The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-10 00:00:00

lords themselves would be improved. But if they committed
an error now, by refusing to abolish them, it would a fatal
error—one that could not be retrieved when they came to see
their folly. (Cheers,) He begged to move the resolution.
Mr. WILLIAM BROWN seconded it. He contended that
the landed interest would be benefitted by a change in the
law, because prior to the enactment of the present vicious
system, the population of the country had generally increased,
and with that increase the value of the estates of the land-
owners had increased also. Since the enactment of those
laws their estates had not increased in value ; and if the ma-
nufacturing portion of the country had been prosperous, it
was not in consequence of the corn-laws, but in spite of
them. (Hear.) Last winter he paid a visit to the United
States, and saw their manufacturing establishments. All
the twenty-six states had manufactures more or less. In
Massachusetts alone :the annual value of the manufactures
was upwards of 86,000,000 dollars, a great proportion of
which we should have had the fabrication of, if our ruinous
corn-laws had permitted us to receive their food. He went
on to state that in South America and other parts of the
world, they were already underselling us ; that they had even
sent their manufactures to Liverpool, and some of them
might now be found in the public shops. The landed inte-
rest need not be much afraid of free trade. The ship-owners
were exceedingly hostile to it, but the result had been to de-
crease the tonnage of their great rivals--the United States.
He had great pleasure in seconding the motion.
Mr. HARDY opposed the resolution. He contended that
the present commercial difficulties were attributable not to
the operation of the corn-laws, or to the screw put on by the
bank, but to over speculation; and that it was manifestly
unjust to repeal the duties on the importation of corn, unless
the protection was removed from all other commodities. He
was in favour of a fixed moderate duty. Mr. Hardy, whose
sentiments did not appear agreeable to the prevailing party,
met with considerable interruption.
Mr. RATHDONE having explained a remark which had
been commented on by the last speaker,
The MAYOR put the resolution, and it was carried..
Mr. AIKIN, in moving the next resolution, entered into a
very long and elaborate argument, with the view of upsetting
the fallacies" advanced by Mr. Hardy, as to the justice of
a fixed duty, and to shew the sound policy of an immediate
and entire abolition of the present system.
Mr. BOOTH regretted that his fellow-townsmen should
again have to petition for repeal ; but he hoped they would
this time be successful, as nothing tended to enlarge the in-
tercourse of nations more than free trade. He seconded the
resolution.
Mr. WATSON, in support of the resolution, stated that he
could buy a certain description of cloth cheaper at Philadel-
phia than at Manchester, owing to the existence of the Corn-
laws.

The MAYOR then put the resolution, and it was adopted.
Mr. BOLTON moved the next resolution, and argued that
the present system of fluctuating duties had the effect of
throwing into the country an inferior quality of wheat, to the
injury of the poor; but he admitted that the abolition of the
corn-laws would reduce the wagrjadie" "h^""i""I'""
Mr. RICHARD SHEIL co mmenteed upon the admission of
Mr. Bolton that the effect of repeal ovould be to reduce wages.
In Ireland wages could not be reduced lower than they were,
and in England, he contended, that the contrary result would
follow.

The resolution was then carried.
Mr. BLACKBURN next addressed the meeting at very great
length, contending upon general principles. that the corn-
laws were decidedly unjust, and that in practice they were
iniquitous. He concluded amidst considerable applause by
moving the next resolution.
Mr. MULLENEUX seconded the motion. and also entered
into an argument to show that Mr. Bolton had advanced a
false proposition when he contended that the rate of wages
would be lowered by a repeal of the corn-laws.
Mr. BOLTON explained.
Mr. HARDY, after a shrewd speech moved, as an amend-
ment, " that this meeting recommends the substitution for
the present fluctuating corn-law duties, a certain and fixed
protecting duty." (Cheers.)
Mr. BALDMAN seconded the amendment.
After a few remarks from Mr. AIKIN, the question was
put, and the original motion was declared to have been
adopted.
Mr. HOLLAND moved the next resolution in a long speech ;
it was seconded by Mr. MELLOR, and carried unanimously.
Mr. WILLIAM WALLACE CURRIE next addressed the
meeting. He undertook to establish two points ; first, that
a repeal of the corn-laws would not reduce wages ; and next,
that a free trade in corn would not place this country in the
position of being dependent upon foreign nations for a sup-
ply in time of war. Having done this, he moved the adoption
of a petition, founded on the resolutions to both houses of
parliament.
Mr. LAWRENCE HEYWORTH said, that in the absence of
Mr. Sands, who had undertaken the task, he had great plea-
sure in seconding the motion.
The petition was unanimously carried.
On the motion of Mr. Ra.wsoN, seconded by Mr. LOCKE,
it was resolved, that the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Sefton
should present the petition to the Upper House, and the
members for the borough to the Commons.
Mr. RICHARD SHIEL proposed the establishment of an
Anti-Corn-Law Association in Liverpool.
Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion ; adding that if the land-
lords did not concede the demand now made for the abolition
of the corn laws, madhouses ought to be built for then in
every county in England.
Mr. RossoN (in the absence of Mr. James Brancker)
moved the thanks of the meeting to the Mayor for his con-
duct in the chair.

The motion having been seconded and carried, the MAYOR
returned thanks, and at a quarter to fire the meeting se-
parated.

THE " NOBLE AMATETIRS."—On Tuesday afternoon the
inhabitants of Liverpool were amused by the exhibition of
one of those vagaries, which, though rather undignified in
the scions of aristocracy, create for a time, by exciting won-
der and curiosity, a pleasant sensation among the admirers
of quelque chose distingue". It is already known to the pub-
lic that several noble adventurers are pursuing their avoca-
tions, as knights of the whip, the buskin, and the road, to
decide a wager; and on Tuesday afternoon we observed two
of the latter, attired as Highlanders, coming down Bold-
street, one doing the-executive on a set of bagpipes, and the
other doing the begging department. The splendour of their
dresses, particularly that of the piper, had attracted a large
concourse of followers, some of whom bestowed their cop-
pers, others silver, and even gold, upon the distinguished
visitors. The piper, who is Lord Glenlyon, lately one of the
heroes at the tournament held at Eglintoun castle, was
dressed in full Highland costume, his arms and other ac-
coutrements ornamented with silver, topazes, &c. The
other, who is Col. Fortescue, son of the lord-lieutenant of
Ireland, although not in complete Highland costume, and
having a less splendid appearance than his comrade, was
very handsomely dressed. From Bold-street they passed
down Church-street, Whitechapel, and through the princi-
pal parts of the town, with as enthusiastic a retinue as ever
followed their forefathers to the battle-field. Many ladies
showed great eagerness in depositing their coin in the velvet
cap of the youthful beggar. Every one was eager to get a
view of the artistes, and the sound of the pibroch caused as
much emulation in the flaneurs of Liverpool to be foremost
in the ranks, as it did at Flodden, where
" No thought was there of dastard fight,
Linked in the serried phalanx tight,
Groom fought like noble, squire like knight,
As fearlessly as well."
After sundry perambulations, our heroes concluded the
masquerade for that evening by proceeding to the Adelphi
hotel, where they put up, and where they were received by.
their friends with three hearty cheers. Chivalry and min-
strelsy seem to be the order of the day with Lord Glenlyon.
Perhaps if i.e were asked for precedents in the latter case,
he would tell us that King Alfred played the troubadour in
the Danish camp, Richard Cceur-de-Lion bandied stanzas
with the minstrel Blonde', and that in the days of chivalry
knight and noble were frequently obliged to assume the garb
and manner of pilgrims and minstrels. Having gone so far,
:we want to know what is to conic next? Perhaps, invoking
Poesy to their aid, noble bards will spread themselves over
the land, and another Ossiau may sing—" the song of bards
arise. The voice of sprightly mirth is heard. The trembling
harps of joy are strung. They sing the battle of heroes, or
the heaving breasts of love ;" and, as formerly in Provence,
that land of troubadours, we shall have a emir d'ainour to
adjudge the prizes ; or, going farther, England may produce
another " Nibelungenleid," and chivalry and minstrelsy out-
vie their former selves. Nous verrons.
ABERCROMBY WARD.—A highly respectable and very
numerous meeting of the conservative electors for Aber-
cromby Ward was held on Tuesday evening last, at the
Phoenix Inn, Mount-pleasant, to fix upon a gentleman as a
candidate for the ward at the next municipal election.—
Amongst those present we noticed Robertson :Gladstone,
Esq., James Aspinall, Esq., Dr. Malins, John Atkinson,
Esq.,
.(solicitor), Richard Griffiths, Esq., Edward Start,
Esq., Parker, Esq., William Woods, Esq., &c. It
was unanimously resolved that a requisition be presented to
James Proctor, Esq., requesting his services for the ward,
and several appropriate speeches were delivered in favour of
that gentleman. A requisition was immediately prepared,
and received nearly sixty signatures before the meeting sepa-
rated. This is as it ought to be, and we trust the example
will not be lost upon the other wards in the town.

THE FARMER'S AND GENERAL FIRE AND LIFE INSTI-
TUTION.—We are happy to be enabled to state, that tht
establishment of this institution has been so well received in
all parts of the kingdom, that it is the intention to allot the
shares in a week from this time. The insurance against
storms, the application of one-tcLth of the profits to agricul-
tural purposes, and the new scale of insurances upon Farming
stock, have met with the universal approbation of the agri-
cultural class.

THE DISPENSARIES.—We are sorry to learn that the ad-
mirable institutions, which annually afford relief to 50,000 of
the suffering poor, are deeply in debt to their treasurers. The
present deficiency in the income, when compared with their
expenditure, is .£1,500. We trust that effectual means will
be adopted of bringing the wants of the institutions before the
public.
RUNCORN.—We understand that the Mersey and lrwell Na-
vigation preparing one of their powerful and
e
aresteamers for the purpose of eonveying pas-
sengerslegai elegantly-built
l Yb Company
between
exi zt' this port and R uncorn , and that she wi 11 be
ready for the statup very early in the spring. The packet's
name will be the " Power. " She is the swiftest and decidedly
the most beautiful and commodious vessel on the river, and
her cabins are to be finished and furnished in a superior
and comfortable manner; and in order to ensure the public
confidence and support the Company will entrust her only
to the care of steady and emperienced servants. We are
glad that the company have entered upon this undertaking,
for it will be a great public convenience, especially in connec-
tion with their long-established line of packets to Warring-
ton, Manchester, &c.

DEATH OF CHARLES TOWNE, ESQ.—On the 6th instant,
at his house, Norton-street, Charles Towne, Esq., in his 80th
year. Mr. Towne's talents as an animal painter were of a
high order, and were duly appreciated, not only by his towns-
men, but by connoisseurs in all parts of the kingdom ; his
ability in pourtraying the horse—his favourite subject—has
rarely been equalled, certainly not surpassed, and the foun-
dation of his excellence was laid in a deep knowledge of the
anotomical structure of the animal. In early life he asso-
ciated intimately with the celebrated George Morland,
tering his principles of composition, and imbibing much of
his feeling for colour, which he retained in his practice for
many. years ; latterly his style became more peculiarly his
own, and he laboured to form what might with propriety be
termed an " ecletric style." Mr. T. was one of the founders
of the Liverpool Academy, but for several years had declined
sending any of his productions to the• annual exhibitions. j3f
the works he has left behind him many collectors will doubt-
less be eager to possess themselves; but he has left even a
still more valuable legacy to his brethren in the art, especially
to the younger ones—the example of a patiently laborious
and temperate life. He knew that an honest fame was not to
be had on other terms, and he willingly paid the price.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held yesterday, before
P. F. Curry, Esq., coroner, touching the death of one John
Davenport. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased
was employed by Mr. Bibby in brickmaking, and, on Friday
last, was undermining a large quantity of clay, whilst his
fellow-workman was occupied above in driving wedges, in
order to loosen the earth ; and the latter, whilst doing so,
observed it giving way, but, before he could give warning to
the deceased, he was covered, and when extricated he proved
to be severely bruised, and was conveyed to the Northern
Hospital, where he lingered until Monday. The coroner
humanely inquired whether sonic equally effectual, though
less dangerous, mode of procuring the clay might not be
resorted to ; but the witnesses replied that it could not bet
obtained in sufficiently large quantities in any other way,
and the jury returned a verdict of Accidental death."