Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-08 00:00:00

THE PEOPLE'S BLUE BOOK.

The author of this very valuable work, (published by C.
Routledge and Co., Farringdon-street, London,) forwarded
two copies of the 2nd edition, for the use of the Council,
with a complimentary note. The preface to this edition
was read. It contains the following very handsome ac-
knowledgment of the assistance derived by the author from
the publications of the Aesociion. " The author has
only;;to add that, for many important details, he is indebted
to the valuable Tracts circulated by the Liverpool
Financial Reform Association. Being engaged on the
book when those Tracts first came into his
hands; in the summer of 1857, he availed
himself of whatever he there found ready prepared, which
suited his views ; and as it would have been scarcely pos-
sible, and certainly not convenient, to have made a dis-
tinct and separate acknowledgment of each extract, he
therefore mile his acknowledgment by a general reference.
But he is so sensible of the great service tendered by those
tracts, and he so highly appreciates many of the principal
objects of that association, that he is desirous, not only of
making his own acknowledgment, but also—and which is
of much more importance—of making known to others, as
far as may be in his power, how greatly all classes in this
country are indebted to the persevering labours of the
Liverpool Financial Reform Association, which is supported
entirely by the voluntary contributions of the members.
He wishes also to add his own conviction, that if all those
who are desirous of seeing the reforms here advocated
carried out, would join that association, and would assist
by their contributions, however small, to defray the
unavoidable expenses of opening the eyes of the people to
their actual position, the objects in view, for the benefit of
all classes, would be speedily and effectually accomplished.
. . . . If, therefore. the people would have tea for ls.
a pound, coffee for 6d. a pound, sugar for 2d a pound,
tobocco for 3d. a pound, the light, pleasant, and wholesome
wines of France and the Rhine for 3d. a bottle,
.and all
other wines, spirits, and other articles of necessary
consumption at prices reduced in the same proportion,
they must abolish all customs and excise duties, all income-
tax, all assessed taxes, and nearly all the stamp duties :
and they must agree to have one tax, which will bear
equally on all realised property, and leave every industrious
working man in the kingdom to enjoy the produce of
his own daily labour, free from all taxation, Let every
man in the kingdom who desires this, enrol his name as a
member of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association,
and let him add his contribution, however small, to the
funds of that Association, and then no power in this country
can prevail to prevent these results. The 'only question
will then be a question of time. With stedfastnees of
purpose the people will not have to wait long, and then
the working classes in this country shine forth in the three
orders of greatness—power, intellect, and goo Iness."
The thanks of the council were voted to the author of
" The People's Blue Book," for his zealous recommends_
lion of additional support to the association, which is
essential to an enlargement of the field of its operations.
THE BANKING AND CURRENCY QUESTIONS.

The Temesueve stated that Mr. Knott, deputy chairman
of the Central Currency Committee of London, had called
upon him that morning, left several tracts and papers,
and was very desirous of an interview with the Council
He (the Tr. asurer) thought that a spacial meeting should
be called, not to discuss any particular planor plans, but to
consider the propriety of memorialising government in
favour of a convocation of the ablest men in the country,
to discuss the subject, and sit from day to day, until they
arrived at some definite results. As to these matters not
being within the province of the association, he held
that the State ought to enjoy all the advantages
ereic, front tha mstrmfArshiri. of and
all Attie benefit of the lost or hoarded notes ;
and when he saw that these advantages fell to the Bank of
England, which was receiving interest on the Government
debt of fourteen or fifteen millions, was allowed to issue
notes to the full amouht of that debt besides, and was also
paid some hundreds of thousands a-year for what was, in
feet, simply an exchange of bank paper for Government
paper, in the shape of Exchequer Bills, he felt that these
were abuses, at which, as a financial reformer, he had a
right to fire his musket.
After some conversation respecting a petition or memo -
rial , which should not commit the association to any par-
ticular theory,
Joax M. KeorreEsq., was introduced, and urged upon the
Council the necessity of immediate action on its part, as
well as on that of the Chambers of Commerce, of all similar
associations, and of all mercantile men, to prevent the
renewal of the Bank Charter Act of 1844, which he de-
scribed as fraught with obstruction or ruin to all classes
in this country: He observed that both history and
philosophy taught that money need not be of intrinsic
value to be the representative of the value of all things,
and that the state which imposes taxes ought to provide
the money in which taxes are paid. This was done by the
Romans, and by all wise governments. He adduced, as
an instance, the conduct of Christ, who, when asked
whether tribute should be paid to Caesar or not, called
for a penny, that being the tribute money provided
by Rome, and then gave the memorable reply,
" Render, therefore, unto Cresar the things that are
Caesar's." The Jews, however, had another money—the
shekel—which was of intrinsic value, estimated by weight.
It was the policy of Solon, Lycurgus, and other wise law-
gieers of ancient times, to provide money possessing a
conventional value only; and it was the duty of our Go-
vernment to do the like, because our large indirect taxation
rendered it necessary. Mr. K. stated that, after his
interview with the Council, abut twelve months ago, a
motion was brought forward in the House of Lords, an his
instance, suggesting the appointment of a Royal com-
mission, to consist of men not committed for or against
the present system—men of the highest deliberative
character, such as Mr. Pemberton Leigh, who had twice
refused the Chancellorship—men who had attained their
ultimate station, and were free from all possible bias,
incapable of being swayed from right, or in any way sub-
jected to corrupt influence, even in its most delicate forms
—men of judicial minds, adapted for the weighing of the
evidence already recorded in the several Parliamentary
blue books; capable of comparing that evidence with the
reports, varying so widely from the testimony recorded
that they seem only the results of committees packed far
the purpose of establishing a foregone conclusion—men
capable of weighing the theories of the various publications
on the science of money, and of hearing calmly and
attentively oral testimony from witnesses of practical
experience, without attempting to brow beat or overbear
them, as members ofordinery committees. wedded to theories
of their own, were very apt to do. Referring to the committee
of last session, he spoke of the practical wisdom displayed
by a London ban er, Mr. Twehis, a venerable gentleman ap-
proaching 80 years of age, who, having had experience of
banking business since the Restriction Act of 1797,
explained most clearly, whilst he deprecated, the ruinous
consequences, of the present system, and suggested the
true principles which ought to regulate the currency.
It was here intimated to Mr. Knott, that the Council did
not propose to ge into the consideration of any particular
plan. They considered the present system erroneous in
some respects ; but what they suggested was a conference
of the ablest men in the kingdom, specially convened by
Government, to discuss the subject which they had indi-
vidually considered. Mr. Knott said the misfortune was
that when a man had studied and discussued the subject,
he ton often fell into some crotchet of his own, and would
attend to nothieg that differed from it. From such an
assembly as that proposed, they would not have that calm
consideration and deliberate decision which they might
expect with certainty from arch a commission as he had
snoken of. He would have upon it judges of the land, and
experienced intelligent merchants and bankers of the first
class, but not a single millionaire. From the tone of the
Times, whose highest authority was "Mercator," generally
believed to be Lord Overstone, and who so obviously
sympathised with the Rothschilds and the Bank of Eng-
land, it was all but certain that, unless very strenuous
efforts were made, the charter would be renewed in its
most stringent form. Petitions against it ought to be
poured in on the very day of the meeting of Parliament ;
and he hoped there would be one from the Financial Reform
Association, which might be signed by the president, on
behalf of the council, and sent off at once. He had been at
Birmingham, where, though there were most intelligent
opposers of the existing legislation, there were also many
of the more wealthy who rejoiced in the present system,

On'
CLO ffiING MADE wrr GREAT TASTE, at LEWIS and
COMPANY'S, Ritnelagh-street.