The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-20 00:00:00

FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

The annual meeting of the Manchester Commercial
Association was held yesterday, at the rooms of the
association, in York Chambers, King-street, Manchester,
the President, James Aspinall Turner, Esq., in the chair.
There was a large number of members present.
The report, which was read by the secretary, Mr. H.
Fleming, contained a review of the proceedings of the
association during the past year, and embraced nineteen
subjects, including our relations with Brazil, as they
affected the commerce with this country, regretting that
a deputation from the association to Lord Palmerston had
been unsuccessful; the unsatisfactory state of the law as
regarded principal and agent, expressing a hope that at
the approaching mercantile law conference, at which Lord
Brougham was to preside, the question would be dis-
cussed, and prepare the way for a settlement ; the regis-
tration of partnerships; the Atlantic telegraph; Chinese
import duties; trade with the interior of Africa ; Belgian
Customs' Reform Association, &c., &c. The report also
contained the following statements on the Birkenhead
Dock Bill, and the Liverpool Town Dues :
It will be recollected that in our last report allusion was
made to the purchase of the Birkenhead Dock estate by the
Corporation of Liverpool, which arrangement had been sanc-
tioned by parliament upon certain conditions, imposed with the
view of rendering the dock accommodation at Birkenhead
efficient and satisfactory to the commercial community.
A bill was, however, introduced during the session by the
Corporation of Liverpool, which, although ostensibly carrying
out the conditions above referred to, failed to do so in many
important particulars, and which, if passed into a law, far from
promoting the objects contemplated by the committee of the
House of Commons, would, in the opinion of your directors,
have had the effect of indefinitely postponing the realisation of
the great public advantage which it was expected the purchase
of the Birkenhead docks would have conferred upon the port
of Liverpool.

The Board, therefore, determined to petition against the
bill, which, they are glad to say, was ultimately rejected in

committee.
The bill for the abolition of passing tolls, and the regulation
of local dues on shipping, which was brought into parliament
under the auspices of her Majesty's government, received a
large share of the attention of your directors, not merely from
the fact that the relief of the shipping interest from unne-
cessary charges must be productive of benefit to commerce
generally, but also, and chiefly, because by the bill in question
powers were sought for to deal with that unjust and indefen-
sible impost, the Liverpool Town Dues, in the abolition of
which the manufacturing districts, and Manchester in particular,
are so deeply and directly concerned.
The sentiments of this association in favour of the measure
were strongly and unequivocally expressed both by petition
and deputation.
A storm [of opposition was at once evoked, not only from
those long accustomed to tax the industry of Manchester and
the surrounding districts for the exclusive benefit of Liverpool,
but also from the combined forces of all interested in the
maintenance of similar imports intended to be affected by the
provisions of the bill.
As for the result, government determined not to press the
measure, but to refer the whole subject to a select committee,
by which the various circumstances connected with the different
localities might be more satisfactorily considered. The corn •
mittee sat throughout the remainder of the session, and the
evidence taken before them, together with their report, are
now in the hands of the public, making the case against the
Liverpool town dues, if anything, stronger than even was
supposed before the evidence of the corporation itself was
submitted.

' say it was the company's duty to grow it themselves, but it
was their duty to aid is its production by making roads and
supplying the means of irrigation, so as to make the land
available, and this they had neglected to do. (Hear. hear.)
The speaker then referred to the instances of commercial
immorality which had taken place during the past year, and
said the country ; had reason to feel humiliated at
these abominable crimes, some of which had been
condignly punished by the judges of the land. Some
of those men who had been punished, were rogues
from the beginning, but there was another class of indi-
viduals who were not known to be rogues until their acts
were made public. Some of these men had put themselves
forth as religious individuals and lights of the world, when,
in fact, they had been proved to be greater rogues than the
first named. (Hear, hear.) But there was still another
class. What should he say of them ? Ile did not want to
libel any one, but when men who had held high and dis-
tinguished situations under government—men in Lombard
street—(hear, hear)—when such men were guilty of
flagrant violations of commercial morals, he said that these
men— although the criminal law might not be able to reach
them—occupied a contemptible position in the eye of the
commercial community, by whom they should be held in
abhorrence—(hear, hear)—and such men ought to feel more
mental humiliation and degradation than the culprits who
had been transported. (Hear, hear, and lend cheers.)
Concerning such men he dared not express all he felt, but
he would say that they deserved the contempt of every well
constituted mind, for they had inflicted grievous injuries
and wrongs upon others, in order to promote their own
selfish gains: (Renewed cheers.) But in making these
remarks of others in other localities, he must ask were they
themseles, in that community, free from the imputation of
conducting their business in a fair and honest manner as
regarded commercial morality ? It was true that in that
community none amongst them had made themselves liable
to the criminal law, but he thought that even in Manchester
there was, to some extent, a mode of conducting
business adopted which called for reprehension, and which
ought to be put down. The men who were endeavouring
to carry on a business without having a capital sufficient to
represent that business, and who were not, when called upon,
able to pay 20s in the pound—men who were living on
anticipated profits which they had not made—were not
behaving honestly to the creditor, who trusted them on the
faith of their apparent business fairly representing their
capital. He said no man was an honest man who con-
ducted his business en that principle. (Hear, hear). Such a
principle arose from the desire which was common among
all classes of delinquents—for he called them all delin-
quents—an eager desire to be rich at the expense of other
people, knowing that he himself had nothing to lose.
(Hear. hear).
Sir John Potter moved the adoption of the report. The
remarks which had been made by the chairman and the
questions to which he had directed their attention,
were of the greatest possible importance, particularly
the supply of cotton. (Hear, hear). It was evidently
a difficult question how the required supply of cotton was
to be obtained, and he supposed the only thing they could
do was by a continued pressure upon them, induce the East
India Company to promote its growth in that empire. At
all events they must feel that the material interests of all
their population were mainly, if not entirely, dependent on
that most important question. (Hear, hear).
Mr. Malcolm Ross, the deputy chairman, seconded the
motion in a lengthy speech. Atter alluding to several ques-
tions, more particularly the fictitious character of many of
the insurance companies, which he showed from the return
lately presented to parliament, he said there was only one
other question to which he wished to advert, and that was
the Liverpool Town Dues, He said they were all well
aware that the opposition which had been carried on by
Manchester against the sister community of Liverpool was
in reference to rates on shipping which the manufacturing
interest had been paying, and which they believed had been
improperly applied by Liverpool. The manufacturing and
mercantile community said that in all time to come, if those
town dues were still to be imposed the proceeds should be
devoted to the improvement of toe port, and to purely ship-
ping purposes only; the question was not Manchester agaius
Liverpool, but the commercial interests of the country
against the corporation of Liverpool. (Hear, hear),
It was admitted by many of the Liverpool merchants
themselves that the proceeds of the revenues of the port of
Liverpool were not properly applied, and Mr. W. Brown,
M.P., Mr. Bromley Moore, M.P., Mr. Aikin, and Mr.
Robertson Gladstone, had all been examined before a
committee, and expressed themselves favourable to
the principle involved in the bill which was to be applied
for in the approaching session, each of them having given
an opinion that the administration of the dock trust should
be placed in different hands, and that the veto of the Town
Council of Liverpool should be abolished, virtually
admitting all that the Manchester interest wanted. (Hear.)
He would not say that the bill they were going for in the
ensuing session was the only practical remedy for the evils
complained of, but they did say that unless the dock trust
was a separate trust altogether, independent of the corpora-
tion of Liverpool, they could not obtain justice. There
was at the present time a debt of £7OO 000 on the Birken-
head docks, and a proposal to borrow a further sum of
£1,300,000, besides a still further sum on the Liverpool
docks. Now, they had no objection to recognise the whole
of the debts on the Liverpool and Birkenhead docks,
provided the whole of the revenue derived from rates levied
were either devoted to the reduction and abolition of the
town dues, or to the extension of the facilities for com-
merce at the port of Liverpool. (Hear, hear.)
The motion having been carried, Mr. W. Entwistle
moved, and Mr. Pendon, seconded the appointment of
directors, which, having been carried,
Mr. William Gibb moved the re-appointment of auditors,
and in allusion to what Mr. Ross had said respecting the
bill for an alteration in the Liverpool dock trust, and the
conservancy of the Mersey, remarked that the bill was of
the utmost importance to that locality. The present
trustees of the Liverpool docks were almost exclusively
composed of members of the corporation of Liverpool.
There were a few of the dock ratepayers and shipowners on
the committee not directly connected with Liverpool, but in
the main the traders were exclusively connected with purely
Liverpool interests. Now, a large number of the inhabitants
of Manchester and other places were deeply interested in
the good management of the docks and port of Liverpool,
and the hill proposed that all parties who paid rates should
be eligible in future to be trustees. The bill provided that
parties from any part of the kingdom might be appointed
trustees, and it was right that it should be so, because they
would take care that all monies, received from whatever
source, on account of the port, should be properly expended
for the benefit of the port. By that bill, he thought, they
would be able to obtain what they had been fighting for—
viz., the abolition or proper expenditure of the town
dues. (Hear, hear.) If the dues were not abolished,
the new trustees who would have command of all
the funds derived from the port would take care that all
the monies received from town dues were spent on improve_
ments in the port and docks, and that was all they wanted.
They had no jealous feeling towards Liverpool as had been
stated. They frankly admitted that its river was a noble
one, and the finest in the country, and it was only by its
being kept in proper order that they could expect to enjoy
those advantages from it which it was capable of affording.
Therefore it was their interest that it should be protected,
and all they required was that the town dues which were
collected should be expended for port purposes. It was
nothing but a reasonable request, and they ought not to
be blamed for it as they had been by the people of Liverpool.
He trusted that, with the assistance of the various public
bodies in Manchester and other places, the new bill for an
alteration in the trust would receive the saixtion of
Parliament. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Mr. Rous seconded the motion, which was carried unani-
mously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman having been carried by
acclamation, the proceedings terminated.

The retiring board commit the subject to the watchful
attention of their successors, feeling assured that they will
be prepared to afford their energetic support to any measure
which may be introduced during the ensuing session, with
a view to relieving the trade of Manchester from the burden
complained of.
It may not be out of place to mention hero that the neces-
sary steps have been taken to deposit a bill, having for its ob-
ject the more equitable administration of the revenues of the
port of Liverpool, and to vest the management of the docks of
Liverpool and Birkenhead, the conservancy of the river Mersey,
&e., and the control over pilotage, harbour lights, and all other
matters conducive to the safety or convenience of the shipping
frequenting the port of Liverpool in an independent public
body, elected by the persons who pay rates for the maintenance
of such works and objects as aforesaid, and for the making
provision for the application of the Town Dues solely to ship-
ping purposes, so long as they continue to be levied.
A close and careful examination of the proposed measure
has so satisfied your directors of its policy and justice, that they
have had no hesitation in joining its promoters i❑ their petition
for leave to deposit such bill.
The Chairman, in addressing the meeting, reviewed
some of the main features contained in the report, and
1 next justified the course of hostilities with China which
I have just been pursued in the bombardment of Canton.
China had shamefully violated treaties, and therefore it
was right that she should be taught to respect them. She
had also insulted British merchants, which showed her
treacherous character, and consequently, we were bound
to adopt strong measures to keep her in order. (Hear,
hear.) He congratulated the commercial world that since
the close of the war our exports had increased by
..e20,000,000, amounting, this year, to 8115,000,000, thus
showing our commercial and manufacturing prosperity;
but there was one cloud which darkened it;
and to which he regretted having to refer. He alluded to
the probable distress which was likely to be felt, and before
long, too, in this community and the manufacturing
districts, from the inadequate supply of the raw material
which afforded employment to a vast number of the
inhabitants of this district. (hear, hear.) From 1847 to
1856 the imports of cotton from the United States into
England had doubled. In 1847 the imports was 1,234,000
bales, and in 1856, 2,467,000 bales; but, in the face of
this, such was the progress of British manufactures, and
the extension of the cotton trade, that whereas at the end
of 1847 the stock on hand at Liverpool was 450,000 bales,
or 20 weeks' consumption, in 10 years afterwards, that was
in 1856, with an import of 2,467,000 bales, they ended the
year with a stock on hand at Liverpool of only 332,000
bales ;or eight weeks' consumption. (Hear, hear.) The
estimated crop from America this year was only 3,000,000
bales, and at the present rate of consumption we could not,
with that estimate, have anything to spare in hand at the
end of the year ; for at the present time the United
States and the continent were using as much cotton
as Great Britain herself. (Hear, hear.) This, then, was
a very serious questiou. How were they here to provide
for the contingency to which he had alluded ? The manu-
facturer here had been in the habit of putting himself into
a railway train, going down to Liverpool, and telling his
broker to buy him so much cotton, but if the state of affairs
to which he had alluded should be realised, what was to be
done ? He believed that it all the spindles now in operation
continued going, and those additional ones which he (the
chairman) knew were to be set in motion, should be in use,
there would not be a bale of cotton in Liverpool at the end
of 1857. (Hear, hear.) The consequence would be that
either cotton would get to such a price that those who were
the weakest must stop their works, and an immense number
of n.,ople be thrown out of employment, or otherwise the
entire stock of cotton would be exhausted. (Hear, bear.)
What, then, was to be done ? Ten years ago, they, in that
room, had reflected on what was now approaching. Africa,
Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, and the West
Indies, had all been spoken of, and, in time, those places
would, no doubt, supply this country with cotton. The East
India Company ought long ago to have made that country
a cotton producing country—(hear, hear, and cheers)—and
if India had been in the hands of the Yankees it would long
ago have been such long since. (Renewed cheers.) There
was land enough in the East Indies to grow all the cotton
, that was P wanted here, and it was the duty of the
! company to facilitate its growth. He did not

SOUTHE.RN HOSPITAL.

report. From this it appeared that the total number of
patients treated during the past year was 3,613—a
slight decrease compared with last year, principally in
the out patients. There had been a great increase of the
more serious accidents. There were 25 submersion cases,
the patients in which all recovered—a number far
exceeding those in any other institution in Liverpool.
The wards were in a healthy condition, and not a single
case of erysepelas had arisen in the hospital. The propor—
tion of deaths was less than in the preceding year, being
on the whole number of cases only 18 per cent. The
report mentioned with congratulation that the hospital
is at present out of debt, with a considerable balance in
hand—a state of things which had mainly arisen from
large legacies having been received during the year.
The desirability, however, was pointed out, of increasing
the subscription list till it should be on a level with the
expenditure. The difficulty of procuring trustworthy
nurses for the hospital was referred to. The report
next referred to the discussions which had taken place
in committee and in the public papers in reference to
rule 19, limiting the period of sercice of the honorary,
medical officers; and, in closing, adverted to the elec-
tion of that day.
From the treasurer's statement it appeared that the
expenditure during the year was £2,167 12s, having
started with a balance of £332 3s 4d. The balance this
year amounts to £652 6s 2d.
On the motion of Mr. t'amuel Jones, seconded by Mr.
James Bland, the report and the treasurer's statement was
adopted.
The Rev. John Robberds moved chat the thanks of the
meeting he presented to the president, James Ingram,
Esq., for his services during the past year, with the
sincere regret that to had bee,' precluded by illness from
manifesting his endeavours in favour of the hospital, and
with their best wishes for his rereora.tion.
Mr. Houghton seconded the motion.
Mr. W. Fisher said he could not allow this opportunity
to pass without expressing his great regret that the chair-
man and the committee had been the objects of attack,
through the press, in a most unjustifiable way. He trusted
that those gentlemen who commenced this year by
attacking the chairman, and through him the committee,
bad lived to regret so unjustifiable an attack. He was
sure, whatever Mr. Ingram's health had been, he had
alwas used his best endeavours to promote the objects of
the institution. He would not call to recollection the fact
that, when the hospital was in debt to the amount of
£3OOO, Mr Ingram and the late Mr. Yates came to its
assistance (Applause.)
On the motion of Mr. R. A. Jones, seconded by Mr.
Rogers, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. James
Houghton, the treasurer, for his valuable services during
the year.
On the motion of Mr. S. Martin, a vote of thanks was
unanimously passed to the Rev. D. T. Barry, the honorary
chaplin, and his assistants.
Mr. Norman moved " That the thanks of this meeting
be given to the honorary medical officers for their continued
and attentive discharge of their indispensable duties ; and
this meeting desires to convey to the retiring honorary
surgeons, Mr. Churton and Dr. Petrie, their sense of the
important services for which the hospital had been indebted
to them ever duce the opening of the institution." (Ap-
plause).
Mr. Chaloner seconded the resolution, which was carried
by acclamation.
Thanks were next accorded to the clergymen and
ministers who had advocated the claims of this charity
during the last year.
Mr. Fisher moved thanks to the donors of money and
various articles, and to the ladies who had sent linen for the
use of the hospital. He expressed satisfaction at the favour
able state of the accounts, which was such as few of them
ever expected to see a few years ago. He could not but
regret, however, that they were so much indebted to donors,
and he thought that a great many parties could be induced
to subscribe if they were waited upon and solicited by
members of the committee. Their subscription list was a
very small one, scarcely one half of the annual expenditure.
Mr. Pierce seconded the motion, which was carded
unanimously.
Mr. Houghton, the treasurer, moved that the thanks of
the meeting be given to the house surgeons and matron, for
their zealous attention to the interests of the institution.
He spoke warmly of the services rendered both by the house
surgeons and matron in the economical working of the
establishment.
Mr. Rogers, in seconding the motion, said he was sure
they had never had house surgeons more zealous to reduce
expenses. Their attention and diligence had been remarked
by every member of the committee.—Carried unanimously.
Mr. Halhead moved that Mr. Farnworth be appointed
president for the ensuing year.
The Rev. Mr. Robberds seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. Faraworth returned thanks.
Mr. Kendall then moved the appointment of the com-
mittee and officers ; and Mr. John Aikin seconded the
motion.
Mr. Fisher called for one part of the resolation, relating
to the re-election of the medical officers, to be put sepa-
rately. He wished to know whether they could possibly,
by rule 19, re-elect Mr. Minshull, his term having expired.
They had been accused, through the press, not only with
violating a rule, but every rule of common decency.
The Chairman said it was competent in Mr. Fisher to
move an amendment ; but the committee recommended, for
peace and quietness, and the welfare of the institution, that
matters should remain as they are for another year.
It was agreed to put the resolution as to the re-election
of the medical officers separately.
The Rev. Mr. Robberds moved that the following be
the medical officers for the ensuing year :—Joseph Churton
and James Petrie, honorary consulting surgeons ; James
Cameron, honorary physician ; J. B. Minshull, J. Notting-
ham and R. Hamilton, honorary surgeons. Ho stated that
by law 19, as recently revised, it was decreed that the
honorary medical officer should be subject to re-election at
the annual meeting of the trustees, but no surgeon
or physician should be elected for longer than ten years'
service, except to those elected previous to 1856, Those
who had been elected 16 or 17 years had been declared
carried in 1855. There was a dispute on that point
but the committee had agreed to receive it and hold it as
carried.
Mr. Chaloner seconded the motion.
Mr. Fisher moved, as an amendment, that the resolu-
tion be carried, with the exception of the name of Mr.
Minshull. He went at great length into the question of
a dispute which had arisen within the last two years as
to the term for which the medical officers should hold
office f•and stated that, at the annual meeting, in 1855,
the resolution which the medical officers contended for
was carried by the vote of the four medical men them-
selves.

Mr. Churton and Mr. Cameron both declared that they
did not vote.
Mr. Fisher reiterated his statement, and called for a
letter to be read which the chairman, instructed by the
committee, had inserted twelve months since in the
public papers, in reply to some strictures in another
letter, published by Mr. Minshull and Mr. Churton.
Mr. Clarke seconded the amendment.
Mr. Cameron called on Mr. Fisher to retract what he
had said. Neither Mr. Churton or himself voted upon
the occasion.
Dr. Petrie also complained of an assertion which Mr.
Fisher, in his speech, had made affecting him, and said,
that he had not the slightest foundation for it.
After a very irregular discussion,
Mr. Fisher said he did not think that Mr. Cameron or
Mr. Churton would state what was wrong, and therefore
withdrew his remark ; but, whilst doing so, he moved
adherence to the rules str ctly. He then again desired to
have the letter read, written by Mr. Ingram, which bad
appeared in the public papers ; but the meeting declined
to enter into the controversy which it would open out.
In answer to Mr. John Aikin, Dr. Petrie stated, that
Mr. Minshull had been in office for little more than
The annual meeting of the trustees of the Southern fifteen years.
Hospital was held at the Clarendon rooms, South John Mr. Aikin said, seeing that the committee were doubtful
street, yesterday afternoon. whether he could hold the office, he asked Mr. Minshull
Prior to the meeting, however, the election of two whether it was his wish to extend his period of servitude
honorary medical officers for the institution, took place. upon a doubtful ground ?
There were nine candidates, and the election resulted in Mr. Minshull replied that it was not a doubtful matter.
choice of Dr. Nottingham, who had 157 vot,-s, and Mr. He wished it to go to a vote.
R. Hamilton, of Gieat George square, who had 124 Some further discussion took place, and the amend-
votes. The next highest upon the list was Mr. Alfred went of Mr. Fisher was then put to the meeting, and
Higginson, who had 111 votes; the remainder of the negatived by a large majority.
candidates were in a considerable minority. The voting Mr. Minshull said it was a matter of no consequence to
occupied upwards of two hours. him whether he was elected or not ; hut now that
At the annual meeting. which took place at half past the result was known he begged to hand to the chair-
three o'clock, on the moiion of Mr. Halhead, man a letter, which he requested to be read to the
Mr. Councillor Farnworth was called to the chair. meeting.
He said he believed their business that day was mereiy Mr. Bland and other gentlemen urged Mr. Minsbull
one of routine. They were aware that this was an to withdraw his letter, which he ultimately did, with.
annual meeting of trustees for the purpose of electing apparent reluctance. •
a committee, passing the accounts, and other matters Mr. Minshull next proposed, in accordance with notice,
that might arise out of the meeting. He supposed they "In law 4, after the words, no person whose subserip-
had better take them in order. They were aware they tion is unpaid shall have any of the privileges of the
had had an election today. They had nine candidates. institution,' to add the words, 'or until three months
He believed all very eligible. According to their rule
the election had been conducted by voting papers. after the first payment.'"
Mr. Seawright seconded the resolution.
The successful candidates were Dr. Nottingham, who Mr. Halbead, seconded by Mr. Platt, moved as an
had 157 votes; and Mr. Hamilton, who had 124 votes. amendment, that the law remain in its present state,
After the usual business connected with the annual which, after an irregular discussion, was carried by a
meeting was over, Mr. Minshull had given notice of considerable majority.
several motions, which, if he was of the same mind, he tion proposed by Mr. Minshu'
The next resolution, ‘l, to add
to law 6, " That one-third of the committee shall consist
would be prepared to move.
Mr. Thomas Frost un , asked if that was a meetiuo-
of new members, to be elected at the annual meeting,"
J ,
was also rejected by a large majority.
of subscribers or taustees?
—" In law 19, that the term of
Mr. Minshull then withdrew the third resolution of
The Chairman replied that any person subscribing a which he had given notice:
guinea per annum was a trustee, and had the power to office for the honorary medical officers shall be fifteen
vote at that meeting. instead of ten years."
The Rev. John Robberds, the secretary, then read the The meeting afterwards broke up.