinson.
The meeting was presided over by Mr. Edward liestb,Poo
President of the Chamber, who, on taking the chair, calleutii
Mr. TRONSON, the secretary, who read the sixth Anli

RRT.
The council have now theEPO pleasure of laying before tbe.„o.
members of the Chamber of Comm erce the following 'ae,
mary of their proceedings, on the principal subjects W
have occupied their attention :
ACT TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO DILLS OF _ ,"119
Your council have the pleasure of reporting that Wee
drawn up by the American Chamber of Commerce, afterke
ference with this Chamber, to secure this object, was
duced into the House of Commons ; one of its provisions
opposed by the Government and struck out. The great PD'o,
however, of rendering bills of landing legal instrument!,
whereby not only the property, but also the coniflo
becomes transferrable, has been gained ; as likewise
of making them conclusive evidence of the facts stated 112°
their face against the master or persons signing them,
SUMMARY PROCEDURE ON 'DISHONOURED BILLS 1)1

EXCHANGE.
Two bills were introduced into Parliament to effect tiliito
object, on the merits of which the council sent a petiti°nor
the House of Commons. On being referred to a select cSi
mitttee, parts of both bills were retained, and an act has P37,0r
the Legislature which, while garding the ostensible acceL.
of a bill of exchange from the effects of fraud, is well el"'
lated to give summary redress to the bend fide holder.

LAW OF PARTNERSHIP. ber
Owing to the different view taken in 1854 by the Chan' ed
at large from that of the Council on the principle oretallea
liability, your directors have considered themselves pl,wAt
from using the influence of the Chamber on the bills broti,„f
into Parliament last session, for certain changes in the lal,`j
partnership ; one of which only has passed, namely, 14;.,,,,,t
for limiting the liability of members of certain Joint-o';',o
Companies." Legislation, doubtless, will not stop here; ftej
further changes, more or less involving the principle of 11011 it
liabilty, will be brought under discussion this session, en •.
would be desirable if your council could be placed in s
tion to express an opinion on any further practical mealwrt•
which may be brought forward on a subject so vitally ieW°
ant to the commercial classes.

IMPROVED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND OP
IRELAND BILL. 030.
This measure, having for its object to enable railway +her
panics to become steam-ship proprietors, and several 0"-y
bills of like purport, were brought before your council btio,
Steam-ship Association. After full consideration, a petl'
was presented to Parliament against the bills, as seeking 01
obtain powers calculated to interfere with the freedon„,4
competition. Some of the bills were withdrawn, and the ot!:,
so altered as to confine their operations to postal and Pas''''
ger communication only.

DOCK EXTENSION. •
It will be in the recollection of the Chamber that this lof
portant subject had been, at various times, under the neTaceol,
the council; but considerable difficulty being eiperienofe
(owing to the absence of full information,) in coming to ?or
and unanimous opinion on the advantages of any Partedoe)
scheme, your council limited their communication to the toi
committee, in the interview which that body readily rat(
to their deputation, to suggestions that the highest engin'e
ing talent in the country should be consulted before anYje,
cided steps were taken for dock extension on a great e(7O,
Since this occurred, the long-looked-for purchase of the Berg
head Docks by the Liverpool corporation has been effectvot
and as one of the immediate consequences of this arrangoo
will be, doubtless, to put an end to all rivalry between
sister communities of Liverpool and Birkenhead, your conil.ri
entertains a strong hope and belief that, without the neeeslt Dtolo
of any intervention on the part of the chamber, the me
most conducive to the trade of the Mersey generally
considered on their merits alone, and that the constitn,'
authorities will study to avail themselves of the immense esli;
bilities for accommodation now in their hands, and thereeso
render unnecessary any further extension of docks for 9
to come.

PARIS EXHIBITION OE 1855.
At the suggestion of the Board of Trade, your Pres' .00
and Mr. J. B. Cooke were deputed to attend the F.,xhibiti,
for the purpose of reporting on the samples of various tic,.
ducts there shown, more especially those of the English fa",,e,
nies. The report is, of course, too long to be introduced J,
and your council would merely advert to the article of COn
a special notice on which was made by Mr. Cook, as rep
tative tative of the Cotton Brokers' Association,from whichit aPP'el
that a new field for the cultivation of cotton has been oPen,,f
in the French colony of Algeria, of the growth of which ve"
fair samples were exhibited.
Your council may also state that they have receiverew
sample of cotton grown in the district of Moreton Bay, 141,1,8
South Wales, which locality, as far as can be judged bY.Trit
sample, bids fair to afford a supply of valuable and exceile
cotton. to
In connexion with the Paris Exhibition, the council havety
report that Mr. Levi was again appointed to represent
Chamber at the International Statistical Congress, held tn
year in Paris, and that an interesting detailed statement 0,
the proceedings was furnished by that gentleman, which 133.°J
be consulted by any member desiring to do so.
The objects of the International Statistical Congresses 9t,
to increase correct statistical information, to introduce 11./1
fortuity Into the -statistical documents of different muntrri),
and to suggest and promote remedies for those defects whl'j
the pursuit of this science may bring to light in the laws ss
regulations of civilised nations.
The first zongress was held in Brussels, in 1853; the secsfej,
last year, in Paris. It was attended by numerous officialu,ts
puties, and other statists, many of public note, from all P
of Europe, the United States, &c., conducting its business
sections. The subjects brought before the congress auu
ported on were very various, a part of which only need .t
mentioned as interesting to the Chamber—namely, the bra
mode for collecting the statistics of the acreage of land 10_1,,t.
tillage, and of crops ; the statistics of commercial justice, P 7,01
nership, bankruptcy, and bills of exchange ; the decimal !Is'
of money, and the assimilation of weights and measures. ty
Also, the subject of uniformity, as far as practicable, in le
commercial law and usages of civilised nations appears to iSte,
received marked attention, and no difference of opinion P
vailed of its desirableness. tio,l
The collection and more frequent publication of statisi
information connected with the domestic and foreign trSde
countries is strongly advocated by the Congress.
ft,js
This brief summary, made from Mr. Levi's able repo
given in order to enable' the Chamber to judge of the belie' ,
which this community may deride from keeping up a °ll
nexion with the Congress.
Its next sitting will probably take place in London, in 1851
when opportunities will be afforded to the commercial astls,
ations of this country to bring before its members such
jects connected with commercial statistics and comma'
progress as may be thought desirable.

ABOLITION OF THE SOUND DUES. jib
Your directors have again memorialized the Governtoe.d
praying that steps may be taken for the abolition of that
dues.; and they have the satisfaction of reporting that
lep
subject is occupying the earnest attention of the For
office.

MONTE VIDEAN LOAN OF 1845.
sle
This loan consists of funds advanced chiefly by British
_.41
chants, in 1845, during the siege of Monte Video by Gentro
Rosas, in order to enable the Monte Videan Government 0
protract the defence of its territory and city. The loiniZor
made at the special instance of the British Minister r "
potentiary, the diplomatic interference of the British GO its
ment being pledged by its Minister, and the mode of 0,
repayment, with interest, was provided for by certain stiPoe
lations for the due fulfilment of the contract. But, after
lapse of ten years, these conditions remain uncompleted, 0.%1,
neither interest nor principal of the loan having been
Your council, therefore, on the application of a member of fp
Chamber interested in the loan, after taking the opinion I/0.
committee, specially appointed, on the subject, have Inelfio
rialised the Foreign-office in favour of the just claims of
loanholders. of
The memorial has met with due attention on the part of
Lord Clarendon, and the council has received the assuranlb
his lordship that instructions have been sent to the Bro 4
Charge d'Affaires to urge upon the MonteVidean' Governniro
the settlement of the claims in question, in conformity Wits
the stipulations of the original loan contract (to which
British Minister was a party).

POSTAL MATTERS.
• flir° Since the half-yearly report the council have nothing 0
to advise, beyond the points there named, namely, an el,he
delivery of letters by hand; the approval of the council of To
plan of the Postmaster for raising the rent of the boxes,,!;4
the delivery of letters, with a view to the reduction of tP;(
number, so as to facilitate the deliveries ; and the abolitiollo
fees to the clerks. The dispatch of an additional mail ,
London, bringing down letters received up to five a.m.,T,
delivered here about one p.m.; and the establishment o'
later mail to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMI7NICATION WITH HOLYHEAD' tot
Your council, in conjunction with deputations froln„,e)
Exchange and Underwriters' Rooms, waited upon the nie
Committee for the purpose of suggesting that a more con3P-60
system of communication by telegraph should be adoptecij4
that intelligence might be received in all weathers.
council have observed with much pleasure the recent P;:j
ceedings of that body on the subject. It is to be hoped tr,,
the great importance of the matter will gain for it the 00:4
sideration which it deserves, and that the question of first 042
will not be permitted to stand in the way of the adoptiooli
the magnetic system of coast telegraph, which is so emine?l,7„
calculated to promote the safety and convenience of the en,
ping frequenting the port, and thereby directly benefiting
Dock Estate.

NEW SCALE OF REAL VALUES OP IMPORTS. ite
Your Council have much pleasure in reporting that
measures taken to procure the monthly average values of
ports have been most successful ; and that for this service 04
government, recognising its importance, has made an Woo
grant to the Chamber. For the assistance rendered b 9.01
several firms contributing returns, the Council begs to re,
its thanks.

BANK CHARTER ACTS.
In October last, a requisition, very numerousll_44
respectably signed, was presentedto the Council, requolof
them to call a meeting of the Chamber, "to consider e,
course should be adopted for the relief of the communitUp
suffering under the influence of the present monetary 09,4
The Council, having maturely considered the subject, all; pp'
deem it necessary to call a meeting of the Chamber, bu'',,ts,
pointed a standing committee to watch the progress of enipte
and to intimate to the Council their opinion when irararrn tot
action on the part of the Chamber might be desirable. "feo
the present time no intimation to that effect has been rec'

from the commitee. Ye
In the meantime the committee has been requested to P,
consideration to the general merits of the Bank Charter
and its effects on the trade and commerce of the countrt
The committee has a. very arduous and difficult too` poi
posed upon it, and requires to proceed with deliberatioilapf
caution in its investigations ; and time does not yet per
its presenting any report. • 10
When this report is received, the council, contna Abe
the great importance of the subject, will lay it bete"
Chamber itself. ti
RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS.
Since the last annual meeting your council regret to ire a,
that two vacancies have been occasioned ; the one by t'l3oo'
cease of Mr. Fowles; and the other by the resignation 0

Cross.
electe