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

the country should allow that they looked Z3alously after
its interests; for, he believed, there had not been a night
when there was a count out, or when there was not a
sufficient number of members present at prayers. Several
measures were introduced and ware adjourned until the
next session. The only one of great consideration con-
nected with trade was the renewal of the bank charter. It•
would be wrong, perhaps, in him, or any other legislator,
to express any decided opinion upon such an important
question until he had first read the evidence. That evidence
had not yet been printed, and therefore, in the few words
which he should sayrespecting it, he would only state that
he would real the evidence carefully, and also carefully
form his opinion on it. But this he would say, that further
consideration of that important question only confirmed
him in the opinion which he hat long entertained—that
the act was far to stringent. He could not see why an
act necessary, perhaps, in 1844 for the t'''en interests of
• commerce, should be considered necessary in 1857, when
their exports were more than double what they were in
1814. (Hear, hear.) The next question calling for re-
mark was the question connected with the growth of
cotton. It was unquestionably a serious thing that they
should be so entirely dependent as they were upon the
United States for the produeion of cotton—(hear, hear)—
but at the same time he could not quite agree with all his
Manchester friends in the view which they took upon
the question. It was essentially necessary to the com-
merce of this country that every means should be taken
by the East India Company aad the Government to
facilita'e not only the growth of cotton in India, but
what was far more,im portent, to facilita • the transit through-
out that country. Bat, after all, the real question in the
matter was price. It was price only which would do it
—(bear, hear)—but soma persons thought that by
the association they could cause an increased growth of
cotton. So far as he coul Iju ige of the question, the
present high price of Cotton was caused, not so much by
the general consumption of cotton overtaking production,
but by the most unfortunate accident of having two bad
crops in succession in the United States. He
believed himself, that if they had one or two
more favourable seasons for gathering the crop
in the United States, cotton would soon fall
down to a price that would satisfy not only
the manufacturers of this country, but, what was
equally important, would satisfy the general interests of
the country. The next question connected with trade was
the motion that was brought forward by' his friend Mr.
Horsfall. That motion was introduced with the ability
with which Mr. Horsfall brought every motion Wore the
House of Commons (hear, hear) ; but he (Mr. Evart) was
sorry to say that it had not been received in the manner
in which it ought to have been. There were other ques-
tions pending at the time, and under the peculiar circum-
stancet in which Liverpool was placed, it was, perhaps,
rather unfortunate that the subject should have been
pressed on the House at the moment. Mr. Horsfall, how-
ever, had made a pledge to bring forward the motion again,
and he (Mr. Ewa t) would cordially support him in doing
so. (Hear, hear.) It was at his (Mr. E wart's) earnest
request, and that of other friends, that Mr. Horsfall with-
drew the motion ; but it had at least one good effect, that
the short discussion that took place upon it, and the
grievances which Mr. Horsfall so fully stated to the
House, would have the result of relieving the trade and
commerce of the country from some of those vexatious
restrictions which preseeJ upon them. The only other ques-
tion which he (Mr. EWart) thought it necessary to touch
upon was one which had been already alluded to—the
elution of weights and measures. Nothing could be
more absurd than the present system of selling by weights
and measures in this country. In Liverpool they bold
wheat by the bushel, and so with oats and barley, but in
no part of the country was the bushel the same. He hoped,
therefore, that something would be done in the matter, and
that the principle of decimal coinage or some other plan
would be adopted which would simplify the accounts
of the country. (Cheers.) The only other question re-
maining to be referred to, was the question of the town
dues. Tney had had a very hard fight upon the question,
and even at the very last moment he was afraid that all
their exertions would have been of little avail. The
question had, however, fortunately been settled
satisfactorily to Liverpool. (Hear, hear) He would not
enter into the question of their vested rights relative
to those dues. They had, certainly, maintained
their rights before the committee, but there was at this
moment so strong a f eling in the House of Commons
against dues being leveled on trade, and applied to +he
purposes of the town itself, that they would not look at
the question in that proper, legal right, which the people of
Liverpool thought they ought to de. It was, therefore,
desirable that the question sh •uld be settled last session,
and he congratulated every one in the town that it had
been so satisfactorily arranged. (Hear, hear.) It now
only remained for him to repeat his great regret at the
absence of his friend Mr Horsfall, and also at the cause of
that absence. He bad worked hard during the session,
and his health was ro. as strong as he (Mr. Evart) could
wish it. He was doubly sorry then that Mr. Horsfall
was not present, because he was sure Mr. Horatian would
bear him out in the decimation that no two members for
any place ever a;reed on general questions so well as he
and Mr Horsfall did. (Hear. hear.) There were certain
political questions in which they did not agree, but this
he would say, that on every. question connected with
commerce Mr. Horgan and himself went out together into
the same lobby, and as long as they would have the honour
of continuing the representatives of the town in this
parliament at least, the same friendly course would be
pursued by both of them. They would always vote together •
for the general interests of commerce, and he might add
also, for tee interests of the town of Liverpool.—( Applause).
Mr. DANSON also referred to the importance of the
measures referred to in the report, but feared that the
question of the reorganization of the government of India, ,
which would doubtless occupy the attention of the govern- •
ment next session, would prec.ude any chance of their
being carried for some time at least.

The CHAIRMAN said he had omitted to express the
obligation of the chamber to their representatives in
parliament, who had always bean most active in promoting
its views. He also took the opportunity of maintaining
that the chamber had acted properly in taking no part in
the town dues question.
Mr. C. BUSHSI L expressed his regret at the observations
which had fallen from Mr. Ewan, in reference to the
Cotton Supply Association. He (Mr. Bushell) felt
convinced that there never was an object of deeper
importance to the commerce of the country and its general
well-being, than that they should have an ample supply cf
cotton. It was as necessary to them as food ; but, while
they obtained food from all countries, they were dependent
on one country for the supply of cotton. It was not wise
on any ground that a great manufacturing country like this
should be entirelydependent on any one country for its sup-
ply of cotton ; and had Government, twenty-five years ago,
pursued in India the course which the Cotton Supply
Association now recommended, how different would be the
stare of things in that country. The extension of the
growth cf cotton would be the extension of civilisation. and
mo-ality, and he regretted that Mr: E wart should not
regard the association in the light it deserved.
Mr. EWART replied that his observations had not been
clearly apprehended. He thought the Association would
do a gre t deal cf good, and he for one should give it
every support. But what he did say was that it would
not achieve all the benefits nor accomplish all the pur-
poses for which it was intended. Let them improve the
navigation of the rivers of India, and improve the means
of transit throughout the country, and then the increased
price of cotton in England would immediately increase
the cultivation of cotton in other parts of the world. He
hoped he had said nothing against the Association, for he
thought it would be beneficial, and ha most sincerely
hoped it would tneet with success. (Hear, hear.)
The report was then unanirn usly adopted.
On the motion cf Mr. Macfie, seconded by Mr. Forwood,
some few changes were made in the laws of the Chamber.
On the motion of Mr. W. Brown, M.P., seconded by
Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P , thanks were voted by acclamation
to the Cha rman ; after which the meeting separated.

Tun bourn TO INDIA —Captain Forde, of the City
"Club, has made soma suggestions relecting the best
route to India for troops, and the best class of ships to
embuk them in. Ha says :—" Our only independent and
natural high road to India is by the ocean ; we command
that route, b.it have not yet made the best use of it. I
suggest the immediate establishment of a line of first class
iron screw steamships of 5,000 tons measurement each,
and fitted with engines of 1,000 horsepower. These ships
can be so coneructel as to average 300 miles per day, a
rate of speed that would enab!e then to perform theyoyage
to or from Indic, with certainty, in 41 days. The stowage
capacity of e,cla chip would couiprice an ample space for
2,000 troops, with their officers, officers' horses, artillery,
baggage, sad a large amount of munitions of war, together
with twenty-four days' fuel, and the r quisite quantity of
provisions and stores. The political advantages of (31,.eat
Britain, possessing a &Minot available fleet of this descrip-

tion, are so obvious as to require no comment, except to
mention that in the case of an European war, and an
urgent denund for troops, each of these capacious and
powerful vessel., upon an emergency of that nature, could
convey 3,000 men from India and land them at Gibraltar
in thirty-six class, or at Malta in thirty-nine days. Should
neither the Admiralty nor the East India Company feel
disposed to build and manage the ships referred to, such
an addition to our nairnal resources can only be treated
and properly worked by a public company, established
under the auspices other Majesty's government, and which
company, if adequately supported, I am prepared to organ-
ise without delay."