The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-11 00:00:00

bouncrto say—because I consider it due to Mr, Milner
Gibson—he was mostekanxion.S. that bill should have
passed!, and I believe that, eontairiing aboutrthred
hun-
dred clauses, it was not till the last day of the sessionli-e
relinquished the hope of carryieg it through. That bill,
I hope, will 'also be re-introduced early, next session.
The Clearance Inward for Freight Bill was In- very
much the same position, except that it passed inethe
Commons, and the difficulty was in the Lords, as there
was not time to get it through. It shared the same
fate. With regard to the Stamp Duties Bill, I am
extremely sorry it did not pass in a more satisfactory state.
The revenue derived from stamps is a most important one
—stamps amounting to I don't know how many millions ;
and it is what is generally considered a very legitimate
source of revenue. I have no doubt that if le chameeber
malted teptesentationS to the Chariceller o the Ex-
chequer in all probability amend.nienth Will be intro-
duced next session, and the bill piit on a more satisfac-
tory footing than at Peeseeit: I come, then, to notice
the observations
.you made in reference to, the budget.
I had .the honour of accompanying the late presiderit
of the chamber, Mr. Rebetteemi my hon. colleague,
and other gentlemen to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
before the bUdeoet was introduced ; and this chamber
made representations as to the great variety of articles
—between four hundred and five hundred articles—
upon which the duty might be abolished . with very
great advantage .to the country. Whether it was
the effect of those representations, or Mr. Gladstone's
own .enlightened mind, certain it is the . duty
was taken off nearly all those articles, and I think this
chamber has ample reason to be satisfied, whatever was
the,origin of the movement. (Applause.) Well, sir, I
have been dpbraided—l don't like tointredtice anythirig,
like, polities-Lwith voting for that Budget. lehink I
should have acted very inconsistently, after being one of
a deputation to urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
take the duty off a certain number of articles, if I had voted
against it. I voted, of course, for the Budget. It went
into committee, where I had ample opportunities, and so
had anybody else, of voting against duties of which they
disapproved. Well, the part most exceptionable, to
which I did take exception, was those petty charges to
which you have referred, I considered them, and con-
sider them now, most obnoxious thaiges, Most
vexatious, most unnecessary -Gear; lieet,)—for the
Chancellor of the Exchequer only said he wanted
a - certain aniceint, seine £200,000 or £300,000,
and, it would be injustice to Jelin to siippiise, that with
his fertile imagination he could not have devieed some
other tail less objectionable to every cienteleteial -com-
munity. I can only Say note, as I said in the House, I
was conVilited these taxes could not remain above twelve
months;, and if common energy be used by those who
feel,ehe oppression, I. have no doubt that next session
we may get the whole of them taken off. (Applause.)
Well, sire, this brings me to the French treaty. That
has been made much of 'a political question. lam not
one of those who . look for the golden fruits that
many gentlemen do, neither am I apprehensive at
all as 'to the result of that treaty ; but I know,
sir,—and there is a gentleman in this xoom who
has been giving evidence before the commission now
sitting in Paris upon the subject of the French, treaty,
and he tells me the feeling there is very generally in
favour of free trade, and.tha he has no dolt& that ati-
mately free trade principles Must prevail in France.
Welt, sir, there can be no citiestion as to the policy of
this country. If we have adopted free trade here, it
surely ds O'er interest to accomplish free trade in other,
'countries ; for it then amounts to what we are all
con-
tending
for—the principles of reciprocity. (Hear, hear.)
Then I pass on to the charge generally preferred
against the late session,—perhaps with some d,eeree
of truth—that little, if anything, was done. Now,
I think a great deal was done. ne ~Gtiveritmetit
felt, harassed with , elee condi&
I ne of our poli-
tical relations, and think a great good has been
'accomplished, by the preservation of peace. 1 think,
sir, that the determined course which the Government
took, in deciding that thisecountry should be defended,
was a great benefit. I think that the course which
they took in supporting this volunteer movement was a
measure for which the Government deserve our thanks ;
useoewurithtyaltwheittheoitist nt,et
igrizeirtiaiildeoikintittoiltiete
eoantaid.
because, say what. we will, -if this country is not in a
swtaTteallof
denee, neither Ike doniniesede, manufactures, nor agricul-
ture ,of the country can prosper. (Hear, hear.) Well,
sit,' I *mild just . observe further that all the work
is not done in the House of Commons. Some very
important committees have sat, and prepared work for
the ensuing session,—perhaps none more important than
the committee known by the name of the .Contract
Committee, and the Committee on Merchant Shipping.
Well, sir, there'is one reteremenclatioli d'that Contract
Committee, which; if 'carried oneee-and I think there is
not a toventneat dare fail to carry it out—must confer
a eiteet benefit on the country. I will not ,enter into
tile past contracts with steam packet companies, whether
they have been right or whether they have been wrong,
—but what we all object to is that theV shoild have
been granted in peiVate. , (bear,hhar.) oW sir, the
recommendation which that committee has put forward
is thierthet no contract or no subsidy should be given
by, any government without the proposal having been
laid for a month upon the table of the House of
Commons. There, I think, is a security for the people
of England that their money will riot be wastefully
expended upon either jobs or anything, else. (Applause.)
Well, sir, the next subject to which I would refer, and •
I fed some difficulty in referring to it, is that of the
Merchant shipping committee. I Was a member of that
committee myself, and I may say without ;pane that
at no meeting of the committee was I absentiiii totinion
with maneeethers; hilt I think, sae We het reason to
feel aggrieVed at a paper Which I have received, called
the twentyerottrth report of the General Shipowners'
Society of London, and at the terms in which they are
pleased to speak of the labours of that committee. They
-sky sing complimentary language, in the outset—
ei:ele indefatigable punctuality of attendance, and
sedulous attention to the examinations evinced by
many members of the coßmittee,—among Whom
they may, without invidious selection, particularise
the hon. member for Sunderland (Mr. Lindsay), Liver-
pool
.(Mr. Horsfall), North Nertlitinitierland (the hon.
INIr. Liddell), Mill (Mr. Sorties), and Tynemouth (Mr.
Hugh Taylor). Year cmpmittee bears willing testi-
mony 10, nor can they express too highly their sense of,
the uniform personal courtesy extended by eel the liOn.
members 'to your committee, and the witnesses examined
at their suggestion."
Now, I Must decline; for oile, to receive 'any such com-
pliment, Ilebanse, ill the next paragraph the committee
are charged with unfairness; and, sir, it is a very extra-
ordinary charge to be brought forward, beonse it is a
charge utterly without foundation. lam happy to say,
and I hope the chamber will bear in mind, that this is
Merely the report of London shipowners. I draw wide
tlirdistiection between Liverpool,shipowners and Lon•
don shipowners, because one has long advocated prin-
ciples totally different to the &her;
"Vent. Conimittee are bOund to state that, feeling
compelled to regard the report under review less in the
light of an independent, impartial, and just dedUction
front the evidence actually given by such trittieStes, than
as an unfair, hOWeVer able, attempt to sustain foregone
conclusions, they deem it a matter of grave and serious
complaint that, although the select committee expressly
recognise the justness of the principle of giving a true
verdict according to the evidence, by printing iii 'the
margin of their report the number'ef Awe, reply given
by the witnesses on st bee testimony the inferences
drawn asseniet to be founded, the report actually, and
contrary to the usual practice and to the very terms
of the preamble, is published unaccompanied by the
evidence. Inferences are drawn which would be found
unsupported by a full and impartial consideration of that
evidence; and opinions and recommendations are given
frequently in direct opposition to the suggeptions of
witnesses most entitled to respett and consideration."
And farther
" It is evident from the very last printed resolutiom
of the 'honourable. committee that a draft report, as
amended, together with the minutes of evidence and
appendix, be the report of the committee to the house,
—that it was the intention of the hon. members com-
posing that committee to afford the opportunity. for
testing, by reference to the evidence, the accuracy
their calculations, for which -yoiir Committee contend ;
but it must be gceitallY evident that the course actually
adorned is notonly in itself unfair, but is eminently
disadvantageous to impartial examination."
Now, what is the charge which they have preferred
against the committee—fifteen gentlemen, holding every
shade of politics, Protectionist, Conservative, Liberal,
Whig, everything? Why, it is a charge of unfairness.
The explanation is simply this t —When the emilinitth
bad agreed Upon their eepdrt, they naked how, loiig
would he netessarY to print the report, accompanied by
the, evidence, and they were told five weeks. They were
told that grettt anxiety was manifested on the part of
the shipping interest that the report should be published
forthwith. They consequently gave orders that the
report and evidence should be published together, es
quickly as possible; but in the Meantime, to satisfy
the wishes of the shipowners, the xeport, which
could be peitited .in five days, without the evi-
donee, should be circulated. (Hear, hear.) And
the Vis the charge of unfairness which this London
Shipowners' Society thinks tit to bring against the com-
mittee. But the real secret lies deeper than that. There
is something like a wily hit running through the whole
of this report,—a sort of Protectionist dislike to the
principleS of Free-trade, which, to some extent, are
necessarily upheld 'in that mod: and, sit, I de riot
hesitate to say amore itufair,----no, I Will not Use the
language they have tholight proper to adopt,—but Ido
not hesitate to say a more ungrateful return for the
exertions of fifteen gentlemen of the House of Commons
was never exhibited by any society. (Hear, hear.)e. Neese
sir, I have ventured to occupy the attention of the Council
to a matter which may appear personal; but I really
could not consistently sit down here as a member of the
chamber, and as One of the members for the borough,
With a charge of unfairness resting upon me. (Applause.)
Well, sir, I hardly know it is necessary I
should enter
upon the details with regard, to those trifling charges,
those harassing charges, which Mr. Gladstone has put
upon the commerce of the port, except for this one rea-
son, I am anxious to bear my testimony to the exertions
borne by your president, by Mr. Bauchi and IV Mt.
Forwood, to lessen the evil, as far as practicable, which
these charges do entail upon this commercial commu-
nity. They were repeatedly in London, most energetic
and anxious to
.prevent the evil which has unfortunately
taken place. 'Well, I cannot sit down without express-,
ing the great gratification which I feel at the grow-
ing commerce of Liverpool. (Applause.) It Was my
duty to move at the close of the session for a return
of the value of the exports and imports at the twelve
principal ports of the Kingdom. That return was issued
and it may be gratifying 'to gentlemen toltnow that
whilst the value of imports is not given, the value of
the exports from London has increased by the •sum of
£1,349,000 ; whilst the value of the exports from Liver-
pool has increased £11,000,000: (Hear, hear.) Now,
I don't say this for the purpose of raising any feeling of
jealousy between Liverpool and London, but it is au
evidence of the growing prosperity of the port of Liver-
pool, and I trust of the country also.. (Applause.) It
only remains for me, Mr. President, to thank you on
my own behalf, and on behalf of my excellent colleague,
from whom I have a letter to that effect, and the gen-
tlemen of the chamber, for the cordial and zealous sup-
port which we have always received in support of our
duties. (Applause.)
WILLIAM BROWN, Eeqe said he had very few obeer-:
vations to make. His honourable friend (Mr. Horsfall)
had so fully explained to them the position they were
in, in many of the twenty-two important subjects which
had been under consideration, that there was not much
more to add. He perfectly agreed with Mr. Horsfall in
thinking that they owed something to the Chancellor of
tber Exchequer for having removed the duties from 600
or '7OO articles; but that was hardly sufficient, in his
estimation, to compensate for the embarrassments in

•• •, • .
Which he he had involved :the common transactions of lite.
eouid hardly go into your counting-house, awl read
your leaeitS, teiltett, having. to Qonsult ;your attorney,
and know how, to proceed. 14e had told the Chancellor
of the Exchequer that he had f;fty ye,irs in this
town, and had never reinerribered any Chdtkellor
the Exchequer so embarrassing the transactions Of life
at Ms. :Gladstone bad, To the .letters . which be
(Mrs Er'cifini had addressed to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer he had se-ttairilyareceived replies ; but he
fancied that in these the • qift3Stion bad. been fenced
rather- than answered. With respect i 64 fif:e Prtmeli
treaty, he thought it was the beginning of most
portant concessions on the part of that nation. pie
had reason to think that the Emperor of the French
was really a free-trader ; he thought so before the
Criniean war broke out, and he thought so still. The
Emperor of the French had, however, great difficulties
to contend with, but as far as he could carry it out with
his subjects he was a free-trader. They might feeollect
the time and trouble which *as necessary to induce the
people of this country to become free-traders; /Anis
Napoleon's goyeinment being more despotic than
our own, would no doiiht take a less time, so
that it would be fonnd, when the treaty; came
into faller operation it was really based Upon
.principles
of free trade. This was the real policy of Etigland-4o
take from other countries whatever they could furnish
it with at the lowest cost, and to allow them to take in
return what they might require and we could spare ; it
was to consider the interests of her Majesty's subjects.
However .little, therefore, we might have obtained by
the French treaty, it was a step in the right direction;
and he had no doubt that it would lead to more. After
the very, clear statement Mr. Horsfall had made, he need
not trouble theiti With anything more, and he felt cer-
tain, from what that gentleman had said, that *hen in
Parliament next year, .the utmost exertions, would
be used to get rid of those petty inconveniences
and embarrassments which now tended so much to
embarrass trade. He thought that Mr. , Gladstone
ought really to be ashamed of hiniself to embarrass
them so much on the twopenny transactions of life ; and
he did think, that although as a Chancellor of the Exche-
quer Mr. Gladstone had them sonic good, he had
also cost them a vast deal of money by the inconvenience
and loss they had had to put up with. He hoped the
French Treaty Would do some good in keeping us at
peace with France ; and,
.after
,all, that was one very
important Hiatt r for totisideratiOn. Men would pialce
great sacrifices PreserVe their cotintry, but, taking the
great mass of mankind, there was a much greater desire
to preserve peace, and this would be most effectually
done by uniting the material interests. He did not know
exactly what the treaty was to be, but he understood that
the deputation which went from Bradford were perfectly
satisfied, also another from Staffordshire; and although
there were many things which might be more satisfac-
tory, and in accordance with the wishes of free traders,
they must be content for the present, and hope their
friends in Parliament would press the matter as far as
possible. He thought they were also indebted to
Government for the interest it had taken in the volunteer
movement ; he believed that it was the best security foi
peace; and anything that cottld be done to prevent war
mast be adopted. Ile felt the tkat *e should never
haVe received that letter front the French Eniperor if it
had not been for the volunteer movement. His policy
might have been to pay us a visit to satisfy his own
army—for he is hardly his own master—but the volun-
teer movement had prevented that, and far a long period
to come we should be able to carry on our commercial
pursuits uninterrupted. He concluded by seconding
the motion of Mr. Horsfall.

--The OnAnotArr said he AVotild next call upoji the
chairmen of the iarioas conimittees to gibe some mfor-
illation as to what had been dniie.

Mr. Boocx in addressing the members, said he wished
to make some remarks upon the position of. the Cus-
toms Committee, in relation to Mr. Gladstone's budget.
It had gone forth to the public that that Chamber was
in some degree implicated in the embarrassments which
have been excited in commercial transactions by that,
budget. He wished now to state that the exertions of
that Chamber had been directed towards a removal of
those embarrassments, , He, certainly thought Mr.
Gladstone had merited the thanks of, the country for
renioving the imposts iipon several articles, aed td hirn
it was a matter of extreme difficulty, to discover
how the man that could remove such taxes could
impose others still more aggravating. It was true
that he stated a principle Which it Was not
difficult, to see—that, inasmuch as he was removing
the duties from goods which had hitherto assisted the
revenue of the.cotintty, the bonded system still having
to be Contintied, it was necessary that he shoillel hart an
income from some source or other to maintain that
system. That was the reason alleged for this obnoxious
portion of his budget; and prima facie it was perhaps a
reasonable statement to make. But. be (Mr. Bouch)
agreed with blr. Horsfall in saying that a man with the
comprehensive Mind 111 r, OladifOne
.possessed. might
hate deViied innke ether incide of raising about £.150,000
less objectionable than the one he had adopted. He
did trust that the energies of that Chamber, and of the
commercial world at large, would be exerted in obtain-
ing the removal of those inconveniences at the earliest
possible period. Again, let it be understood that
the members of that Chamber, so far from having any-
thing to do with the imposition of those taxes, had
exerted themselves to procure an amelioration of
them. With respect to the surveys of goods exported
frotii the port, he thought the subject a much more im-
portant ode than at first sight it nlig,ht seem: They had
fora long time been Mottling under a tilfrstent in this
toxin which was so very insufficient for the ptirPoseg of
the port that it was a remarkable thing they could have
put up with it so long. For six or seven years that
Chamber had been labouring and endeavouring to im-
prove
it, but, owing to the contest, or rather the con-
tending interests of the three bodies concerned, they had
not hitherto arrived at any proper solution of the diffi-
culty, and, at that moment, they were not a great deal
advanced. It was true that those three. resolutions—
" 1. That the Dock Board shall license a requisite num-
ber of competent roaster porters, and appoint surveyors:
2.. That, surveyors shall, be stationed at eaclasle,Qk or diss
diet td be appointed by the board. That the iriaster
porter shall fUrnish to each consignee an account of the
landing, &c., of his goods, and shall provide certificates
in case of damage, such certificates to be countersigned
by the surveyor of the dock or district"—would go
far to remedy the evils he had mentioned, but he
very pinch feared they would not be carried. He
iltetiglit it fight; howeiref., most emphatically to de-
clare that the Chamber of Commerce had arrived at
sense of the value of those resolutions after the most
patient consideration ; and he would deeply regret if
the subject, after being considered by the Chamber of
Commerce for six or seven years, and their labours,
should be lost, which he feared would be the case if

these resolutions, or something analogous to them, were
not carried. The chairman had wished him to allude
to a letter received front- the Dock Conimitte that day,
The letter was as follows
Mersey Locke and liari;or Baird,
• Solicitdr's Departfilent, Liverpool, 4th Sept., 4E6
address you as one of the parties who, last autrini
memorialised the Board of Trade against the approval by r
of the revised tariff of Liverpool town dues. That boarcl,i
may remind you, after some communications with both parties'
suspended their consideration of Pugh tariff pending ~,
then
application to Parliament, promoted, b' the trustees of the
late Duke of Bridgewater, and the MerseY and Irwell
l.
tidn.CdnipanY, Pak an *la having for its object the exemption
of the trade of the Mersey, above Eastham and Garston, from
the payment of the dues in question.
The terms of that proposed act were the subject of much
negotiation between the parties; and it was ultimately passed
by agreement, in the form of a transfer, by way of sale, by
this board, of the dues receivable within the above limits to a
new body of trustees, called "The Upper Mersey Dues Trus-
tees," whose functions will commence on let January next.
The passing of that act removed all objections of its promo-
ters to the revised tariff; and this board are n4w desirous of
obtaining the final approval thereof by the Board pf
'.•rade
withbttt further delaY. • •
dd I arti, theiefore, instrUcted to intimate to all the memo.
riulidts thus, that the Board. of Trade will be requested
to
signify their approval of such revised tariff, unless, before the
Ist October next, cause to the contrary, and to their satisfac-
tion, shall be shown by communications addressed.to them,
either directly or through the medium of this board.—/
sir, your very obedient servant, JOHN NORTH.
To the President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
About this, letter, he would sa'y that it was rather a
painftil subject to tilldde tO. 11oWeirer, rig chairman of
the conimittee before which this subject was brought,
and at the instance of their present chairman, he might
say that, as far as he could remember, the Dock Com-
mittee issued a tariff prepared by themselves, many of the
items of which, at a glance, seemed to be anomalous. In
one instance, a very large memorial, very numerously
signed, was sent up to that Chamber by the parties
dealing in certain minerals which are used in the manu-
facture df alkalies, and it *as found that the objections
were so strong that the book Committee at mice
gave way, and acting under the belief that.lhey would
require it, the Chamber suggested that the Mums made
to the dock-office, including all the amounts of imports
of various articles, should be given to the Chamber,
which would appoint a conimittee to put itself in emu-
niunicatiori *ith the committees of Other associations,
and thus they should arrive at something like a correct
conclusion about the tariffs which were to be issued.
At the same time, it was agreed that the income of the
Dock Committee should be carefully guarded, but that
the various items should be rated with reference to their
value. Now, up to this time no action has been taken
since the date when. the letter went from this Chamber
to the Board of Trade (on the 15th December). The
Chamber had been accused of neglect in not attending
more effectually to this subject, but it had stated in its
letter: td the secretary of the Board of Trade that
reasons ivhicli weighed with the Chamber induced it to
make the suggestion that time should be granted for the
re-consideration of the question, and td be furnished
with additional information from the Mersey Dock
Board:. NOW nothing could be done by that association
or any other, unless they were met cordially by the
Dock Committee. He represented the West India
Chaniber of this town—he was the president of
it—and he would just instance one anomaly
On hogsheads of sugar they had paid 4d., ever since
they were first imported; but the rate was now to be
is. a ton, which was 150 per cent. above the usual rate.
It was quite true that the Dock Committee supported
their intended change by saying that the town dues
upou.East India sugar had been ls. a ton, while West
India sugar had been enjoying an exemption. But there
was a reply to that, And a very, fair one. West India
sugar was imported long before East India sugar, and
it did not follow that because a new article had a cer-
tain rate put upon it. the rate of the old one should be
made the same. He mentioned this to show that before
these rates passed into law, there should be some further
arrangements entered into bet Ween the committees.
He thought that the time allowed—which was between
that day and the first of the next month—was too short
to arrange a question so difficult.
Mr. T. B. FORWOOD said, after the remarks which
Mr. Bouch had made upon the subject of the town
dues, he felt called upon as a member of the Mersey
Dock Board to say a few words in reply. In a sense
they were but servants of the commercial community,
and it could-never be their desire to do anything dis-
advantageous to the commerce of the town. Although
not a member df the finance, committee he could say
that the Mersey Dock Board had given this tariff
of the town dues a considerable amount of atten-
tion, but they were tied in a peculiar way to obtain
from these dues, for the dock bondholders, a cer-
tain aggregate amount of income ; and in revising
the tariff, in accordance with the Act of Parliament, they
had to steer a clear course, so as not to damage the
amount of revenue to which they were committed. When
they took in hand the revision of the tariff, many repre-
sentations were made for a large reduction of dues. The
dues on salt, which were formerly 6d. a ton, were now
reduced to 3d., a reduction reaching an amount which
the Board could not sacrifice without adjusting the tariff
on other articles in such a way that the revenue should
not suffer. There was a difficulty ix taking the ques-
tion of value as a basis. They all knew that engar
might be put down as of the value of £5O per ton. The
dues on that would amount to ls. or ls, 6d., while the

(igYhr o E S-41t, C';'011 as reduced, were 3d per ton. He
might. .the Case of a bale of silks.
Th'cty, could not -bale of silks worth
••r , •
4son. in, the proportion' that thee- ceild Alm The concerts for the Kiklict of. Marlarne Jullien are
ehester goods,. a chaige Of fs, per • p k. 1.47. lb-te exciting. great interest, aril will, We tntinoate, move not
Pock Board had endeavoured to, give ever:- publicity to ot2ly hiwyy attractive to the audiences, we eit'.,traptiAllir
.the faci,of their being engaged in the revision of the beneficiai Jullien herself. The gfildP'6i-
flAfec'3l a'n trimly gentlemen had
.attended and' Made re- formances oft (oboe), and S,.vendsen (flute),
pre.sentationsirom the sitar trade, the Mediterranean wherever these artistes n'uld ?t n.? heard, have elicited
trade, as also some gerltlenatir,interested in motels—and the
mot enthusisastic praise. i 'S-a•-sta Maria,"
there had been considerable ehariges ; in fact, no mem: and. Sanctus," winch will be sung ty fire thorits of the
ber of the Chamber could take tip tryss' present tariff and Philharmonic Society, are the pieces which, sat Sc
seethe revised rates, without observing the iniPioYement James's Hall, made so great a success.
bad ,becti made. The other question to *hick Mr. . -
touch had billridetl hal also been before the MefieV
Board, the question of yeys.- Ire fialt deeply interested
in it himself, and coittcfejeti very much in Mr.
Bouch'S views. If they could gob a mtetti of
public surveys, in the way suggested' by 1,11 VoCk
Committee, he believed that it would be one of
the greatest improvements in the way of landing cargoes
at this part which we had experienced for a number of
years; hilt it would be known to the Chaniber that
there *mild be considerable opposition to the project.
Some members would be' prepared to say, in the first
instance, that the Mersey Dock Board were taking a
great responsibility in appointing surveyors to adju-
diiiate on questions .between the shipowner and the
consignee, of the ea q; but for his part he thought
there would be no etifficillty in arranging details, and
that the responsibilities might tie met by suitable
arrangements. Mr. Forwood then entered tipon the
subject of the vexatious charges on the transaction Of
commercial buSiness imposed by the budget. The bill
of lading was now taxed at Is. 6d., and a very high
charge it was, and a very serious inconvenience it
caused to trade ; but it was the best substitute at the
time which could be proposed. It would produce the
Chandella Of the ExcheqUer, he dared say, a large
amonnt of revenue. It was/ however, a great incon-
venience to the trade; and lig *e's glad to hear, as a
considerable shipper, Mr. Horsfall thoifeit that this
and ether petty inflictions might be set aside.
Mr. R. A. MACPIE felt personally, as one of those who
had memorialised the Board of Trade on the town
dues, indebted to Mr. Bouch for introducing the sub-
ject; and he did not think, the explanations given by
Mr. Forwood were completely satisfactory. What he
wished to ascertain first was, what is the nature of the
arrangement made with thoSe opposing bodies, with the
Duke of Bridgewater's trustees, and with the interests
up the titei He wanted to know if there was any-
thing in that arrangenietit which required their atten-
tion specially. He should like to kridtt what was the
course which' the Chamber recommended the vatiuus
interests to adopt, with the view of getting anything
injurious in the tariff rectified.
Mr. DARBYSTIIRE, in reply, said the tariff had been
made public for several months—in fact, it ought to
have been sent to the Board of Trade some months ago';
but, in consequence of different parties not being pre-
pared to give their opinion, the Board of Trade had
allowed it to stand over till the Ist of October. Surely
the sugar trade should not have overlooked it; the
Dock Board would have been most happy to hear what
could be said on the subject., The board would be sorry
td treat arty interest With discourtesy; they were desirous
of promoting the interests Of the port at the slope time
that they must protect the interests of the boridhdlders:
They had requested the different bodies to forward their
views, and the time had now arrived when they had to
give their last notice. The only way would be for the
committee to take immediate action, and state to the
Dock Board their views upon it. With regard to the
arrangements with the Duke of Bridgewater's trustees,
he believed those.were in the act of Parliament, which
was open, for ,every member $.O consult, The Dock Board
had nothing to do with ihtni ;it was out of their

nig J±XLLTE T coNcEßrs 1Y THE h
POELHARMQ.NIC HALE.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.

Last night 4 grand reception was given to Miss R.
Howard.
filiSa Rosina Howard, ail American actress of cele-
brity; made her first debit is England at this theatre
last eveging- hi the character of Aline, in the play of
" Smiles and Tents ; or, a Mother's Prayer." This
drama is of such excellence as to demand more than a
Passing notice, and we •thetefore give a resume of the
plot :—Aline (Miss Rosina Howard) is the daughter of
Robert and Daine Laielea, who lire near Penrith,
where the' scene opens. Her father receltes notice that
in consequence of failure to pay his landlord, he must quit
his little farni and homestead forthwith. Aline appears,
and joyous as a young birds with a face wreathed in smiles,
speaks of her happy home; but she soon discovers the de-
jected air of her parents and is unable to divine the cause.
Bide-keen, an army officer of wealth and if Illaertine (Mr.
Blakeley), desires topoesess the charming Aline, a'rad hear-
ing of the distress cif her parents purchases from the land/oad
a new lease of their preniiaes; and presents them with it for
purpose of currying their Liao*, and carrying out his
unholy object. In this, however, lie is thwarted by the
parish ettrate, Rosslam (Tirr. Dentith), whet acquaints
Farmer Lawlet with Blackain's object in being thus
generous, and obtains her father's leave to send her to
London, out of the reach of Eilackain. She goes, bear-
ftig with her a mother's blessing and prayer for her
welfare—F:nmer L. meantime destroying thc lease which
was to have beenthe price of Aline's dishonour. 1
Wandering Davy, a shepherd's bby (Mr Watkins), I
appears in' this opening scene, and is almost entirely
occupied in playing the shepherd's pipe (one of the
sweetest instruments, by the way, that we has heard
for a long-61110i and is the messenger who accompanies
Blackain and returns Naith the lease to Lawler.
In the next act Mine is in London, where she works
faithfully with her needle, and ninbes a comfortable
kupport. She is discovered with Lilly toter (Mrs. It.
ti companion and play-fellow at Ilentlth, a
giddy thoughtless girl, who, since her advent to London,
is completely carried away with the show and gaudiness
of city life.
In London, Aline also meets a lover in the person
of Arthur, the young Earl of Penrith (Mr. 11. Neville)
by whom she is instructed and who contemplates
marrying her. Assuining the garb of an apprentice
boy whenever he' -Visits .her; she does not know of his
wealth and title; but finding him a true and devoted
lover she agrees to become his Wife. Having edu-
cated her he supports her in a style Mane befitting
the intended wife of a nobleman than was that in
4thieh he found and loved her. Iler father at this
juncture arriVes in London in search of her, and find-
ing her surrounded with such comforts and luxuries
as present themselves to his.vieW, wrongfully supposes
that she has become the Earl's Mistress, and discards
her. The Countess, Arthur's mother (Miss Edwards),
discovering her son's attachment to Aline, reftteta to
sanction their. contemplated union, and forces Arthur
to promise marriage to a lady of title. Davy has also
come to London, and seeks Aline and visits her
.freciatently. He discovers the intended marriage of
Arthur With th'e titled lady, and informs
:Aline of it
just at the time Whed the chinch hells announce the
contemPlated eeferdonk; Aline looks ou't of the
window, which she had been reqkie.,sted not to do by
Arthur, who had but lately taken his leave of her, and
sees the bridal , procession moving into the Church.
Discovering Arthur to be . the groom, she', Utters a.
scream, and falls to the floor suddenly, deprived of ;
her, reason.' 1/day conducts- her to her father's home '
in .Penrith, having ohtaiVed control over her, and
inducing her to follow him, °fay by the music of
his shepherd's pipe—his invariable co:npanion.- Her
father has returned home meanwhile to his dying
wife, who is anaious to behold Aline again before she
leaves this world, and; iii order that she may not know
what he supposes to be Aline'a dishonour' falsely tells her
that her daughter is coming home--he knows nothing of
her being a maniacunder the charge of Davy. The parish
curate, learning the farmer's statement of the matter,
prepares Dame Lawler for an interview with Aline,
who has arrived, at, her father's cottage a " poor,
witless creature." Navy upbraids her father for re-
fusing to acknowledge her and declares her innocent.
By playing his pipe again he yestores het to reason, and
Arthur, arriving at this juncture, brings nets of his
refusal to marry the titled lady on hearing Aline's
scream at the window, although oil the point of
entering the church for that purpose, and declaring his
love for ha announces the sanction of the countess to
their union. The 4‘.azotannent is of course the happiness
of all parties, including Lilly, valio again returns to Pen-
rith, having foiled the villain Blackaiii in his attempts
to win her, after his unsuccessful ruse to poSaess Aline,
and betroths herself to Davy, who was her former lover:
Miss Rosina Howard possesses a pleasing and excel-
lent voice. The song " When the moon on the lake is
beaming" was gracefully sung, and with effect. She
not only sings well, but she is a clever and talented
actress. Mr. Henry Watkins, whose recent perform-
ances. at this house were so much admired, performed
the character of Wait:tiering Davy. He was repeatedly
and deservedly applauded, . ifs he looked and performed
the comic shepherd boy to perfection. This play was
followed by a " Pair of Pigeons,"' and the comie_extra:,
vag,anza of "Don Giovanni," in which Mr. a Honey
and Miss Goodall appeared.
To-night the pieces are "The Child of the Regitneat,"
" Somebody else," and " Mephistopheles."

power.
Mr. SirMe thought the only way to deal evith ttie
question would be to refer it to a committee, and as the
gentlemen representing the Dock Board had said it
would be willing to give every information and satisfac-
tion, he could not imagine that there would be any
difficulty in making such an arrangement as would be
satisfactory to every reasonable person. lie would
therefore move—" That this question be referred to the
Costonts Committee, with instructions to take it into
ininiedid.te Consideration." His reason for sending it
direct-to the committee Was the shortness of time which
was allowed before the matter would be finally settled
with the Government.
Mr. MaCFIE rose to second the motion. In doing so
he felt it his duty to the sugar trade to say that it had
gone regerlarly to work. They had applied to Mr.
Milner Gibson,
,president of the Board of Trade, and
they received fibril him a characteristically courteous
and . satisfactory answer. They were • first informed
that a veto had been put upon the duties; they were
then informed that the subject was to be referred to a
committee under the 'act of Parliamtnt, and they were
told that they would be summoned to Parliament, and
have an opportunity of stating their case. He believed
that the Dock Board had made some arrangements upon
the subject, but he did iftit know exactly what they
were, Ile merely wished to satisfy that Chamber that
there had been no neglect on the part of the sugar trade.
As he was upon his legs, he would like to say a word
upon a matter of local interest; and that was the supply
of water for the extinguishing of fires. He thought
they were now perfectly well informed that the present
state of the matter was very unsatisfactory. Might be
ask the favour of that subject being taken into con-
sideration by the committee of the Council, in order that
they might co=operate with the Town Council, the Dock
Board; arid Other public bodies interested in the matter,
so that they might 4ei a re:gdlar alidetifticient supply of
water in such cases;.
or, if it was not possible that a
fire-engine might be provided on the spot, or some
means devised fcr quickly extinguishing a fire. Allusion
had been made to the French treaty, and upon that sub- ,
ject he would say that he was in Paris some time ago,
and had the honour of seeing the commissioners, and he
was sure from their straightforwardness that their pro-
positions would be such as to gain a very favourable
acceptance from. the Government. He was thankful
that the arrangement of the negotiations were now in
such able bands; The chairman, in his opening remarks,
said that the sugar trade had been applied to, and had
given information abodt their riositidri de respects the
treaty. He could not say that they were yet perfectly
satisfied, but he could say that they had had correspon-
dence with the negotiators, and they found on their part
a disposition to put things on their proper basis. But
until things were finally arranged, neither the sugar
trade nor any other trade would have a right to say
whether they were satisfied or not. In common with
others, he had to expresS the eatisfastion they had felt
for the attention the borough members liad paid to cer-
tain things brought under their notice. He believed
that Liverpool was very much indebted to its two
m embers.
Mr. Foawoon said it would be a pity if Mr. Macfie
should have his attention diverted from the considera-
tion of the duties on sugar by the arrangements which
had been made between the Dock Board and the
Bridgevhtei Trustees. .That arrangement was by an
act of Parliament fixing the Un-river dues, and which
in fact had nothing to do with the town dues, either by
implication or other Wise. .
Mr. &vie-EL HILL igid—As a young member, he
thought the close of the chairniari's opening address,
though last, was not least in importance' dad that the
committee sitting on the question of the usages and
customs of the trades of the port, instead of beginning
with the terms of :payment in particular trades, might
have adopted the question of brokerage. No doubt it
lay at the foundation of many merchantable transactions,
and was a concomitant of most contracts, and as
custom, if it did not occasionally contravene law, was
used for the fuller and freer interpretation of it; be
begged that the committee referred to would seek infor-
mation on this subject, and he would willingly ask
members of the ttade. he was eitgaged in to give infor-
mation. It had been well remarked, in all negotiations
of difficulty, " a man may not look to sow and reap at
once, but must so prepare business as to ripen it by
degrees." As regards the strictures of the London
Shipowners' Association on the report of the Parlia-
' mentary Committee on Merchant Shipping, they were
deprived of their sting, when it was remembered that
the complaint about the evidence not being printed
with the report was groundless, the testimony of each
witness having appeared daily in the Shipping Gazelle.
The motion for the adoption of the report was then
put and carried, after which Mr. Sheil's motion was put
and also carried. `
Mr. CHARLES HoLLAND suggested the desirability of
the various associations communicating with the com-
mittee whin. the Chamber had appointed, and with the
committee for the examination of this tariff,
The CUSIRMAN—A very proper suggestion, and one
which should be attended to. After asking whether any
member had any other question to bring forward, the
chairman went on to say that he bad now to perform a
pleasing duty, Of proposing a vote of thanks to the
borough members. At the conclusion of the report some
allusion was made to Mr. Horsfall and Mr. Evart, still,
he thought that that meeting would hardly be satisfied
with that Without passing a vote of thanks. He did
think that their thanks were essentially due to those
gentlemen for the attention they had paid to the inte-
rests of the trade of this town. He had always received
from them the greatest kindness and assistance in Lon-
don, PO much so, in fact, that he had always considered
it to be a pleasure to be there. There was one subject
Mr. Horsfall had alluded to, namely, the report of the
London Shipowners' Association ; but he thought that
the Liverpool shipowners would not take the same view
as they had done. He felt very much indebted to Mr.
Horsfall and Mr. Ewart, and he begged leave to pro-
pose that the warmest thanks of the meeting be tendered
to them.
Mr. CHARLES HOLLAND, in seconding the motion,
said he thought it was the very least the Chamber could
do to express to the members for the borough the very
great esteem in which it, held their services. He thought
he could fairly claim for Liverpool and that Chamber
thp privilege of being represented by two gentlemen whO
certainly had given an amount of time and attention to
commercial subjects, which was not exceeded by that of
any other members of Parliament, and he thought we
were highly favoured in this respect.
Mr. DARRYSHIRE said that since the last meeting, a
deputation had gone to London, and had had an interview
with Lord John Russell and Mr. Woodhouse upon the
River Plate affair, and he believed that they had been
instrumentally the means of bringing about the result
which has taken place. Lord John Russell had carried
out the views of the deputation as far as possible, and
the war had terminated.
Mr. CHILTON, jun., said he felt sure the Liverpool
Association would not endorse the opinion of the London
ShipOwners' Asertiation. Mr. Lamport and others
would in no way sympathise with that report ; for his
own part, he would say that he thought the committee
bad been rightly served for trying to please unreasonable
men. .
Mr. HOUSFALL; in returning thanks on behalf of his,
hon. colleague and himself, expressed their deep gratitude
for the vote of thanks with which the Chamber had
honoured them. As regarded the Shipping Committee,
he did think that it was a most important duty to the
shipowners of Liverpool that be should serve upon• it.
it was a great satisfaction to him to know that there
• was no evidsnce given before that committee equal in
intelligence to the evidence they received from Liverpool.
When the evidence of the Liverpool gentlemen was com-
pared with the views of most of the shipowners of this
town, he thought they would agree. The committee of
London shipowners conceived that the committee. of the
House of Commons was merely a committee of ship-
owners, forgetting that the committee must not lose sight
of the other interests of the country. The committee
of the House of Commons had felt that they must
give every relief to the shipping interest, but not at
the expense of the lther great interests. He concluded
by proposing a vote f thanks to the chairman.
The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously, ;
this terminated the proceedings.