The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-02 00:00:00

have seldom witnessed such a feeling of unanimity as

that which was displayed in his favour. Gentlemen of
all shades of politics concurred in expressing their
strong approbation of his conduct, and in bearing un-
equivocal testimony to his character as the commander
of the President. Such a general and spontaneous
tribute of respect must be exceedingly gratifying to
Lieut. Fayrer's feelings.

THE PRESIDENT STEAM-SHIP-DISMISSAL OF
LIEUT. FAYRER, R.N.; FROM THE COMMAND.

On Wednesday the following notice was posted at the Ex-
change News-room and Underwriters'-room :—" A meeting
of the friends of Captain. Fayrer will be held in, the Cotton
Sales-room, at eleven o'clock this forenoon, for the purpose
of inquiring into the cause of his late abrupt dismissal from
the command of the " President," when the correspondence
on the subject will be read to the meeting. Wednesday, 30th
September, 1840." At the hour appointed the room;filled
rapidly, and it was, before the commencement of the proceed-
ings, crowded to access. We observed amongst the gentle-
men present a considerable number of the most influential
merchants belonging to the port, most of the resident officers
of the Royal Navy, and many commanders of merchant ships,
both American and British.
On the motion of Mr. G. A. Browne, seconded by Thomas
Bold, Mr. Thomas Todd was called to the chair amid marked
tokens of approbation.
The Chairman said, the gentlemen present were, no doubt,
aware of the object of the meeting. The requisition stated
that it was for the purpose of inquiring into the cause of the
late abrupt dismissal of Captain Fayrer from the command of
the President. The cause of the gallant Captain would have
been better advocated if they had chosen a chairman better
able to do justice to the merits of that able officer ; but he
trusted to make up by zeal for his want of ability. (Cheers.)
This was fortunately not a party question, but one in which
Whigs and Tories cordially united, and it was gratifying to
see, that both parties so hated oppression that whenever it
was visible they joined to put it down. After a few remarks
' on the advantages of steam navigation, particularly in regard
to the increased facilities of inter-communication which it
has opened between the United States and Europe, the chair-
man drew the attention of the meeting to the importance of
harmony both amongst the crews and commanders of vessels,
and between the latter and the proprietors for whom they
acted. The public, then, he said, had a right to inquire,
when an officer was dismissed, what were the grounds of his
dismissal, as the credit of a ship frequently depended mainly
on the character of her commander. (Cheers.) Captain
Fayrer had, from boyhood, been engaged in the service of
his country in the royal navy. He had served_ with honour
through a protracted war, and had received wounds in de-
fence of his country. At the termination of the war he en-
tered the merchant service with a reputation unblemished,
arid in this service he conducted himself in such a manner
that his conduct reflected honour on himself and his employ-
ers. There were, in the room, those under whom lie had
served, and they could bear testimony to the truth of this as-
sertion. After he had been for some time in the.merchant
service, he took command of the Liverpool, in which situa-
tion lie gave the greatest satisfaction up to the period of his
appointment to the President. The chairman offered, as proof
of the high character which Captain Fayrer had obtained, an
extract of a letter to him from the secretary of the company,
which stated. that the gallant Captain had been selected to
command the President in preference to several other appli- •
cants, principally for the ability and skill which he had dis-
played in command of the Liverpool. In fact, Captain
Fayrer had never made a passage without having received
from the passengers the most flattering testimonials of appro-
bation, setting forth the highest opinions of his gentlemanly
manners, skill, and ability, Up to the moment of his abrupt
dismissal his character remained unimpeached. When it
was made known on 'Change that dissatisfaction had been-
expressed at his conduct, and that he had been actually dis-
missed, the greatest astonishment and discontent was mani-
fested by all who heard the unexpected intelligence. No one,
certainly, could question the right of the company to dismiss
an officer if they thought fit to do so ; but he asserted that
they had no right to dismiss an officer so as to injure his pro-
fessional reputation. (Loud cheers.) Captain Fayrer had
been dismissed with, as little consideration as they would dis-
miss one of their menial servants, while ha was in possession
of Written testimonials to his character and ability which did
him the utmost honour, and of those, still more expressive
testimonials, the wounds which he had received in the ser-
vice of his country. The correspondence which had passed
relative to the subject would be read by the secretary, and if
the meeting were of opinion that the dismissal had been un-
necessarily abrupt, they would, no doubt, accord with the
resolutions which would be proposed. Captain Fayier's good
name was to him as to every other gentleman, invaluable, and
he might say with Shakspeare—
He that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,
But makes me poor indeed." (Loud cheers.)
Mr. CHAPMAN then read the following letters, addressed
by the secretary of the directors of the British and American
Steam Navigation Company to Captain Fayrer :
British and American Steam Navigation Company,
2, Billiter-court, Billiter-square, London,
6th March, 1840._ _

DEAR Slit,-I have great pleasure in informing you, that
at a meeting of the directors, held this day, you were unani-
mously appointed to the command of their steam-ship " Pre-
sident."

Your remuneration will be a fixed rate of pay of 20 gui-
neas per month (calendar.) Ten shillings per head for each
adult passenger. Five shillings per head for each child and
servant. One per cent. on the amount of freight and letter
money.

The directors having had every reason to_he satisfied with

Mr. Keane, are desiro"us you should retain him as your chief
officer. The appointment of the other officers and crew, the
directors leave to yourself, holding you of course responsi-

ble for their conduct and efficiency-

As the directors have given you an interest in the freight,
they will hold you responsible for all losses from improper
stowage or short deliveries.
In conclusion, I beg to state that the directors have selected
you. in preference to numerous other candidates, for the
command of the " President," not only from your previous
character and experience, but chiefly from the ab►lity and
skill you have displayed in the command of the " Liverpool"
steam-ship. nt.
Hoping that the conarxion
r remain, dear sir, your uo s
truly,
`I\fACGRE4GOR LAIRD, Resident Director.
Lieut. Fayrer, R.N.
London, 2, Billiter-court, Biller-square,
• 22nd Sept., 1840.
DEAR SlR,—The directors have desired me to express to
you their great disappointment and surprise at the result of
the President's voyage out and home. From whatever cause
this arises, the result to the proprietors is most disastrous,
and sufficient to condemn the vessel and all connected with
her. The draft of water she left New York upon, and the
weather she had on the passage, were quite sufficient to
ensure her a fourteen days' run at the outside ; and the di-
rectors consider that her not making the passage in that time,
reflects anything but credit on the way in which she has been
sailed.
The directors are also much displeased to find, that not-
withstanding the repeated expression of their wish to you,
that no one who had been employed on board the Liverpool
should be engaged on board the President, you have recom-
mended to Mr. Griffiths men, as firemen and engineers, who
have, as might have been expected, proved most unruly and
troublesome, taking every opportunity of annoying their su-
periors in the engine-room, and striving to create dissatisfac-
tion and bad feeling with regard to their provisions and al-
lowances amongst the other men. This would all have been
avoided if you had not interfered to counteract the expressed
desires of your employers.
Mr. Hough, who you were desired to encourage and sup-
port in the discharge of his very difficult duties, has addressed
a letter to the directors complaining in the strongest terms
of the mannerin which you have on all occasions before your

passengers expressed your disapprobation of his management.
It was your duty to have spoken to him privately if you had
any fault to find ; and, if any dissatisfaction had been ex-
pressed by the passengers, to endeavour to diminish instead
of increasing it. Mr. Hough has come to us with tbe high-
est testimonials from all his former commanders and employ-
ers. It is his interest to make the passengers comfortable
and satisfied ; and you informed the writer and Mr, Enderby,
at Liverpool, that he had both given you and them the great-
est satisfaction. The receipt of his letter, therefore, lies given
the directors the greatest surprise; and they will feel obliged
by an explanation of the discrepancy between the opinion you-
expressed before the passengers and that you stated on your
arrival at Liverpool.
In making up your accounts, the directors have desired
me to charge the passage-money of . your nephew out and
home, at the regular rate, as he was not -employed by the
company, nor of any service to them, which I have accord-
ingly done. Until the accounts are received from Mr. Pim
of the homeward voyage, the amount at your credit cannot be
ascertained, but this will he tbrwarded you in a few days.
I remain, yours, very truly,
M. LAIRD.
Lieut. R. J. Fayrer, R.N., Steam-ship President,
The following reply from Captain Fayrer was next read :
Liverpool, 241/i Sept., 1840.
MY DEAR Sin.,—l sit down with no light feeling of heart
to answer the severe reproof awarded me by the directors in
your letter of the 22d instant.

. -
Most respectfully do I assure you and those gentlemen of
my own deep regret at the want of success in the voyage of
the President ; but, in defence of my own character as a sea-
man and an old officer, .I deny, in the most respectful man-
ner, any want on my part to make the President's progress
through the water greater than that obtained. Whenever a
sail could be brought to bear, it was set and carried to the
utmost. It is quite evident the want of power alone has
been the cause. Ido not make any comparison between the
President and other ships, but it has been unfortunate she

should have had to contend with vessels calculated alone for
speed and not cargoes. I laid before Messrs. Wordsworth
and Smith the instructions you tare me befOre the voyage,
and told them that the ship could not compete with the Aca-
dia, if deeply laden. She exceeded eighteen feet abaft, and
quite that forward, on leaving New York ; and though, in
my opinion, much improved by the cutting off, by your own
direction, six inches of the inner ends of the floats, yet, in
smooth water, going down the river and running under sail
over St. George's Bank, .nine revolutions were the utmost to
be obtained. Was that my fault? The ship was trimmed
as well as possible. I complained to the engineers of her
want of speed even when in the best trim, and herewith beg
leave to hand you copies of my note to them upon the sub-
ject. We had, across the Atlantic, a deep rolling swell,
rather unusually so, directly from northward: this, in a deep
ship, ought to be considered. On our arrival in channel, we
had a strong gale at N.N.E. to N.E.; the ship could barely
keep head-to for some hours; Tora-hill stood at N.W.
nearly six hours without .altering a point ; the sea vas not
anything like that experienced in the Atlantic, or she must
have been hove-to with trysails ; and in this instance, so
soon as far enough to the northward, and when the gaff-
reefed sails were set, she went off from three knots to six
and a half and seven knots. The ship might perhaps have
done better had she been less by the stern, as she was on
arrival. About nine hundred barrels were in the fore-hold,
in addition to some fifteen butts of water. I consulted with
Mr. Keane upon our trimming the ship, a short time before
we made the land ; he was of opinion she was not so much
by the stern as to prevent, or rather impede, her progress ;
on the contrary, we took into consideration that, when she
came from Dublin to Liverpool in ten hours, she was by the
stern considerably; and again, on her arrival at Sandy Hook
she was the same, and went up the river upwards of eleven
knots. The steerage of the ship was at all times a study to
be done well, arid more than one man dismissed from steer-
ing on that account. Without fear of egotism, I venture to
say no commander is more on deck than myself, and till
midnight, when the first officer was, as well as myself, called
on the least change of weather, or under any other circuin-
stance. The officers ou duty I have every reason to be
pleased with. We had as bad a crew out as ever mustered
upon a ship's deck, so far as the body of seamen went, with
the exception of a few retained. You must remember, my
dear sir, up to the last moment we had to get both seamen
and firemen.

During our stay in New York I was constantly on board
the ship, not one day excepted, even Sunday, from ten o'clock
or earlier, generally till five o'clock p.in. ; so that the officers
had nothing to impede them from work, by being taken off to
attend upon the multitude of visitors. Ido most sincerely
hope the directors will reconsider the severe remark made
upon me. lam not surprised at their disappointment, but
deeply regret the blame should be thrown upon me for the
ship not going quicker. All on board evinced the most
anxious desire to make a quick voyage, and telt the cause as
much at heart as officers could do.

Upon the Record chaige laid against me, I have to ob-
serve, that both yourself and the directors are misinformed,
and:Will therefore hand for your perusal a letter from Mr.
Griffiths, the engineer; one, and that one only instance does
anything connected with this charge stand against me ; and,
even in that, requesting Mr. Griffiths some time before we
sailed, if he could take a young man, a protegee of Sir,
Francis Ommancy, and who had been recommended by him
to.me as clerk ; he was no further use to me in Liverpool on.
giving-up the victualling, and with a proper spirit joined a
Belfast steamer and worked in the engine-room to the full
satisfaction of his employers. When I Mentioned my desire
to Mr. Griffiths to have the young man, I told him on no
account to take anv one in his department, but by the fullest
sanction of- Mr. Fawcett and yourself. •I did not; my dear
sir, recommend Mr. Griffiths to take the firemen who had
been in the Liverpool. I daily told him he must find his
own men, and by so doing could have no one to blame but
himself if they turned out bad..

I did recommend several poor fellows to 21fr. Fawcett, who
from time to time gave them labourers' work in his establish-
ment, as well as to my friend Mr. Edward Bury.

It is strange, that if any act of insubordination took place
the engineer did not report it to me. On one occasion there
was some little complaint about provisions ; I requested Mr.
Keane to look into it, and he shortly reported all was per-
fectly settled, and the parties contented. During fourteen
voyages across the Atlantic, I never saw firemen and all
connected with the engine-room, more quiet. I refused
many, very many men, good ones, from the Liverpool, upon
your expressing your desire that they should not be employed.
Mr. Griffiths, at the eleventh hour, had not his firemen
and coal trimmers. You are aware, my dear sir, how they
were got on board, even when getting the anchor. I had too
many other matters to attend to at the Custom-house, and
ships' duty generally, to attend to whom the engineer shipped.
I did not recommend him to take any, but left it to himself.
If any one is wrong in that affair, I beg most respectfully to
say I am not.

The third charge I am indeed surprised and astonished at.
It appears to me inconceivable that Mr. Hough could assert
what he has done.

I refer you my dear sir, to Mr. Keane, who more than
once, in a friendly way, gave me a hint I was too civil to him.
I did, upon my honour, upon all occasions give Mr. Hough
every assistance ; frequently sent for him, offering him (and
acted up to it), rendering him, when he wanted, my assist-
ance to the fullest degree. In N"w York, I begged him to
point out anything I could do. His house for ice was con-
structed according to his desire.
I am found fault with for not privately conferring with Mr.
Hough. I did so constantly, for which he always expressed
himself obliged. That one of his cooks was notoriously bad,
(and worse, Mr. Hough could not get -him to act cordially
with his superior) passengers frequently complained, and with
good reason. I sent my message through Mr., Hough's head
steward (whom I consider a good man) to the effect that it
would be well to get rid of that cook. He appeared deter-
mined to spoil that which he had to cook. On one occasion
I wrote a remark on the bill of fare, and sent it to Mr.
Hough, with my compliments for him. I say now, as I
said before, that Mr. Hough evinced every disposition to make
all turn out well ; his table was abundant ; and the only
thing I found fault with was the one cook.
There is, my dear sir, no little difficulty in a large commu-
nity to keep matters straight. As commander of the ship, and
superior to all others, the providore (be who he may, and 1
do think Mr. Hough a good providore) must not arrogate to
himself any right to blame his captain unjustly, for in this
instance, it is the case—" shamefully so." If I have the ho-
nour to command the President another voyage, anything
that may have transpired in this matter will make no -differ-
ence to me, as far as regards a just and proper support, either
to Mr. Hough or to.any other person in the same capacity ;
and would be most happy to be guided by any instructions from
yourself. Mr. Hough has made an unjust complaint. You
are in possession of that complaint., I can only conclude by
remarking, I am too well satisfied I am in just and too gene-
rous hands to be unfairly treated, and rest upon this explana-
tion as matter of fact.—l have the honour to be, my dear sir,
your very faithful servant, •
Macgregor Laird, Esq. It. J. FAYRER.
The reading of this letter was frequently interrupted by
loud applause from all parts of the room.
The letter intimating Captain. Fayrer's dismissal was here
read. It was couched in the following terms :

British and American Steam Navigation Company,
2, Billiter-court, Billiter-square, London,
26th September, 1840.
_

. .
. Sin,r-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 24th instant,, which has been laid before the
directors, who have desired. me to intimate to you, that, after
mature consideration of all the circumstances connected with
the voyage to and from New York, they have come to the
resolution of dispensing with your services as commander of
that vesselfor the future. I hand you, annexed. the minute
upon the subject, and your account up to the 6th October
next.--,-1 remain, yours truly,
M...LAIRD, Resident Director.
. Lieutenant R. J. Fayrer, R.N.
Extract from a minute of a meeting of the directors of the
British and American Steam Navigation Company, held on
Saturday, the 26th September, 1840 :
Resolved,—That, after mature consideration of the cir-
cumstances connected with the voyage of the President to
and from New York, and the explanations made by Captain
Fayrer, Mr. Laird do write to Captain Fayrer and acquaint
him that the directors have no further occasion for his
services.

The reading of this letter was immediately followed by loud

and indignant cries of " Shame," hisses, Wand other signifi-
cant marks of disapprobation, which were several times
repeated.
The CHAIRMAN produced a note from the agents of the
President in New York. The captain had remonstrated with
the agents for putting too much dead weight into the vessel.
In the note produced they assured him that she would not be
laden so as to draw over 17 feet 6 inches. She was after-
wards loaded down to IS feet 3 inches. The agents probably

were not aware of the quantity of water which she would sub-
sequently require for her boilers. The chairman said as the
correspondence had been read, if any gentleman had any
observation to make to the meeting, they should be happy
to hear him.
Mr. T. It. Foßwoon said one of the correspondents of
their house was a passenger in the Liverpool on her voyage
in which she took her final departure from Cork, and he had
spoken in the highest terms of Captain Fayrer's excellent
management and skill as a commander. He had. abo heard

many similar opinions from other parties, both from pas-
setlMr.s F4.t1.T.5e...wh0.-114%°°.111,1114ltiNjli
Fayrer, and one who was about with his whole family to
embark in the President, he had great pleasure in proposing
the first resolution.
Mr. EDWARD MANLOVE, who is also about to proceed to
New York by the President, seconded the resolution, which
was put from the clink and carried unanimously, amid great
applause.
The SECRETARY read the next resolution, which he said
had been placed in his hands. He had taken considerable
interest in this affair from the sincere regard which he felt
for an old friend and brother sailor. When he read the first
paragraph in the documents which had been laid before the
meeting, he at once expressed his opinion that judgment and
conviction had preceded accusation. (Loud cheers.) He
was rather at a loss, as an old sailor, to know, whether a
commander was to be blamed when he had so many placed
about him who were in authority. The engineers were in
power in their own department, and if there had been any
inattention there, he did not know any person so much to
blame as the chief officer. Unless he could exculpate him-
self from all blame, he (the secretary), did not know how
they could place him in command, with the lives and pro-
perty of so many pe.sons under his care. The secretary
made some allusions to the conduct of Mr. Huff, whom he
facetiously designated Captain Huff, of the President, and
concluded by characterising the whole proceeding as au insult
to the navy and to sailors generally, both American and
British.
Mr. ROSKELL seconded the resolution..
Mr. Was. RATRBONE, a member of the Town-council,
would not have come forward on an occasion like the present,
but that he felt it his duty to speak his high opinion of Cap.
tai►► Fayrer, whom he had known when in command in the
service of Messrs,. Cropper, Benson and Co. and of his own
house. Such a letter as the one that had been read, proved,
not the deficiency of Captain Fayrer as a commander, but
that of the directors, to take charge of such a concern.
(Great applause, followed by three cheers.) He thanked the
meeting for those cheers. He was aware of the consequences
of what he had said. The directors might call him to ac-
count for the assertion, (No, no) ; but when a sense of pub-
lic duty, and of his duty to a friend called him forward, he
thought it was important that sentiments should be fearlessly
expressed. (Cheers.) Every naval man would bear him out
in the assertion, that, whatever might be desirable on shore,
if there were not something of a despotism on board ship,
there would soon be a democracy of the worst kind. In con-
clusion, Mr. Rathbone spoke of Captain Fayrer, in terms of
warm eulogy. The resolution was put and carried unani-
mously.

Mr. CassiN said, having been a passenger with. Captain
Fayrer, in the President, in company with gentlemen from
all parts of the earth, he could bear testimony how much he
was beloved and respected by all on board. He was certain
that he had carried the vessel through the water as quickly
as possible. They were certainly a little disappointed that
they had been sixteen days on the passage, but they did not
blame the captain in the least, as they were convinced that he
had done all that could be done. Mr. Cassia read and pro-
posed the resolution next in order.
Mr. JONES, another passenger by the President, and an
experienced engineer, seconded the resolution, and stated his
conviction, that if the directors wished the President to go
quicker, they must give her more power.
Mr. DANIEL NEILSON read some statements comparative
of the relative powers of engines in steamers, from which he
deduced, that the President required at least 267 horse-
power more than she possesses.
Mr. IincHANAN said, that the engines of the President

were only 510 horse power.
Mr. JONES confirmed this, and added, that he had during
the voyage had frequent converse with her engineers, and he
was convinced that it was impossible for her to go fast with
her present engines. _

Tfie resolutio❑ was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. DANIEL NEILSON proposed a resolution for the pub-
lication of the proceedings of the meeting, in the London,
Liverpool, and New York newspapers, and that a copy be
also presented to Captain Fayrer.—Carried unanimously.
Capt. HitexsTAFF, commander of the New York packet-
ship Adirondack, stood forward amid great applause, and
proposed a resolution, expressive of the regret with which
the American shipmasters had heard of the abrupt dismissal
of Captain Fayrer, and of their high esteem for that officer.
(Loud cheers.)
Capt. DALHOUSE seconded the resolution. He had been
a passenger with Captain Fayrer, in the Liverpool, and spoke
in the highest terms of the admirable conduct of the captain
during the voyage. The resolution was carried unanimously.
An American GENTLEMAN, whose name did not transpire,
said he had been one of the passengers with Captain Fayrer,
we understood in the President, though the name of the ves-
sel was not mentioned. This gentleman spoke in very warm
terms of Captain Fayrer, and said that both he and others
would give the preference to any vessel which Captain Fayrer
commanded, and would wait several days to sail with him.
He would mention a circumstance which it was not intended
to make public but for what had occurred. A number of
gentlemen,'who were passengers, had entered into a subscrip-
tion among themselves, as American citizens, for the pur-
pose of presenting him with a silver trumpet, as a slight tes-
timony of their regard. It was now making in London. The
circumstance had not been made known to the passengers
generally, because they wished it to come as from the Ame-
rican passengers to a British naval commander of a British
ship—an American tribute to British seamanship. (Great
applause.) He might mention, that he had on one occasion
heard the captain rebuke the cook for presenting him with
dirty utensils, remarking that if he (the cook) humbugged
him, be would humbug the passengers, and he was deter-
mined that they should be comfortable.
Another PAssuswErt by the President expressed the high
regard which the passengers generally entertained for Capt.
Fayrer. _ _ . .

The CHAIIIMAN said the business of the meeting was now
brought to a close, and it was gratifying to see the perfect
unanimity which had marked their proceedings.
Mr. Nr.ftsoN, in a highly complimentary speech, proposed
a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by ac-
clamation, and the meeting separated.

BEESTON AND PECKFORTON.—These estates have been
purchased by John Tollemache, Esq., the present high
sheriff of Cheshire, as rumour states, for £lBO,OOO. This
acquisition of property to his ancient family estates in
Cheshire, which are of great extent, makes Mr. Tollemache
one of the largest, if not the largest, landowner in this
county.—Chester Courant.