The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-14 00:00:00

'douricil Is tati,fieci that anyeffort made hythepiwill Vainily
.i.st4 liberally supported by the ishipoWneti,lArailits, and all
'Classes who are interested -1h the Mitre of this great port:
Let members resolVe to'lefe tss pportunity of personally-sup-
porting and Avecitifti •'the cause of the association, and it
frill soon beeemit, as it ought in a seaport like Liverpool to be,
ifitnettte.l."l6ll- of Usefitlness to the country, of value to the set=
rice, and,of honour and honest pride to its proinnteis.'
Letters of apologY for non-attendance having beeniiid front
J. C. EWart, ES4., M.P., and Captain Berg,
The CLiammaN. Sit'id he aid not ice ‘.46i tingle paragraph, or
Almost .one ankle *Ord,,, in bit 'report in which he did not
conour. (Hear, hear;) ttrhaps the -first paragraph was the
most -Ittipo'rtalAite, as it showed that the Council were fully
alive to the important reformations that were necessary in
ti hhns.lS thal'itifeeted the service, and that they were acting
'with that resolution, deterniination, and knorgy which could
alone command success. The report prOceeded next to the
;Conway School-ship; and he alluded to the ciitcetst oil that
great "experfritent with nautili *satisfaction; he had taken a
very'deep interest In it at. iii tio. I#e conld'aUiretheparents,..
and those who took an interest in the boa's on beard that ship,
that:the committee 'Would gii4e their 6rneit attention to pro-
mote the Welfare of thOse;:siliO *ere costlitaiited tolticir charge.
/t was *very important featilte, and the one perhaps the most -
Impcirtant tottneetbd with.the Mercantile Marine Association,
becanso if they 'trained up the:child in the way in which he
should go, which they hoped to. do in that ship, they would
bring to the service of ,the Mercantile marine a body of officers
and men such.as perhaps the World had never hitherto seen.
(Applause.) The interest of those boys whowcre committed
to their charge would be promoted both morally, religiously,
and olticationallyrand—as was too often the ease with boys
that were sent td, sea-they., would net be turned cut 'upon the
world without 'knowledge aril withcnitiingerit&nding. tit Ari
bear.)_ The
ship Conway, Ithcl teen supplied ty
,the elec•tien of Captain
‘Tudkins.-- to il'.acing hini upon the committee, they had Pa:id
* , Very, deserved compliment, though not. a coutpliment
coal to that gentleman's 'merits. It would be faint praise
indeed of him (the chairman) to say anything of the merits
of 'Captain Judkins. ' He had been a sincere promoter
Of the' Conway_ School-ship from its. commencement ;
and they conceived-that a 'gentleman, Without eieeption one
of the ablest seamen that had ever: crossed
.the Atlantic, was
one-of-the fittest people they could place on the committee of
that establishment. -(Applause.) There wit one very
finpor-
tant question, in which he, had no doubt tYail 'the Mercantile
Marine Service Association took a groat interest 4,vbieit did not
appear upon their proceedings that day; hat he thought it
'gas right they shottld notice Thb Bock Board, of which he
was a member, had aPtented an examining committee, fir
the purpose of ,ere.riting licenses to masters and officers of the
Stearn-vessels, to enable them to act as pilots. Now, he was -
Muth surprised that, • although that committee , had been
appointed far a length of time, not a single individual of the
service had applied to be examined.
,He did not know what
the feeling might be amongst those gentlemen; but he•tilmost
apprehended that it arose irom some such feeling as might

have existed when tho old Ptiots.Ccintfitittee Was in existence"-,

that they would not have a fair chance it they came to be
examined. Now, he could assiltc..thein---tind he believed he
spoke the sentiments of the conimitkeet—that every facility
would be given to the- gentletnen Who presented themiseives for
examination; and MI hoped that this boon would be appre-
ciated. `(licar, hear.); , The report alluded to missions to
seaman. Those:- missions imd assumed" a *nil&
usefulness, mainly by the-exertions of Mr. Bushell and 'others
during the past year, and he called upon all to aid in :iiiitprerr-
ing the moral' and religious ;position of the spaniel-I-. -ins
satisfactory to find that the increase in the Meillnih tit the
association had been going to to kS.AiIrY eitent.
Since they last met they had 'had An ategssiOn of no less thin
175 members and' ti-ihe assecldlion. now 'summed up a compact
and . united body 'ist I,tlSO. When -Men *ere 'coinpact and
*tett he did net think that there was nnythlng
be demanded, either from the government er any other body
which- they eptild. not ,ohtgin A.;10 .course. (Hear, hear.)
Thii association had already achieved much. It had been in
existence seven years. Bill he considered it was still on the thres-
hold of its prettedingS With respect to the great constitutional
chargee,' .:o.lich were the. primary, object of its formation---

that With, to elevate and place in their proper' position- the
ot6ers of -the Mercantile Marine Service, end to pro Mote thtir
general interests. (Applause,j Obs4vb that this
and ltindred associations shoald not .be leoktd upon merely as
representing local interests, but •as ttpl'eSentint grea't natfonid
interests;- for he.vvottlir aSky to, t‘vbem were we there ineebted
than to the members:Of the Mercantile Se'rvree, *ha
traMiperted oar Vales to the. firfferent pktsfs 'tie world with
a degree of celerity, precision, and etd•es, Vllioh no government
had• yet been able to *re *therefore Called'apon all to
enrol themselves as nietekrs of this association; because he
felt"that the nationik 'security depended as much upon'•our
seamen as it '44. lipon the most effective land force which the
spirit df.'enr 'People' had so recently called forth: (Applause.)
lietebtfehded by moVing the adoption of the report.
SPAM:LE! seconded the motion 'in fan effective
Captain-
'address, detailing the points which he had brought before "tlle
committee of the House of Commons, at tb.e teiitliat or the
association.-

The CHAIRMAN : 'We are favam'ed to ay with the presence
of our honoured and respected-wmher for the borough, Mr.
Hoista.ll. (Applause.) I Atli Sure we should be delighted if
Mr. Hersfall would addrtts to the members of this association
a few words UrlYch this' interesting occasion (applause), and I
therefdrc 'cull upon him. ' _ •

Mr, Ronsraix, 'who was received with considerable
applause, said ; Mr. Chairman, I beg to assure, you and the
meeting that it is to.me.g great:pleasure to have the oppOrtul
nity of attending here to-day., I quite sympathise frith my
absent colleague, to whom, I Am tart; it would alto have been
a great pleasure bad it been in his toiVer ‘-,o be rresent ; and I
hope our respected seetetaty not; think I am passing
vote of censute ilp6ni hit if I suggest that for the fntnre we
receive a little longer notice. (Laughter.) I only received
my notice cf this meeting last. evening, and if it had so
happened that I had been absent from town,
:I of course could
not have been here. I felt a great pleasure in having listened
to the very practical observations which have been made by
the mover aad-seconder of the report. And lam sure that,you
will agree with me that, situated as I am at this inonacnt, as a
member of that committee of the House of Commons appointed
to consider the whole question of our mercantile MArine, I feel '
a great difficulty M CoMmitting Myself to any of the senti-
-ments contained in that report--net that I must I* supposed
for one moment to dissent from theta, but 1 aiu sure you will
see the impropriety, at this inoraent, of my expressing any
very decided opinion ttpon them. There are, however, one or
two points alluded to upon which I can feel no tlifff ulty, esee-
• yiany ate one pointing out the necessity of making some adequate
provision for the maintenance and support cf old worn-out and
disabled ecamen. (Cheers.) This, I think, must commend itself,
not only to every one 'connected with our mercantile marine, '
brit to every one endowed with the feelings of huinanity.
(Hear, hear.) .We know what a class of thoughtless beings
seamen are. We know that no Sooner are they landed than
their money in most cases is squandered; am afraid
tnsay it, but at the same time it is too true—that the seamen
of the present day are not equal to the seamen of tht past day.
(Hear, hear.) I say that not froth any Opinion of nay own, but
it i•T'an opinion formed from that Whith has teen given before
the House of Commons, by those who are much more compe-
tent to•fornran opiniontipbri the subject. There is a reference
'here, sir, to steps being taken to obtain an international rule
Of the_roael and of lights at sea. "At present," it states,
" the rules of many nations differ from our own, and are the
causes of serious disasters." That is also a point upon Which,
I think, there could be no difference of opinion, and it is a
point on which I cannot suppose for a moment that he committee
ofthe House of Coonnons can hesitate to recommend, that
some very deeidid itep6 should be taken.. (Applause.) The
great difficulty aboat it win be in getting' nations to agree %atm;
the precise nature of the regulations which shall effect an
vessels at sea. At:present, as has. been stated, the rules 'and'
regulations of ararioasmations differ, and there iealways a die-.
inclination to give up:a rule which has prevailed; butas to the
propriety of the thing, there cannot be a second opinion, The
chairman made some admirable observations -with regard to
the Conway. I think that establishment reflects the higheit
eredit,,npon.the Mercantile Marine Association which origi-
nated it; and I cannot forget at the same tithe the debt whit&
-we owe to Sir John Pakington, as:First Lord cifthe Admiralty,
for so handsomely placing the ship at our disposal., I lione,-
eir, this is merely the precursor of further efforts • for we
_ must remember that the Manning -Commissioners appointed
by he. ,Majesty's Government, recommended that twelve ships
should be placed in the twelve principal ports of the kingdoni
'to carry out the very object which yeti:have been carrying,*
in the, Conway. ,(Hear, hear.) Now, Sr, think it is not,
.only a very deeirable.object, but it.pays a great compliment to
those, gentlemen in Liverpool who originated the establish-
ment. (Hear, hear.) Sir, Mr. Sproule, 'Sour, chairman, has
alluded to his evidence before' the committee. Now, sir, I
believe it was very good fortune, or rather I should,say I had
-the honour of being in the chair on the occasion when Captain
sproule 'wag examined ; and I will not pay unnecessary com-,
pliraents in his presence to him; but I must say this, that I
-felt justly proud of the gentleman you had sent up to repre-
sent you. (Applause.) ' His ,evidence was given in the most
,Straightforward and practical manner. It was the evidence of,
`A man who knew what he was speaking about. (Hear, hear.).
I know that I am speaking not only -my own Sentiments
but those .of the 'poinmittee. (Loud.applause.) The only
subject of regret which L, had, was that, ,a circumstance
occurred—some little misunderstanding as to the arrange-:
inents of the committee, which prevented another gentleman
whom you deputed to go from'being heard. stilLhope, ii
the; evidence shnirld-not be tOoprotraeted, the committee may
haste the benefit of hearing...Cap:l6i Piston's evidence. Mr.
Sproule spoke more .in reference to past. experience; Captain':
Paton can speak more,; I understand, on' the present state of
the mercantile marine. Now, sir, Captain Sproule, in his
observe:dont, alluded to the taking of seamen -out of vegels in
fpreign ports. That, sir, is another Point upon which I feel no
difficulty in expressing a very decided ()Pinion ; because I
kndw, from my own experience, that vessels had not unfra
quaintly been put, to, great inconvenience by that cause ; 'and
fOthough he.-said it with great respect to the' officers of her
hlajesty's navy, that they frequently' did it very unwillingly;
and gave way 'to'representations made to them as to the
difficulties in which merchant vessels would bp placed should.
they persevere in taking an undue number of seamen out bf
them; but still it is a power which I cannot for a moment think
ought; to be- exerKsed.' Then as to the, other point to which
allusion has been made, as to the certificate of service, Hill
mean -to- say 'is this: if- a' certificne—orrervice is good
for anything, it ought to be as good for carrying
passengers as for tarrying- cargo. (Hear hear.)
~Now,.
sir, I. observe with great satisfaction---I perhapi may, be
allowed to make the remark--that the financial Position of
the; association as "shown in the treasurer's . report is most
encouraging. I say this, because I know that it is impossible
for 'any association Jo be carried on efficiently without ways
and means. I trii t, sir, the society will continue to prosper.'
1 cantinly say if it is 'in tiay.poWer in any way,rl will not say'
to promote its success, for that is, aireedy accomplished—slint,
I cerrin anrway-promotepe welfare or promote its interest.:
it Will at all tithes give me, the most sincere pleasure..
(Applause.) '
Cteptainittigns, R.N., who was called upon by the chairman,
addieSied ‘a 'few Words in advOcacy of the association, which.
he charaeterised a 3 one of national importance. Haring AM-
, akin high terns to the transport service performed by the
'mercantile marine.at the time of the Russian war, he'veat On
to say that if we had soldiers shoulder to shoulder rotind our
coast, and forts tn.shelter them; that would never save 118.
It viasthe seamen who defended Britain. It was impossible.
for England to exist without maritime and commercial super-
iority._ France might. talk as she Liked. Iri the. case
of war and he verily' beliated it would come --- the
French said they. would be an attacking instead of an
aggressive
,power --s that they would, fight, ..not hit'
supremacy, but independence upon the sea; and we all kno*
what that-meantba an ambitious power. •What would become
°tub if we were'net supreme uptha the sea ? impossible
to rely ,apon the friendly feeling of France ; and on whom would
the 'struggle fall when it came ? Upon the seamen 'of this
country.that
ati y
etln concluding his remarks, he said it was a shame
class Of the community should be cared for, but that
the ',Nathan should be neglected, and made toAppear an outcast
froth society:-
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
The Secretary then read the financial statement, from which
it appeared,
"that there Was a balanee in hand of L' 8815 s. 9d., and
•
stock to 'the 'Value of 2257.

Captain PONSO/93Y moved, ,that the statement of accounts be
posed.

Mr. T. M. MACKAY seconded the. resolution. 'He assured
them he felt great satisfaCtion to find the success of thjsunder-
takingr„for it was art institution Where, by the 4nterchange of
ideas, they loped to see that advancement among mercantile
captains which they all so much desired: " Captalg Wonle had
referred to the consular service. That was a first bnportent
raatter;• and likely 'to engage the committee Over which
Our excellent merohcr presided. Wherever in aay.foreign post
he saw the Arnie of 'England over a door, in the shape of the
cousin's sign, he had the greatest dread of it ; and when he