The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-05-04 00:00:00

'Or

Yearly Aulmeription :
In Advance, 125. On Credit, 15s.

TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 4, 1847.

THE harrowing scenes now enacting in unhappy
Ireland afford an interesting and an instructive
lesson to any one who is willing to contemplate
them aright. Here we had until within the last
few months, and have had for centuries past, a
people who clung to the occupation of the soil of
their country with a desperate tenacity, as the only
resource to which they would consent to look for
support. They intrigued for it, • fought for it,
steeped their hands in the blood of assassination
for it. They divided it and subdivided it, until the
small holdings left to each barely furnished the meal
of pOtatoes which was their sole daily food. They
submitted to exactions greater than ever were made
upon a people in modern times. The priest and
the agitator battened upon their substance. The
middleman racked them, and the usurer carried_
off a portion of their store ; whilst mendicancy
and pauperism hung upon their skirts like a swarm
'of locusts in numbers and voracity. Yet still they
-endured, wedded to their old habits, their old pas-
sions, their occasional gaiety even not thrown off,
and -steeped in the romantic superstitions which,
in every other land, the spread of enlightenment
has long ago dispelled.
Whence this strange anomaly in an age like the
present, and in a land forming one of the fairest
portions of the most powerful and civilised empire
of the World? In part, perhaps, we may attribute •
it to the character of the Celtic race—in part to the
benumbing influence which, Popery exercises over
the minds and wills- of those whom she holds
within her grasp. But to other and more potent
influences still we must look for a solution of the
mystery. The population of Ireland have been for
generations past under the spell of a gigantic
hallucination. Prophets have uttered their predic-
tions to foster it and to spread it. Agitators have
Contributed their quota to keep it alive. The
priest from the altar, the midnight legislator, the
half beggar and half seer by the wayside and the
cottage hearth, the legislator in his harangues,
and the poet in immortal verse, have assisted to
rivet its fetters upon the uninformed minds and
enthusiastic hearts of the peasantry. The descen-
dants 'of the dispossessed Celtic owners of the soil
have been taught to look forward to a day of ven-
geance and of retribution—a day of triumph for their
religious faith, and of restoration of the property
and the fabled splendour of semi-barbaric times.
Rebellion they did not scruple to rush into for its
achievement; and when at length taught to look
to moropacific and constitutional means—to the
exercise of the franchise, and the voice of a majo-
rity in Parliament—that franchise was only to be
secured by a holding of the land.
Mighty, however, are the results sometimes of
causes, insignificant in comparison, which man
scarcely observes until they are precipitated upon
him. The hand of Providence, working myste-
rially for some great end, or to impress upon us
some lesson of wisdom or of. duty, struck with
blight the root upon which was placed the frail
dependence of the masses in Ireland for support;
and the dream of centuries is dispelled for ever
the influences which worked incessantly to bind it
upon the minds and the energies of the Irish peo-
ple are rendered powerless, and their gigantic
organisation shattered like a house of reeds. The
population—and that class of it especially which
has clung most firmly to the soil in times past—
the small farmer and yeoman class—are rushing
from the country, emancipated from the thraldom
in. which they have- been held, to seek in other
lands more scope for their energy, and freedom
from the tyranny of agitation and imposture; and
if vessels could be found and money to.transport
them, in twelve months the axes of thousands of
Celtic settlers would be sounding in the woods of
Canada, or clearing the vast prairies of the Wes-
tern States of the American Union.
If there is one lesson more than another to be
gathered from this mighty movement, it is that
God never intended the human race to be crowded
together in any one spot of the earth, whilst there
remain fertile soils to be tilled and made available
for their support ; and that in his own good time
he will disperse that race, and people the earth
which he has made.- That great end is everywhere
in process of accomplishment. Not only Ireland,
but Germany, Belgium, and other countries, are
.pouring forth their redundant population; not the
lame, the halt, and the blind, but the adventurous
and hardy sons of toil, men with thews and sinews
fitted to subdue the stubborn soil; and, unless we
are greatly mistaken, the movement will go on and
acquire increased force as it goes.

ON Thursday night, we observe, a question was
put to the Government by Lord Brougham, asking
whether any, or what steps, they were prepared -Co
take for the relief of Liverpool from the onerous
b-urthen to which she is being subjected by the
continued influx of Irish pauperism and disease,
into her streets, and the reply given was not at all
a satisfactory one. " The subject was under the
attention of government." So, no doubt, is the
war going or. in Mexico, the quarrel between the
Queen of Spain and her spouse, and a host of
other subjects ; and, equally with these, the sub-
ject may remain under consideration until the evil
corrects itself—until Ireland has no fever-smitten,
paupers to send us, and the ratepayers of Liver-
pool are no longer able to support their own poor,
or even themselves.

In such a case as this, very little consideration
need surely be deemed necessary. The injustice of
the position in which Liverpool has been placed,
and in which she appears likely to remain, until
with one bold measure she relieves herself, ought
to be self-evident to ministerial eyes, as it is to those
of all the world besides. The remedy is not diffi-
oult, or far to seek. We have spent already, and
are weekly spending, upon the relief of the mass
of Irish pauperism thrust upon us—twice as much
as would be required to support our own poor in a
state of comparative comfort. Would it be thought
veryunreasonable if Government were to re-imburse
ns this amount out of the funds which they are ex-
pending in unproductive public works in Ireland ?
Certainly. not. We cannot see an objection which
could with any show of plausibility or justice be
urged against such a course. We have had no
part in producing the poverty under which Ireland
Is labouring. We draw neither rent nor taxation
from that country. We never invited or encou-
raged her pauper population to flock to her shores.
Why, then, should this town of Liverpool be con-
verted into a receptacle of Irish misery, Irish dis-
ease, and Irish imposture,—the expense of which,
in addition to the insufferable annoyance which it
entails, is to be borne by us, whilst the whole
nation stand calmly by, watching and wondering,
and, doubtless, laughing, with pockets unbuttoned
and feelings unruffled, at the willingness and pa-
tience with which we bear, not only our own bur-
thens; but Ireland's and their own besides ?
Government can at least effect this much for us.
They can say—" You shall not suffer in the pocket
at all events." But can they repay us the valuable
rives which we have lost and are daily losing !
They cannot. It is a duty, however, which they
owe to us, in common humanity, to protect us from
the further spread of this portion of the evil; and
this it is clearly within the scope of their powers to
effect. A short Bill, which might be passed with-
in a week, would enable us legally to escape the
necessity now forced upon us of planting fever
wards, with the contagion which they engender,
within the parish, crowded as it is with buildings
and with population, and unprovided as, too noto-
riously it is, with the means which CondUce to
health. A short Bill might, for a time, allow u;

the use of the' quarantine Hulks, were it only to
receive that portion of the passengers in the
steamboats, daily arriving in our port, who
are already in a state of incipient fever; or at
least to afford an opportunity to the authori-
ties of purifying the squalid rags in which they
arrive, before permitting them to land and con-
taminate with their touch our more respectable
population. But above all, Government ought
strenuously to push forward the Irish Poor Law
measure, and to give us by its provisions a lever
by which to check, by sending the immigrants back
again, the imposition which is being practised upon
us by those parties—landowners or parish authori-
ties—in Ireland, who arc notoriously finding the
funds, by which these poor beings are transported
to our shores ; and who are deluding them with
hopes and expectations which can never be realised.
If Government do not set promptly to work upon
these measures, or some measures of a like nature,
they will be held responsible by the country for
evils and an amount of mortality, which they little
dream of.

In conclusion, we may direct the attention of
Government to a letter in our columns from Mr.
Harbord, in which their duty, and the duty of our
own authorities, in the present afflicting crisis, is
pointed out with great clearness and impressiveness.

I?I^.FENHEAD DOCKS.—Them were yesterday thirteen
vessels—ten square rigged—in the Birkenhead Docks.
Several of the vessels were of very large tonnage.
The Rev. W. W. Ewbank preaches the annual sermon
in London for the Colonial Church Society to-morrow
( Wednesday) evening, and that for the London Mission-
ary Society on Monday evening next.
SOUTH AME.RICA.-By the ships Swordfish and Rafael,
arrived here, we have advices from Pernambuco to the
30th March, Rio to the Bth, and Bahia to the 16th. There
is no information of public interest.

The Rev. H. M`Neile will preach the annual sermon
for the Church Pastoral-Aid Society on Monday evening
next ; on the following Wednesday he will preach that
for the British Reformation Society ; and on Sunday, the
13th June, for the Ladies' Hibernian Schools.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On the 30th of last month, a man
named William Clare, aged 34, and who resided in John's-
court. Chisenhale-street, while employed in bringing some
waggons up an inclined plane at the New North Docks,
was by accident so much injured, that he died in the
Northern Hospital on Saturday last.
EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a meet-
ing of the Board of Examiners, held on the 27th ultimo,
Captain William Downward, of the Albert Edward, of
Liverpool, was exathined, and found duly qualified for
a first-class master's certificate. Mr. Joseph Curtis Sker-
rett, late second officer of the Litherland, of Liverpool,
was also examined, and found duly qualified for a first-
class mate's certificate.
Tut GRANT TO Timm RAILWAYS.—We find the fol-
lowing names among those members who voted for the
Government grant to the Irish railways :—T. Thorneley,
J. I. Blackburne, J. Brotherton, Captain Gladstone, G.
Hudson, and Sir J. Jervis. The following were amongst
the minority against it :—W. Entwisle, J. W. Patten, E.
Cardwell, P. Ainsworth, Sir P. Egerton, Sir S. R. Glynne,
Sir J. GrahaM, Sir R. Peel, and J,Tollernache.

PICKING POCKETS.—Michael Fenton, a stout man,
mil Frank ivt`Cully. a bov, were yesterday charged at the
Police-court with this offence. On Saturday night, be-
tween ten and eleven o'clock, they were observed by the
detective officers attempting to rob several parties in
Whitechapel, including both males and females. Amongst
the latter was a lady, whom they had robbed of her purse
and its whole contents. They had both been several times
committed, and were sentenced to three months' impri-
sonment.

THE CORPORATION WATER BILL.—A great obstacle to
the further progress of this bill is removed by the with-
drawal of the opposition of the Water Companies, in con-
sequence of the insertion in the bill of clauses for the pur-
chase of the two companies. A multitude of very serious
opponents to the bill still, however, remain, in the shape
of mill-owners, bleachers, landowners, &c., and the com-
mittee of the House of Commons intimated, on Friday, to
the promoters of the bill, that in their opinion proper ar-
rangements had not been made with those gentlemen and
the promoters. On Saturday they were to have an op-
portunity of meeting them, and the result would be an-
nounced to the committee yesterday. Whether, if the
committee reject the Pike scheme, the corporation will
retain that portion which relates to the purchase of the
Bootle and Harrington Companies, we are not informed.
RUNNING OFF WITH A MAWS HAT.—A simple-looking
young Irishman, named James Crow, who appeared to be
somewhat affected by drink, was yesterday charged before
Mr. Rushton with having, on the same morning, at four
o'clock, gone into a bakery ; and, not being accommodated
with a light for his pipe, taking a hat from the head of a
man on the premises, and making off with it. He was
found some time afterwards in the neighbourhood, and
taken into custody. He made a ludicrous defence, saying
it was all in fun ; that ne was a stranger in (meaning from)
Dublin ; that he could not find the way back to the place,
and had offered to pay for it. He insisted that the hat was
finally restored, and that it was the same the complainant
held in his hand. A d note, and other money, were found
upon him. Mr. Rushton ordered him to pay for thehat; and
told the bridewell-keeper to detain him until he was sober.
SMUGGLlNG.—Yesterday, at the Police-conrt, a man
named Charles Hodgson, was charged with having had
concealed on board of the ship Henry Duncan, lying in
the Albert Dock Basin, and of whi h he was steward, a
quantity of foreign manufactured tobacco,---to wit, MI .
lbs. of Cavendish. The article was found behind a bulk-
head, and on being questioned, with a caution, he admit-
ted that it was his property.—A Spanish seaman, Juan
Ferdinand, was charged with smuggling on shore from a
Spanish brigantine, lying in the Prince's Dock, three
gallons of foreign spirits resembling a mixture of rum and
brandy, but probably Spanish brandy, or "Aguardiente,"
which has some resemblance to such a mixture. The
prisoner dropped the keg on the quay when pursued.
Both prisoners were remanded until Thursday, as the
officers of the crown must be written to as to proceeding
against them.
MEETING OF LIBERAL ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF
WARRINGTON.—A second meeting of this distinguished
class of electors for Warrington was held on Friday even-
ing last, at the Nags Head Hotel, in Sankey-street,—J.
Stubs, Esq., in the chair. The deputation appointed at a
former meeting reported that Wiiliam Allcard, Esq., had
esnsented to be put in nomination as a fit person to repre-
sent the borough of Warrington on the liberal interest.
Several parties addressed the meeting. in favour of the
liberal candidate, when it was afterwards declared by a
shew of hands, by those present, that W. Alleard, Esq.,
was well qualified to represent the borough of Warrington
in parliament ; and that each elector present stood pledged
to use his utmost endeavours to secure his return. A
committee was then appointed,. consisting of Messrs.
Collins. Lee, Bolesworth, Cowley, Davies, J. B. Edels-
ten, Wainwright, &c., &c., amounting to forty, with
power to add to ther number ; when thanks being voted
to the chairman, the meeting separated.
NOVEL PLAN OF COMPELLING A
.GOVERNMENT TO DO
ITS DUTY.—We have elsewhere remarked upon the strange
backwardness of Government in paying proper attention
to the claims of Liverpool, to be relieved from the burthen
which is being thrown upon her inhabitants by the im-
migration of pauper Irish into the town. In order to
enforce upon ministers, practically, a sense of the evils
which we are enduring, and to give them a specimen of
the sort of objects, who are contributing, whilst they
drain our pockets, to spread fever and filth amongst us,
it is said to be the intention of a body of the largest con-
tributors to the rates, to pay the fares of a few cargoes of
them, who will be exhibited in Palace-yard immediately
on arrival. Probably they may present themselves at the
doors of both houses, in the same fashion and with the
same clamorous petitions and cadaverous faces, which
daily throng the door's of our over-burthened rate-payers.
If half a dozen cargoes will not suffice to bring ministers
and honourable members to their senses, we can send
more until the object is effected.
AUDIT OF UNION ACCOUNTS.—W. Rees, Esq., the
district auditor, pursuant to notice, attended at the
Warrington Workhouse on Thursday last, to audit the
accounts of the several townships in the union. He went
through the whole of the overseer's accounts for the out-
townships on that day, and on the next morning pro-
ceeded to audit those of the township of Warrington.
Mr. Rees highly eulogised the system adopted by the
overseers of Warrington for keeping accounts and col-
lecting the rates, and stated that he had recommended
the same plan in several of the townships in his district,
particularly Toxthth Park. Mr. Cruikshank, the assistant-
overseer, attended with Mr. Joseph Stretch, senior over-
seer, before the auditor, requesting that the amount of
cost incurred by the overseers in the " vagrancy establish-
ment for the past half year might be allowed by him, as it
was now passed into the hands of the guardians, who had
taken it under their own superintendence. The overseers
had done this on their first having it intimated to them
that all relief of the poor was in the hands of the guar-
dians." Mr. Rees at once agreed to pass the amount in
the accounts, as the practice for the overseers to superin-
tend the Warrington Vagrant Officer.had been of so long
standing, and particularly so as the item was not likely to
occur again. Several of the overseers of the out town-
ships in the union dined together at the house of Mr.
Evans, after the accounts were audited on Thursday.
THE WEATHER, since our last. publication, has been
extremely cold and (for the most part) stormy for so
advanced a period of the year. Vegetation has conse-
quently been greatly retarded, and" in some instances the
early potatoes, which were a considerable height above
the ground in sheltered situations in this neighbourhood.
on both sides of the water,--eand which have long been
celebrated for the production of this crop—have suffered
considerably from the wind and cold, and occasionally
rather frosty nights and mornings. Fruit trees in blossom
have also suffered. 'Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
were squally, with occasional showers, and gales varying
from W.S.W. to N.N.E., and at times more easterly,
with downfalls during the night. , Friday was rather in-
dining to fine, but still chilly. On Saturday evening
copious showers of rain fell, which it was hoped would
temper down the atmosphere, but Sunday brought little
of genial mildness, and though we had some sun yester-
day, the air was still cool for the 3rd of May.' The field-
crops generally, have, however, been improved by the
rains; and if we be favoured soon with soft showers and
intervals of sunshine, there can be no question but that
vegetation will make rapid strides, and the harvest be yet
bountiful. We are glad to add that the young potatoes
generally look well and proinising, especially those that
have been covered over night—some of which are three
inches high—and that no disease, so far as we can learn
or observe, has yet appeared amongst them in these dis-
tricts. A considerable breadth of turnips and oats yet
remain to be sown.