The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-30 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL HUMANE SOCIETY.

A meeting of the members of this Society was held yes-
terday in the Magistrates' Room, Sessions House, for the
purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Com-
mittee appointed by the public meeting held in the month of
January last, and for the permanent establishment of a So-
ciety to prevent and mitigate the evils of Shipwreck on the
coast.

The MAYOR presided.—His Worship briefly explained the
objects for which the meeting was convened. They were
aware that a provisional committee was appointed in the
month of January last, to relieve the sufferings of those who
sustained any loss or grievance from the effects of the dread-
ful hurricane with which the country in general, but Liver-
pool more especially, was at that time visited—and also, to
reward individuals, who at the risk of their own lives, ex-
erted themselves to preserve the property and lives of others.
The committee had called them together to submit the re-
port of their operations, and in that respect they recom-
mended the permanent establishment of a society, having
for its object, -the mitigation of the evils of shipwrecks, the
preservation of life and property, and the rewarding of per-
sons:who may in any way contribute to promote so benevo-
lent and desirable a purpose. If that suggestion were ap-
proved of by the meeting, it would remain for them to adopt
such measures as might appear to them most expedient for
the permanent establishment of such an institution.
The SECRETARY then read the report, which will be seen
on reference to our advertising columns.
Mr. HORSFALL said the report was very gratifying, but
there was one part of it, which stated that relief had been
extended to a great number of persons, and which he thought
admitted of improvement. This indefinite manner of de-
scribing the quantity of persons relieved, was not so satis-
factory as if the numbers were specifically mentioned. As it
at present stood, the assistance might have been extended to
one hundred or a thousand ; he wished, therefore, that this
deficiency should be supplied, and the precise number stated.
The report having been thus amended,
Mr.C. HORSFALL moved, and Mr. C RAwnorr seconded
the motion, that the report just read be confirmed, and that
the thanks of the meeting be given to the provisional commit-
tee, for the judicious manner in which they have carried out
the objects of the meeting of the 9th January last.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
The accounts of the treasurer, which also appear in our ad-
vertising columns, were then read, and confirmed.
The MAYOR then stated, that it now remained for the meet-
ing to decide upon the recommendation cor tabled in the re-
port, for the permanent establishment of a Humane Society
in liverpool.

Mr. JAMES AIKIN then rose and proposed the following
resolution, which, as it set forth the reasons, and demon-
strated the necessity that existed for having such a society
permanently established, with more force and precision, than
he could employ, he would contentliknself with merely read,
ing it to the meeting. It was urge'd, by several correspon-
dents, that it would be desirable and most beneficial, if the
society, in addition to adopting the most efficacious means
for saving the lives of persons from shipwrecks, should attach
to it the duties of a Humane Society generally, as in London,
and that both objects should be combined. The preliminary
committee did not know how that suggestion might be ap-
proved of by the subscribers ; and they, therefore, deemed it
more proper to confine their views to accidents that should
occur in the docks, canals, and the river, thus following the
practice of the Humane Society in London, and a small in-
stitution of a similar kind in Manchester. He had received
much useful information on the subject, from a gentleman
who had written some pamphlets respecting it, and in one of
those he recommended that the two objects should be com-
bined. As regarded the saving of life from shipwreck, this
locality was extremely advantageous for the accomplishment
of such an end, as, by the telegraph giving constant informa-
tion of accidents occurring, and by the acquirements that
could be made on all parts of the neighbouring coast,
the society would be enabled to hold out strong inducements
to all parties to render immediate assistance ; and instead of
the society being at the expense of having a life-boat, steam-
boats in general would find it to their interest to render such
succour. He hoped that the Dock Committee would have a
steam-boat attached to the Dock Trust, and although it had
been said such a measure would be injurious, and attended
with a great expense, and that a boat, though nominally kept
for such a purpose, would be only used as a pleasure-boat
by the Dock Trustees. He trusted they would incur that
expense ' • and if even they did use the boat for pleasure trips
occasionally, it would be attended with advantage, inasmuch
as it would enable them to see the state of the banks, and
take the requisite means for improving the navigation of the
river. Mr. A. then referred to the great sacrifice of life that
was occasioned during the late hurricane, owing to the Dock
Trust Committee not having a steam boat of their own, with
a sufficiently powerful engine, to take out the life-boat, and
render the assistance they otherwise could have afforded, and
was then urgently required. As to the expense, that was a
minor consideration, in comparison with the loss of life that
it would have prevented. No money could be better spent
than that which is expended to preserve the lives of our fellow
men, and he therefore trusted that the Dock Committee
would :see the advantage of attaching a steam-boat to their
service. But whether or not, while steam-boats were so
numerous as they were along the coasts—while goverament-
boats, with tenders attached to them, were on the river, the
committee did not think that it would be desirable of this
soci

iety to lay out the funds of the society for the purchase of
a steam-boat, but rather to hold out rewards as an induce-
ment to masters and others to interfere and give assistance
whenever it may be wanted. One of the advantages of this
society would be, that it would convert the plunderers of
shipwrecks into the savers of property, and this of itself was
a most desirable object, for, he believed, that nothing so dis-
graceful prevailed amongst any people as the system of plun-
der that is to be witnessed along the coasts, even almost
within hail of our own doors, whenever a shipwreck takes
place. For the protection of property thus driven ashore,
it was recommended that a small coast guard should be esta-
blished ; the expense of such an establishment would be fully
defrayed by the increase the revenue would derive from the
property saved from plunder. Another advantage would re-
sult from the formation of this society, by the rewards it will
confer. It would make the plunderers see that they could
get more for saving than for making away with property that
may happen to fall into their hands, for at present they sell
whatever comes into their possession at a quarter less than
its real value. Stated depots for property thus preserved
must be established, and by the benefits which the salvor as
well as the proprietor would receive, from following this sys-
tem, the community would experience immense advantages.
Mr. COTESWORTH seconded the resolution.

Mr. HEYWORTH, before the resolution was put, begged

to suggest an addition to it, which he thought would be a
salutary one. He wished it to be stated that the society
should have the power of giving remuneration to the maker
1_817.7.±...i.nr0t:' ittriiid'nignsllolll6
been made, of the practicability of building light-houses on
moving sands ; various other inventions, tending to mitigate
the evils of shipwreck, may be brought forward, and as these
objects were within those contemplated by the society, he
hoped that they would be empowered to give rewards to the
authors of such beneficial improvements. As the prevention
of evils was better than the mitigation, and from the consi-
deration of humanity, he begged to propose an amendment
to the resolution, that the society be authorised to confer
rewards on individuals for well-digested, beneficial inventions
for the prevention of the evils of shipwreck.
The MAYOR suggested to Mr. H. the propriety of permit-
ting the resolution to pass, and then proposing his amend-
ment as a distinct resolution. Mr. Heyworth acceded.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. AIKIN submitted that the resolution embraced the
views suggested by Mr. H., as appeared from the tenor of
that part of it which stated, that not only those who actually
preserved, but were " instrumental " in preserving human
life, were to be rewarded.
Several gentlemen recommended that this matter should
be left to the direction of the Committee.
The MAYOR said it would be more judicious to do so, and
Mr. Heyworth stated he would not press his amendment.
Mr. AixiN observed, that amongst the valuable corres-
pondence he had received, were several communications
from Sir W. Hillary, with whom originated the Humane
Society of London. He gave some most valuable informa-
tion, and if honorary rewards were to be given, as undoubt-
edly' would be the case, that gentleman would be the first
entitled to one. It was therefore better to leave the confer-
ring of honorary rewards and medals to the judgment of the
Committee.

Alderman BOOTH proposed the next resolution, recom-
mending that donations and subscriptions should be forwarded
in support of the society, from other towns in the country,
which were as much interested in its objects as Liverpool.
Mr. CORRIE seconded the resolution, and it was adopted.
Mr. LAWRENCE HEYWORTH moved the following resolu-
tion—That a donation of not less than £lO will constitute
a member for life, and that a subscription of £1 will consti-
tute an annual member, each being only qualified to give one
vote.

Mr. T. B. HORSFALL seconded the resolution, and it was
unanimously carried.
Mr. R. EDWARDS moved that in addition to the com-
mittee formed, with the power of granting rewards, other
committees and sub-committees should be nominated, as
necessary to carry out the society. It being proposed, that
the chairman and members of the Dock Trust Committee,
should be ex officio members of the managing committee of
the Humane Society.
Mr. EVANS stated, that the duties of the two officers
might interfere and clash with each other, and that on the
question of expense for instance, he might be called upon to
approve of in one place what his duty in another might com-
pel him to condemn. He therefore thought, that the chair-
man and members of the Dock Committee should not be
included in the committee now proposed.
Alderman BOOTH expressed a similar opinion.
Mr. AIKIN could not conceive how any clashing or collision
could take place in the discharge of the same. duties—in the
promotion of the same object,. though in different spheres.
If there was any clashing to be apprehended, he hoped it
would be in the emulation of each institution to save the
lives of their fellow creatures, and he trusted, that in this
struggle, which they should have been engaged in before,
they would steadily and zealously persevere. The object in
nominating these gentlemen ex officio members of the com-
mittee, was to give the society weight and authority, and
thereby to encourage persons unacquainted with the society
to send in their subscriptions.
On this objection of Mr:
E., a lotig desultory conversation
occurred, but finally, the resolution, which was seconded
by Mr. ASHLEY, was adopted.
Mr. J. HINDS proposed, and Mr. POTTER seconded a re-
solution, specifying the time and circumstances under which,
ordinary and special meetings of the society are to be held.
Thanks were then voted to the Mayor, and the meeting
seperated.

Mrs. Gardner, aurist, the fame of whose numerous cures
has spread far and wide, is now in Liverpool, and to those
labouring under that distressing malady deafness, no oppor-
tunity of obtaining more immediate and efficacious relief can
present itself. _ , -

A HIGHWAY ROBBER.—On Friday evening, between nine
and ten o'clock, on the Wavertree road, near to where the
railway crosses, a young lady was stopped by a highwayman,
whO presented a pistol to her breast and demanded her mo-
ney. She screamed out, and some persons approaching, the
man took to his heels ; but he was soon pursued, captured,
and placed in the hands of the police. His name is Henry
Smith. He was brought up next morning at Kirkdale, before
Mr. Rawson and Mr. Rodick, and committed to prison. A
true bill was found against him, he pleaded guilty, and was
sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.

THE WRECK OF THE " YEOMAN."—Attempts are now
making to raise the hull of this fine vessel, which was
wrecked off Heysham Lake, near this town, in the great gale
of January last ; the captain and crew being all lost, with
the exception of one man. She was bound for Demerara,
and had on board several hogsheads of coals, and other
heavy materials. At a sale on the coast, the ill-fated vessel
and her cargo were sold for £4O, reserving to the owners a
box of dollars (which was stowed away under the captain's
berth), if ever it should be recovered. The purchasers were
a number of Heysham and Poulton fishermen, who raised
the money among them, and made several attempts, but
without success, to raise the sunken vessel, a part of whose
hull may yet be seen at low water. They have accordingly
summoned Mr. Barnes, of Liverpool, formerly of Warton,
who brings to his tasks diving bells and other apparatus for
raising vessels and recovering the cargo, besides much expe-
rience in his work. The terms of his contract are, that he
shall have half the value of what he may recover, and it is
likely to be a profitable one, as Mr. Barnes is sanguine in
his expectations of raising the vessel. Should she, however,
be too firmly imbedded in the sand for this, Mr. Barnes
thinks there will be no difficulty in taking out the cargo,
after which he will blow the wreck to pieces for the sake of
the timber. His success is looked for with much anxiety
on the4oast—Lancaster Guardia*.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,