The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-15 00:00:00

PROMOTIONS.

The Rev. Thomas Walker, M.A., Prebendary of Wolver-
hampton, has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Wor-
cester to the Rectory of Abbott's Morton, Worcestershire,
void by the resignation of the Rev. Thomas Eades, M.A.,
patron, George I. A. Walker, Esq.
The Duke of Richmond has appointed the Rev. William
Sergison, M.A. Rector of Slaugham, Sussex, to be one of
his Grace's chaplains.
Rev. William Dodsworth Bates Bertles, M. A. of Pem-
broke College, Cambridge, to be one of the Domestic Chap-
lains to the Earl of Mountcashel.

Rev. Thomas James Rocke, to the Rectory of the Holy
Trinity, Exeter ; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Exeter.
Rev. W. Hepworth, to the Rectory of Cougham, Nor-
folk, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. R. E. Nelson;
patron, James Jarvis, Esq. of King's Lynn.
Rev. Mr. Sneyd, to the Perpetual Curacy of Witton Gib-
bert. Durham, vacant by the death of the Rev. Dr. Rich-
ardson, of Brasenose College ; patrons, the Dean and Chap-
ter of Durham.

Rev. Richard Rawle, M. A., of Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, to the Rectory of Cheadle, Staffordshire, vacant by
the death of the Rev. D. Pritchett ; patrons, the Master and
Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Rev. Richard G. Leaton Blenkinsop, M. A. of Trinity
College, Cambridge, and Curate of Ryton, to the Perpetual
Curacy of the new Church at Chadworth, Duttarn ; patrons,
the Dean and Chapter of Durham.
Rev. W. H. Teale, M. A. of St. John's College, Cam-
bridge, late Perpetual Curate of Asgarby, Lincolnshire, to
be Assistant Curate of the Holy Trinity Church, Leeds.
Rev. A. Clements, M. A., Curate of Norton IVlalreward,
Somerset, to the Chaplaincy of the Keynsham Union Work-
house, void by the Rev. W. H. Braund, appointed to a
Grammar School at Martock, Somerset.
Rev. J. Raven, B. A. late of Emmanuel College, Cam-
bridge, Rector of Mundford, Norfolk, to the Rectory of
Langford-Cum-Igburgh, Norfolk, vacant by the resignation
of the Rev. W.- Newcome ; patron, Lord Ashburton.
Rev. Arthur Davis, to the Curacy of St. Bride's, Dublin,
vacant by the appointment of the Rev. W. H. Higgin-
botham, to the Curacy of St. Mary's.
Rev. Edward P. Brooke, to the Rectory of Drumgoland,
diocese of Dromore.

Rev. Mr. Kent, Curate of Lurgan, to the Rectory of
Annahilt ; patron, the Bishop of Dromore.
Rev. Charles Faloon, Curate of Annahilt, to the Curacy
of Lurgan.

PUBLIC CEREMONIAL AT THE OPENING OF
THE SPLENDID BUTE DOCKS, AT CARDIFF.'

CARDIFF, OCT. 10.—Wednesday, the 9th inst., being ap-
pointed for opening the splendid docks and ship canal at
Cardiff, so munificently undertaken and completed at the
cost of the Marquis of Bute, the town of Cardiff presented a
most animating appearance, there being a vast influx of people
from all the neighbouring towns—from Merthyr and from the
hills—all anxious to unite in one general tribute of respect to
their common benefactor, and we were delighted to witness
the enthusiasm with which the name of the noble lord was
received by all classes and. persons of every shade of opinion.
The importance of this undertaking can only be duly esti-
mated by considering the vast improvements which have been
made and are now daily making in Bristol and throughout
South Wales, new harbours being established, villages rising
into towns of importance, and fishing stations becoming busy
seaports. The improvements of machinery also will, by
means of these docks and the Bristol and Exeter Railway,
open a direct and speedy communication between Cardiff and
London through Bristol, as the distance from Cardiff to Bris-
tol, 12 miles by sea to Uphill, and thence 22 by railway, may
be performed in something less than two hours, in addition
to its being a certain passage practicable at all states of tide.
Our reporter, anxious to procure as correct a description
of the works as possible, has been kindly furnished by Mr.
Cubitt and Mr. Turnbull, the engineers, with the following
interesting particulars :
" The river Taff, which falls into the sea at the portof Car-
diff, forms a principal outlet for the mining districts, with
which Glamorganshire abounds ; the produce of these mines
has hitherto found its way to Market through the Glamor-
ganshire Canal, but its lock, constructed about 40 years ago,
has long been found inadequate to the demands for increased
accommodation, consequent upon the extraordinary increase
of trade since the canal was opened, some idea of which may
be formed from the fact, that according to the Canal Com-
pany's Report, 123,234 tons of iron and 226,671 tons of coal
passed down in 1837—making a total of 349,905 tons, or about
1100 tons per day.
" The Marquis of Bute possessing lands in the neighbour-
hood of Cardiff, and especially an extensive tract called Car-
diff Moors, where docks, wharfs, and warehouses, might be
constructed to any extent, and a convenient outlet made into
the well-known safe roadstead, protected by the the headland
of Pennarth, obtained, in 1830, an act for new constructing a
new harbour, to be called ' The Bute Ship Canal,' and has
completed this great work at his individual expense.
" The principal advantages of the undertaking are as fol-
low:--A straight open channel N.N.E. and S.S.W. about
three-quarters of a mile in length from Cardiff roads to the
new sea gates, which are 45 feet wide, with a depth of 17 feet
water at neap, and 32 feet at spring tide. On passing the
sea gate, vessels enter a capacious basin, having an area of
about an acre and a half, called the outer basin, calculated
to accommodate vessels of great burden and steamers ; the
main entrance lock is situated at the north end of this outer
basin, 152 feet long, and 36 feet wide, sufficient for ships of
600 tons.

" Beyond the lock is the inner basin, which constitues the
grand feature of this work. It extends in a continuous line
from the lock to near the town of Cardiff, 4,450 yards long,
and 200 feet wide, an. area of near 20 acres of water, capable
of accommodating in perfect safety from 300 to 400 ships of
all classes. Quays are built on each side for more than, two-
thirds of its length, finished with strong granite coping, com-
prising nearly 6,000 feet, or more than a mile of wharfs, with
ample space for warehouses, exclusive of the wharfs at the
outer basin. To keep the channel free of deposit, a feeder
from the river Taff supplies a reservoir 15 acres in extent,
adjoining the basin. This reservoir can be discharged at low
water by means of powerful sluices with cast-iron pipes five
feet in diameter, and by 10 sluices at the sea gates, so as to
deliver at the rate of 100,000 tons of water per hour.
" The feeder was commenced in 1834, the first stone of the
docks laid on the 16th March, 1837, and the last coping-stone
laid on the 25th May, 1839.
71" Some doubts existed whether sufficient water could be
supplied to keep the channel clear, but experience has already
shown that the daily discharge is more than adequate to the
removal of the daily deposit, and in fact a considerable por-
tion of the entrance was cleared by loosing the clay and mud,
so as to be carried out by the power of the sluices."
Some idea of the vastness of this undertaking may be
formed from the fact of its having already cost the noble
Marquis about £300,000, and an addditional expenditure of
considerable amount will be incurred in the erection of ware-
houses, &e. along the quays.
At an early hour on Wednesday the firing of cannon, ring-
ing of the church bells, and bands of music proceeding through
the streets, announced that the ceremonial was about to begin.
At halt -past six o'clock the procession, upwards of a mile
in length, composed of the various trades with emblems and
banners ; the architects, engineers, and workmen ; the gentry
and inhabitants of Cardiff and the neighbourhood ; the con-
suls of various nations, and the mayor and corporation of
Cardiff, proceeded from the castle to escort the noble marquis
to the docks, the gates of which were opened at high-water,
about eight o'clock, amid the joyous shouts of about 14,000
spectators, comprising the rank, fashion, and beauty of Car-
diff and its vicinity, when the Lady Charlotte steamer, Capt.
H. T. Parfit, entered the lock, towing in the schooner
Celerity, of Cardiff', the temporary batteries on each side firing
salutes ; the Sampson steamer followed, with the fine ship
Manlius, with 1140 tons of timber, from Quebec, consigned
to Messrs. Watson and Co., and which fortuitously reached
the dock-gates almost at the moment of their opening, and
entered the dock without casting anchor from the time of
her leaving Quebec. _ _

Two or three vessels followed, presenting a truly enliven-
ing appearance, being decorated with the flags of various
nations, the yards manned, and decks crowded with specta-
tors. We should add, that the Nautilus steamer, Captain.
Allen, which had been permitted to enter the basin the pre-
vious evening, also presented a beautifully gay appearance,
being completely covered with flags and other tasteful dedo-
rations. The lock gates were then closed, and the procession
returned to the town. A variety of boat-racing and other
amusements succeeded, the day being closed by a dinner to
Lord Bute, a splendid ball, and a brilliant display of fire-
works. The heavy rain which had fallen the preceding night,
and which rendered the newly made roads about the docks
very dirty, proved the only drawback to the pleasure of a day
which will long live with grateful recollection in the hearts
of the inhabitants of this important and flourishing neigh-
bourhood.

THE DINNER TO THE MARQUIS OF BUTE.
At 5 o'clock the dinner to which the noble lord had been
invited was provided at the Cardiff Arms Hotel, and about
250 gentlemen sat down under the presidency of the right
worshipful the Mayor, Mr. C. C. Williams, supported on
the right by the Marquii of Bute, Lord Viscount Adare, M.
P., Sir John Morris, Bart., Mr. F. Fredericks, the Rev. J.
Webb, vicar of Cardiff, Mr. C. Morgan, M. P., and upon
the left by Lord James Stuart, M. P., Sir John Guest, Bart.,
M. P., Mr. J. Bruce Price, and the Hon. and Rev. T. Tra-
cey. Among the company we observed Mr. T. Booker, of
Velendra, the Chevalier A. B. De Mascarenhas, Consul-Ge-
neral for Portugal; the American, French Prussian, and Sar-
dinian Consuls ; Mr. R. Jones, of Fonmon Castle ; Captain
Fisher, R. N. ; Captain Smyth, R. N. ; Captain Crawford,
R. N. ; Captain Deacon, R. A. ; Captain Howell, Captain
Armstrong, the Rev. Henley Nicholls, E. P. Thomas, H. J.
' Thomas and D. Morgan; Mr. T. Powell, Mr. Somers Har-
ford, of Ebbw-vale, Mr. W. Cubitt, C.E., F.R.S., &c. The
Vice-President's chair was filled by R. Rees, M.D., F.R.S.
Lord Bute's band were stationed in the orchestra, and
played appropriate pieces during the evening.

‘N.NN

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Courier.)
MANCHESTER.—FRIDAY.—We have had another flat
week, with declining prices both for goods and yarns. Some
have endeavoured to account for this unsatisfactory state of
things, from the fact of a large spinner, whose works have
been for some time at a stand, having brought into the market
an immense stock of yarns which he has held for some time,
and which consists of the current numbers, both in mule and
water. We must remember, however, that the shipping
season, so far at least as Europe is concerned is drawing to
close, indeed the buyers for Russia seem already to have
completed their purchases ; and, as regards the eastern
market, we can, for the present, at least, indulge but small
hopes regarding them.
The harvest continues to progress well in these parts, and
there is no doubt that more than an average crop will be
secured.

We are sorry to find that extensive failuress, both here and
in London, have this week been reported.
The news by the Great Western was of no great impor-
tance : she brought over pretty nearly as much specie as was
looked for in the best informed quarters : and now that the
agency of the United States Bank is likely as it would ap-
pear, to fall into responsible hands, we trust the untoward
event which lately befel it will not lead to any disastrous cir-
cumstances. It must occur to all, however that confidence
in its management and means has been considerably shaken ;
and this will, we should hope, induce its managers for the
future to restrict their operations to a legitimate business.
The all-important question of the corn laws has again been
pressed upon our attention, and we have been requested to
state whether we are for a fixed or a fluctuating duty. Now
we have no hesitation, and never had, in declaring at once
that we consider the fluctuating scale as a decided detriment
to all concerned, and therefore that we are for a fixed duty.
On the present system we are entirely at the mercy of the
a few monied speculators, who can raise or depress the
averages just as they please. A.B. and C. are wealthy specu-
lators in, and larger holders of grain ; they wished to have
the duties advanced, A. makes to B. a fictitious sale or
sales at a low price, and B. does the same to C., up go the
duties, and no more grain is imported ; or they have orders
for corn out, which they would have at home at the nominal
duty, A. B. and C. withdraw their stocks from the market,
others do the same, prices advance rapidly, the duty de-
clines to the minium, and in come their purchases just as
they designed. The fixed duty would render the trade more
stable, it would be a greater protection to the farmer and
revenue, and save us, to a great extent, from such violent
derangements of the currency, as those from which we are
now suffering. But then comes the important question,
what should this fixed duty be, in order that the common-
wealth may be insured ? For be it understood, we take no
party view in this matter; we look alike to the interests of
the agriculturist and trader. Now, amongst deserving, in-
telligent, and unbiassed men of all political creeds and
parties, there are a great diversity of opinions on this
point. Some would have a permanent duty of five shil-
lings, others of seven shillings, with a reduction annually, or
at times when it might seem best, till the whole was entire-
ly swept away ; others again, would have no duty at all.
They who are for an entire abolition tell us, that the expenses
and risk necessarily incurred by the importation of grain
from foreign parts, are protection enough for our agricultu-
rists. They insist that a charge on the original cost of not
less, on an average, than lOs per quarter, is incurred thereby,
and that then, supposing the grain to be laid up, an additional
cost for commissions, warehouseing, loss of interest, &c.,
&c.. ensues, of not less that, from 8s to lOs per quarter per
annum. They who would begin with a duty of 7s, and end
with a cypher, take a similar view of the subject to the total
repealers, only, by introducing this descending scale, they
would, as it were, break the fall, they would gradually intro-
duce that change which must of necessity ensue, and hereby,
as they maintain, preserve those who have entered on leases
under the present system from being injured by its being
abolished. The 5s men are doubtful if all the additional
charges arising to the importer will be sufficient for the agri-
culturist's protection ; will be such as to enable him to com-
pete with foreign growers, and continue his cultivation of
grain ; for they would not have us left to the mercy of other
nations for a supply of bread ; better therefore, say they, to
err on the safe side, to give a bounty to the farmer, than run
a risk of the stoppage of the supplies. There are those, too,
who would have the duties varied according to the distances
from our own, of the countries from whence corn is fetched.
But this would be to introduce a very cumbersome kind of
machinery, which, indeed, could hardly be worked, and that
would subject us to endless expenses and disputes. Under
the present system of an equality of taxation, come the corn
from whence it may, we hear of little inconvenience or detri-
ment arising to us, and that our merchants purchase as largely,
and as profitably, in the more distant as in the nearer mar-
kets, in Volhynia, in Hambro', or Rotterdam. But we con-
fess we may see reason to alter our opinion on this point.
We have thus set forth one of the notions which are pre-
valent amongst us with reference to the corn laws. We have
stated most unequivocally, that we are for a fixed rather than
a fluctuating duty. What that fixed duty should be we have
a strong opinion, but it is a question involving such a com-
plexity of interests, and of such immense importance, that
the more we contemplate the more we fear to touch it unad-
visedly. In the mean while we should be glad to see the
opinions of our merchants on the subject, calmly and dis-
passionately expressed, and shall give them the best attention
in our power, with a view to the obtaining of more light.
Nor when it seems to us the fitting time has arrived shall we
be slow to state what the conviction of our own mind is with
reference to the tax to be imposed.
We may further remark that the question is not, as some
have supposed, whether the continentalists will take our goods
in return for their corn, we have a strong suspicion as we
have before said, that they will not to the extent many sup-
pose ; but the question is, is the present corn law a just one ?
And if, after the most unprejudiced survey of all its bearings,
it shall be found so, let us not alter a whit : but if on the
other hand it be found oppressive in any way, let us make
haste to amend it : for nothing which is oppressive can be
for the advancement of the commonweal is what we seek.
Meanwhile our agricultural friends will not suspect us of an
indifference to their interest ; it we had no stronger obligation,
a regard for our own welfare would forbid this. We know
how intimately the plough and the shuttle are connected;
we know that one cannot flourish while the other declines ;
that when the latter ceases its busy task, the former must lie
idle in the furrow. We know the necessity of upholding oar
best customers, and they also will see the advantage of sup-
porting theirs.

SERIOUS AND ALARMING RIOTS AMONGST THE
EXCAVATORS ON THE CHESTER AND BIR-
KENHEAD RAILWAY.

On the line of railway now forming between Birkenhead
and Chester, considerable jealousy has for some time past
been manifested among the workmen, and particularly the
major portion of them engaged in the excavations or
cuttings through the eminences and the filling up or em-
bankments in the hollows. This animosity (as in other parts
of the country where similar works are in progress) had its
origin in the mutual " national" dissent of the English and
the Irish labourers employed—the former entertaining a ge-
neral opinion that the latter flocked too numerously to their
country, and by accepting of a rate of wages below the En-
glish standard, reduced their value in the labour market. In
the present instance, however, the English labourers were,
we learn, mistaken on this point, and the offence seems to
have been taken up by the Irish.
It appeaq that portions of the line taken up by contrac-
tors had been sub-let, as is usual in works of that magni-
tude. One of the sub-contractors, (named Graham,) who is
represented as being a strict master, had engaged English
workmen exclusively. This gave offence to the Irish la-
bourers, who sought retaliation for this preference, as well as
for former supposed grievances.
On Monday last, in consequence of Englishmen being ex-
clusively employed at the middle portion of the line, the
Irish labourers assembled at Childer Thornton to beat them
off, in which they succeeded, by superior numbers and the
employment of dangerous weapons. On the following day,
the English mustered their forces and went along the line,
from Childer Thornton towards Chester, with a determina-
tion to drive the Irish from the field, by way of retaliation.
Near the former place they met the Irish, and a battle ensued
between them. The Irish mustered about three hundred ;
the English about two hundred and fifty. The former were
armed with pick handles, shovels (a kind of sharp spade),
and bludgeons. The English having only sticks, were over-
powered. The neighbourhood was in great alarm, and seve-
ral of the belligerents were severely hurt.
Information of the disturbance having reached the ears of
the magistracy of Birkenhead, Mr. Palmer, the active super-
intendant of the constabulary force of the district, was dis-
patched to the scene of disturbance, with the comparatively
few officers under his command. They reached Childer
Thornton at about four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon ; but
Mr. Palmer, finding his force altogether inadequate to sup-
press the ferment amongst the disturbers, busied himself in
ascertaining the ringleaders, until further assistance could be
procured, and against these he obtained warrants. On Wed-
nesday, Mr. Palmer was active in obtaining further infor-
mation, and on that day the rioters (the Irish) paraded the
village in military array, vowing vengeance against every
Englishman who should work with the obnoxious contractor.
Between Sutton and Childer Thornton they met a party of
English labourers, who, being fewer in numbers, were
obliged to retreat. On this occasion, too, several of them
were severely injured.
On Thursday, in 'consequence of the still excited feeling
and conduct of the victorious party—the Irish— and the
necessity to serve the warrants against the ringleaders, it was
deemed desirable, on the part of the magistrates, to send for
the aid of the military to Liverpool and Chester. We should
premise that the rioters had previously taken possession of
the beer-houses in the hamlet of Childer Thornton, and
helped themselves, ad libitum, to whatever of the good
things of this life tbey could lay their hands upon. With
this exception, they committed no depredation, nor (as has
been rumoured) inflicted any indignity or personal injury
beyond what occurred in the conflict with their " fellow "
workmen.

The military came to the scene of riot on the application
of John Dean Case, Esq., J. P. They consisted of a de=
tachment of the 14th Foot, from Chester, under the corn-
mand of Captain Wilson and a detachment of the 96th Foot,
from Liverpool, commanded by a Major ----. Such were
the arrangements, that both detachments reached. Childer
Thornton nearly simultaneously. Mr. Cae was present,
and, as we learn, contributed much to the restoration of
tranquillity, by his coolness and determination. The village,
where most of the Irish lodge, was, at this time, apparently
in a state of siege, and the inhabitants in great alarm. The
doors of the cottages in which some of the rioters had en-
sconsed themselves were closed and barricaded. Mr. Palmer,
however, backed his horse against several of them, and, the
animal being a " knowing one," kicked out, so that his heels
became an effectual battering ram, and the boards gave way.
Though many of the aggressors fled across the fields, he was
enabled, with the aid of the military, to apprehend twenty-
six of the ring-leaders, who were brought to Birkenhead on
the same night. They were examined on Friday, before Mr.
Case. Sixteen of them were committed for trial at the ses-
sions, to commence on Monday next, at Knutsford ; the
remainder were summarily dealt with, by being fined or held
to bail. It is to the credit of the military, and the consta-
bulary of Birkenhead, that none of the prisoners were hurt
in their capture, though three of Mr. Palmer's men were
much beaten in the cottages before the military came up.
Amongst those who suffered in the several conflicts be-
tween the belligerents, was a labourer named Oxton, of
Bebbington, who was so severely injured by kicks and blows
all over his body, that his life is despaired of. Another
man, (also an Englishman) whose name we could not ascer-
tain, was left in an equally deplorable condition ; and many
of both parties were doubtless injured, whose cases will
remain occult.

The detachment of the 16th reached Birkenhead about
half-past four in the afternoon. They marched to Childer
Thornton, a distance of about eight-and-a-half miles, and,
after arduous duty on the spot, returned on the same night,
reaching Birkenhead at half-past eleven, a distance of nine-
teen miles. Under the able conduct of their officers, they
behaved with great steadiness and temper throughout,—
effectually suppressing the rioters without bloodshed, and
leaving an impression of gratitude on the minds of the
alarmed inhabitants of the neighbourhood. At Birkenhead,
on their return, the officers had coffee, and the men a pint of
ale each. The detachment of the 14th, equally active, and
not less fatigued, returned to Chester. We are bound to
bestow a similar compliment on Mr. Palmer and his little
band of constables, who throughout manfully stuck to their
duty against fearful odds.
The whole of the prisoners were taken after dark, between
seven o'clock and half-past nine.

Wnza
MAXIMS.---" When I am not in office don't pay ;
but when I am in office you must pay."