The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-08 00:00:00

tENMARK

A despatch from Copenhagen, dated the 4th
inst., says :
" Yesterday the President of the Council of
Ministers opened, in the name of the King, the
extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of
the Monarchy. The Royal message, which was
read, designates the approval to be given to the
treaty on the Sound Dues as the principal object of
thedeliberations of the Supreme Council.
" The Deputies of the Duchies of Itolstein and
Lauenburg did not attend."

LIVERPOOL SHIP OTVNERS AND THE
BOARD OF TRADE.

accumulation.
nuinuilma tpi oonr.
yEsNtar PEaSlace—
TOtt
hpfeoToiro,Emtr
ogef ifyrio
wtiEvi Daee
we're
OF
a:emagtchi cilht —E
is 1 Int
ah°
smallen hugeCE tEr
tThhTee
taut portions from the quarry.
The " Crystal" which covers the Sydenham hill,
and which reflects the brilliancy of 'the evening
sun on the metropolis, was probably once the
sand upon the sea shore ; while the port of Liver-
a cumu ations
pool, one of the most stupendous " 1 • "
Of the age, owes its magnittide and importance
to like coMbina.tions of comparatively and in.
dividually trifling barters. While, however, the
first are but the Mausoleums of the grand ad
mighty, thmr-au impdris ni..g* ieutzr.thri.4,--,A --
unanimity and taste in the nineteenth cebtury, and
alike will hand the fame of its founders to
an "admiring posterity"—while the third
is likely to prove an enduring indication of
man's perseverance and indomitable industry dur
ing the same period. It is becoming the " hive'
of the earth, whose surface it treats as one vast
Hybla. Its " bees " may be seen hourly winging
their homeward way through the portals of the
Mersey, bearing the choicest honey to its cells.
But who are the " Bees" who brave the tempest. of
the ocean wilderness, in order to secure and
transport its riches ? As these bear the " heat and
burthen of the day." they doubtless share the spoil
Taste they the rich and golden fleeter of the
world',, heath .0 Store they ambrosial luxuries for
their inevitable winter ? Who AttE these widely
wandering gatherers, who, each with his small
load of treasure, adds his grain of wealth to the
coffers of Liverpool ? Surely we muzzle not the
ox who treads out the corn for us. Scarcely can
merchant captains need so humble a pen as
mine to urge reply. But as a feather indicates the
wind, I thus cast mine upon the waters of the yet
still pool. Ere long its ruffled waves may beat its
banks in anger. Have not shipowners met
to vindicate their captains ? They have ; all
honour to them, and with more of pleasure
than presumption, I follow up my already pub.
lished appeal on behalf of shipmasters, whose posi..
tion calls for prompt consideration.
As regards the question of Government super-
vision, in my very small opinion there exists a
willingness in the Board of Trade to hear and rectify
abuses. The " Merchant Shipping Act", is one of
mere experiment. In many things within its
cognisance, public safety has been pratected and
promoted ; public evils have been suppressed ;
and if the position of any part of the mercantile
marine community can be shown to require relief
from oppressive enactments, I for one ani ready to
believe that' Government will listen and assist,
when loyally and temperately appealed to.
It should bo borne in, mind that merchant
captains are a 'distinct class, and it is only by
comparing it with others which together form the
human family in civilised countries, that a just esti-
mate of its grievances can be attained. In this as in
other thinf,s we approve or condemn by comparisons.
Let us, then, try some brief comparisons—ex-
amine lightly the condition of two or three such
" classes." In selecting persons of high trust, let
us take first the man of law The interest of a
whole family, involving the very means of subsist,
ence of the aged and infirm, the widow and the
orphan, rests in this case not so much at all times
on the legal knowledge of an advocate, as upon his
vigilance and the promptness with which he demo-
lishes a link in the chain of adverse evidence, and
upon the ready tact with which he makes such
chain recoil upon his opponents ; but let the
precise moment of action glide hv, let the vigilance
of the lawyer wink" for a moment, and all is lost !
Away goes this man's ship" into the surf; he
may have even erred in judgment, but, although
it was the fault of a few harassed moments, his
clients suffer irreclaimable wreck ! There is no
Board of Trade enquiry held upon the lawyer, nor
does society demand it. Society has its own
remedies. The man's reputation suffers. It is
thought to be enough ! Again, take the surgeon.
He, perhaps, mistakes disease (for man is fallible.)
By lowering his patients system, in order to afford
a full play for his remedies, in taking a shorter
road towards cure for, his patient's benefit, he mistakes
his course—neglects to "sound'' the well of life, or
keep a "good look out" (other paths of duty claim-.
ing also his attention) until maybe he is warned
by some old woman (nurse) of " breakers a head."
Too late to " elaw" his sinking patient off the shore,
his ship answers no helm but that of fate. Cool
and collected, all that skill and regret can suggest
are attempted, but " too late." He wrecks HIS
ship ! So far from Board of Trade enquiry, the
very mourners praise his last exertions, late though
they were—" no man could have done more." He
profits by his error, and becomes the better surgeon
His, like many other pursuits, might prove disas-
trous, but not ignominious.
Widely as mischief, occasioned by an unfortunate
lawyer or an erring surgeon, may affect a