Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-01 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL LAW.

One of the results of the late conference in London was the appoint-
ment of a committee styled the " Mercantile Law Committee of the
United I: ingdom," for the purpose cf carrying out the views nd
opi,ions expresed by the deputies composing the-confercnce See.ng
the impOrtance of such en imtitution, and the valuable aid it may
render to the carious chambers of commerce, your council have made
a grant of 457 towards its expenses, and they have also the satisfac-
tion of reporting th A the General Brokers' A.sociat'on have also con-
tributed .'25 for the same purpose. The codamAtee have nom under
preparation a bill to amend the law of banisruptcy, which has just
been introduced into the House of Lords, and has been printed and
Circulated.

The full. wing subject!, falling under this head, are now b.fore your
committe-, on commercial law, but on no Otte of t' em has effectise
action bean taken, owing to the present state of I olitical aft.irs,
viz.;--1. The registration of partoegships. 2. The law relat-
ing to delivery warnnts for goods. 3. The low as to debtors
residing in for. gn countries. 4. ;The Lew as to common car-
riers. 5. The United Kingdom Writs Bill. 6. 'I he present mode
of conducting the civil con is of assize. And, 7, the incorporati a. of
cham!iiers of commerce. Your Council regret that the Juggmmts
Execution Bill, referred to in the annual report, has been again with-
drawn ; but they trust it will be re.-intritu• ed next session. Another
subj:ct re'atif,g to mercantile customs is also before the coir.mittee,
viz., the o's.taining of informat'on on the customs of trade in buying
and selling in the various ports of the kingdom, with a view to find
how far a g, eater degree of uniformity may be introduced. The com-
mittee, however. have not yet prevented any report upenit.

CONSTITIIIION OF TAB BOARD OF TR,DZ.

Your Council presented a petition to the House of Commons in
favour of Mr. Marga l's motion for a committee to ineptire into the
origin, constitution, powers, and duties of the Board of Trade, with a
view to its better adaptation to the requirements of the country ; and
*committee of the Council was nominated for the purpose of pro-
curing evidence on the subject, and generally in aid of Mr. Hon fall 's
purpose. It is a matter of regret that the mutton was withd, awn ; but
your Council trust that, at, some future opportunity, the effort will be
renewed to adapt the fanctions of so highly important a branch of the
government to the alterell necessiti,s of trade and commerce.

FREE LABOUR QTAISTION.

In accordance with the resolutions passed at the annual general
meeting, in February last, a special committee was appointed to con-
sider the bast means of procuring the introduction of free labour into
the British Colonies ; and acting upon the recommendation of th .t
c mmittee, your Council have been in communication with the go-
vernment, wi h the view of enlisting its aid is the removal of undue
restrictions upon emigration from China, but, as yet, without any fit.
vourable result. The committee, however, continues its functions.
and will further consider what other steps may bi desirable.

DEF CENT SUPPLY OF COTTON.

As a suFjeet kindred to that last referred to, your Council have
given their attention to the Important question ; and the proceedings
of the pubic meeting recently held here, and presi led over by
your president, have put the mummers in possession of the opinions
entertained thereon. The corresponding committee of the Cotton
Supply Ass ciati in, then appointed, have commenced (secret one
and are now on aged in enrolling members and receiving donaticns
and subscriptions. In connection with this matter, your committee
may mention that, as a mains of securing an increased supply of
cotton they forwarded represe;:tations to the government and the
East India Company, impressing upon them the advantage which
w. uld be eerived from the adoption of improved systems of com-
munication between the interior of India a❑d the coat, as also between
the seaports of India and Englan4, for the more complete develop—
ment of the resources of our Indian dependencies, by the encourage-
ment of schemes such as the Euphrates Valley Railway Coninany, the
Navigation of Indian Rivers Company, the North df Indian Trammed
Company, and the Madras Navigation Company.

ISTHMUS 011. SOEZ CANAL.
Fr It may be here mentioned, that your council have placed on rr cord
a resolution expressing their opinion without reference to the prac-
ticability or cost of this scheme, that the completion and maintenance
of such a canal would be of great benefit to the commercial interea's
of the country.