The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-02 00:00:00

THE MERCANTILE MARINE SERVICE

ASSOCIATION.

PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN MENDS, R.N

The monthly meeting of this association was held
yesterday, at • the offices in Water-street, and there was
an unusually large attendance.
Captain Sproule was called to the chair ; and amongst
the gentlemen present we observed Captains W. 0.
Campbell, H. R. Cumming, John Olive, C. Touzell,
George Roche; Chilton Mewburn, G. Goldfinch, R.N.
James R. Rae, William Gilks, H. J. Ward (deputy-
chairman), William Paterson ; Captain Mends, R.N.,
C.D., Captain Lucraft, R.N., Paymaster Biggs, R.N.,
Lieutenant E 14., Mr. Willittnis (master); R.N. ;
Captains Henry Pciisdnyy; Walter Patbit,, San Ord,
B. Morton, P. Syvret, R.N., Richard Eustlce, Richard
Breen, Downward, Lorhy, and Brownrigg Candlish ;
R. Lamont, Esq., George Bell Galloway, C.E., James
Beazley, Esq., W. H. Weightman, Esq., T. M. Mackay,
Nsq., W. P. Gunnyon, John Kennedy, J. R. Cameron,
Esq., R. lirotklebatik, t sq., P. S: M'Nieol, Esq., F. H.
italpin, Esq., and F; A. Clint;
The CRAiniiiiN began by wishing all present a happy.
new year, and said he was rejoiced to see so large an
assembly, particularly on that day, as it augured well for
the association. Their business was of more than ordi-
nary interest ; and he thought they would be gratified
with it, and also with. the report, which he should at
once call upon Mr. Thoriipsdn, the Secretary; to read.
The following report was then tead
in presenting its report for the nio'nthS df Ndverdher and
December, the council hdg firtt to ifisti the members pregent a
very. haOpir iie* year.
The number of new members enrolled during November was

25, and during Decemberll,While the receipts for these months
were respectively £5l Is. and Ell 17s. These figures, as com-
pared with the corresponding mouths of last and previous
years, show that the association continues to make constant,
steady, and most gratifying progress. Various donations of
books, charts, &c., have been presented to the library of the
association, among them may be named the valuable series of
reports and collections of plates, since 1818, of the Zoological
Society 'if Landon. In acknowledging, their redeipt, the
Council inforrhed the gociety that it would ask those members
itho have opgottnnitret 10 collect and transmit through the
association to tbe sdniety, objectg to lie Of interest to it,
CFtdridiiir, 5d enlarge or remler morn clear the knowledge and
study of natural history. A perusal of the society's recorts
will readily enable members to ascertain to what extent, and
in what manner, they can be of most service in this respect.
It is with much pleasure that the council has to record the
election, without opposition, of Captain Benjamin Sproule,
the chairman of the association, to the seat at the Local
Marine Board, rendered vacant by his worship the Mayor, who
formerly filled it, becoming an ex-officio member of the board.
Since its formation the association has strongly advocated the
addition of nautical members to the Lot Marine Board, and
it is most gratifying to feel that the shipowners of Liverpool
not merely admit the propriety of this, but hate supplied the
existing want without vaitiiig the issue of the dlterations
likely to take place in the Merchant Shipping Act during the
next session of Parliament.
The council learned, with much regret, that Capt. Meads,
C. 8., who has been an honorary member of the association
almost since its foundation, was about to leave Liverpool, but
as he does so to undertake the duties of a more important
appointment than he has held here, it has resolved to tender
him its congratulations in an audress, and it is certain that
this will meet with the warm and cordial approval of every
member of the association.

Mr. Dobson, the able head master of the school frigate Con-
way, brought under the attention of the council the fact that
about twenty fine boys have recently left the institution to
commence their apprenticeship, for the most part in ships
sailing from this port, and suggested that measures should be
taken to show the boys that, although they have commenced
their career in the world, the association has not lost its
interest in them, nor have they ceased their connection with
it. Believing that it will.pidve an iriceniffe to eiiertion find of
ititith benefit td Went vtlille iu pdft, the council has passed a
tetOlutien admitting these boys, during their apprenticeship,
to the Use of the rooms and other privileges of members, and
steps will be taken to impress upon them the Value and
importance of their availinf thernSelvfs of Pie benefits thus
. •
given.

Mr. Dobson has further suggested that for the benefit of
unior officers of the boys who have left the Conway and others,
classes should be held or lectures given, in the rooms, at least
one evening in each week ; and he has most kindly offered to
undertake a shire in the duties of conducting them. Fully
sensible of the great boost which will be thus conferred on the
junior members of the service, and, especially, valuit4 the
ability which it knows Mr. Dobson will bring to his work, the
council will endeavour to make the necessary arrangemen.s for
the purpose, and has appointed the chairman and secretary to
confer with him on the best mode of carrying his proposal into
practical effect.
. _

On this, the first day of a new year, it is not out of place to
state briefly how far the objects with which the association
started have been carried out, and what has still to be done.
This then has been done. The members of the service con-
nected with this port have been brought together to the num-
ber of more than 1,300. The association has been formed; its
objects have been approved of; and it earrieS with it the
hearty co-operation of the principal shipowners and merchants
of Liverpool. The rooms in which this meeting is held have
been fitted up, nearly all the newspapers and periodicals
worth reading are to be found here. From the contributions
bf the Government, of our members, and of learned and
Scientific bodies, the foundation has been laid of a library,
which, it is hoped, will very shortly embrace, not merely
everything of interest and use to the merchant sailor, but
much that will teach him to think and to apply his energies
to the elucidation of the great problems of the sea; its
Wonders, animate and inanimate; calm and storm; tide
and current; with which he comes into daily contact. With
the assistance of the shipowners and wercliFaiis or Liverpool,
the as- ociation's school-frigate Conway lidf beets established,
flilfti ydt thipul; attempt to give the boyS,
have in future to coMmand the .merchant service; a liberal,
enlarged, and scientific edOgation, 'while learning practically
the duties of their profession; and It, must not be forgotten
that, in this ship, most important priii/egei are secured to the
sons of members of this association. In the rooms of this
association books for registering the names of coieminders,
officers, and engineers, who desire to obtain employment, ate
kept. During the year that has passed, 37 commanders
entered their names, and of those 20 were appointed to ships;
48 officers entered their names, and 26 were appointed to ships.
The Admiralty has been solicited to make some use of the
officers of the merchant navy for a naval reserve. The Board
of Trade has been seen, and memorials have been presented on
the necessity of the alterations sought in the Merchant
Shippiqg Act. The House of Commons has been petitioned,
aiid efidetiee has been given before its committees on the

same subject. _
Representations have been made to the different authorities
where judicial action has appeared to act with severity in the
case of individual members. These, in all instances, have met
with the utmost attention, and frequently, as in the case of
the recent directions of the Customs authorities, concerning
the arrest of masters, officers, arid ships, for alleged smuggling
on board, the recommendations of the association haVe had the
desired effect. So much, then, has been done; but, while this
progress has been made, it must be remembered that the asso-
ciation has yet to be made a permanent one—that there will be
a hard struggle in the ensuing session, of Parliament to carry
Out,the fielea of the advice as to thS tribunals for the investi-.
ation into the causes of tireekg and eattialtie's, gird the Other
ortions of the Merchant Shipping Act which relate ici iiiein.,
• ers and seamen, thus the association has to strive to provide
1
refuges for the sick, worn-out, aril disabled members of the
service, and has at all times, 'while it exists, to do its utmost
id elevate to their proper position the officers of the merchant
'iffy; and also to do everything which will conduce to the
iiiiProTeinent and social elevation of the merchant service, and
the instrirdiOni benefits and happiness of the officers and men
ell:MI.14 to it:
Enough his beeti dote id stititt that the rislociatfofi has not
been fruitless in the results of its rtriesion‘ mad its sucdess tends
greatly to encourage and cheer the council in its futtire effortS
and labours. Those will be heavy, and in them it seelises it
conceives it has a goad right---to be backed up by the indii
vidual efforts of the members themselves. Various members
have, from time to time; both while at home and also at foreign
ports during their voyages, obtained donations for, and added
new members to, the association.
othpis example the council trusts will be largely followed by
ers; slid books for the purpose can be obtained in the rooms.
There are +ell+ few members indeed who are not able to assist
thus In fading to the strength and to the means of the assOCia•
thin: t doing so, th€i will have the eonteiousness of showing
that)* ether present or absent, they Miler Dale their lively
interest in the advancement of the service, and are eonstrintly
aiding the efforts of the council to unite the Commanders and
officers of the merchant service into 'one bOdy, and to have
merchant seamanship recognised as it ought to be, not merely
as a useful, but as an important and highly honourable pro-
fession,
It is With confidence that the members of the council thus
appeal to their brother sailors; and most sincerely do they
trust and hope that their report at the annual meeting in April
will show that tbeir appeal has received a hearty and willing
response froth those who have placed their interests in the
hands of the council. _
20, Water-street, Liverpool, Ist January, 1861.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the members on the steady progress which
the association was making. That meeting proved it
without a word from him. He thought the flattering
compliment they had in the attendance of gentlemen of
her Majesty's navy was sufficient to satisfy any one, at
home or abroad, that this was an association of very
great importance. They had had many new members
within the last few mouths, and this showed the feeling
which was getting abroad in favour of the institution.
Captain CAMPIiELI, seconded the adoption of the
tepott, an& the motto having bah pat, tads battled
unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN said be had -next a very pleasing
duty to perform; and, addressing himself to Captain
Mends, said he was one of their oldest members. He

had taken a deep interest in their society, and from the
first they had been much benefitted by his suggestions
and advice, They wished) before he departed from the
town, to show him some mark of the respect which they
felt ; and thought perhaps the most aoeptable form in
*hi& they iiottid approach him would be with some-
thing like an address, which they had "got engrossed on
vellum, and which they hoped he would accept in the
same spirit in which it was given. The Chairman then
read the following address :

TO CAPTAIN MENDS, CAI., ETC.
Stn,—l am desired by the council of the Mercantile Marine
Service Association of Liverpool to express to you that, while
they cannot but feel the deepest regret at the occurrence of any
circumstance leading to your removal from this port, they
nevertheless beg to offer you their most sincere congratulations
upon the distinguished mark you have received of the high
appreciation of your public services by your appointment to the
Important office which you are about to leave us to undertake.
Your connection with our association has existed from its
infancy, when you consented to become an honorary member
of it. Your distinguished services during the Crimean war
had previously made you not merely well acquainted with the
mercantile marine of your country generally, but had likewise
brought you particularly into contact with many of the mem-
bers of this association, then in command of transports ; it
was, therefore, with much satisfaction that the council were
enabled to add your name to their list of honorary members.
Since that time, while you have uniformly and firmly main-
tained the character and reputation of her Majesty's navy, you
have also always exhibited so much amenity in the discharge
of your important duties as to secure, both for our profession
and for yourself personally, the high esteem of all with whom
you have had to come in contact; and your connection and
intercourse with the officers of the merchant service has not
only been frank and cordial, but you have on all occasions
own yourself most anxious to acknowledge the value of that
body.

You have seen our association (especially formed to improve
and raise the reputation of the mercantile marine) grow, year
by year, in importance, and increase in numbers, and you have
uniformly been present at our meetings to bear a helping hand
and stimulate our energies. •
For your judicious and earnest advice and assistance, and
for the warm and lively interest you have ever evinced in the
success of our association, I beg to tender you the heartfelt
thanks of the council ; and to assure you that, on leaving
Liverpool, you carry with You the most kindly feelings and
best wishes of overy member for your future welfare, and for
your continued success in your noble
profession.
BENJAIstic SP ROULE, Chairman.
20, Water-street, Liverpool, Dec. 31. Imo.
The CHAIRMAN, in handing to Captain Mends the
address, said he hoped that before that gentleman re-
tired from active life, he would find that that association
had become the nucleus of a national and universal
association.

Mr. BEAZLEY said he had been requested to say a
words as chairman of the school frigate Conway, an
institution which they were all aware was rightly
claimed as the offspring of that association. From its
first establishment in the Mersey, Captain Mends had
done everything ix his power to further the interests of
that institution and the wishes of the committee. Upon
her first arrival in the river, he had assisted them with
his men to moor the ship ; and subsequently in drawing
up the rules, he had sat with them day after day lending
them his valuable advice and assistance. He had always
had for the boys at their annual gatherings a cheering
word of encouragement, which be was sure they valued
very much, and it had been of great value to the in-
stitution. He was sure they were also indebted to
Captain Mends for obtaining from the Admiralty
a cadetship in her Majesty's navy as a prize.
It had been refused to the committee, but he knew it