The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-30 00:00:00

rOI!REMPONIINNOR

THE PRESIDENT

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL. STAND.IRD

Sra,—Rumour with her many tongues has said almost
anything and everything as to the probable safety of the un-
fortunate steamer—President. e have had also theories
propounded by this and that man who is supposed to possess
the best acquaintance with the subject; but, alas ! all re-
mains conjecture still, and some of these theories are no
longer entertamable. Some thoughts have occurred to my
mind, which 1 beg respectfully to submit to your considera-
tion, and if thought worthy of further notice, you might
carry them out, or give them a more practical form.
It has occurred to me that a committee of inquiry, formed
of those gentlemen who have the most knowledge of the con-
struction, machinery, and navigation of these large steamers—
joined with those intelligent nautical men, who encountered
the gale which it is supposed the President would fall in with—
might by their matured deliberations, very much tend to
allay the painful feeling which is abroad upon this subject,
becoming still more painful by the frequency of idle surmises.
If there is any probability of her safety, we should then, by
seeing the reasons fairly discussed, feel greater confidence ;
or, on the contrary, if every probability be run out, a judg-
ment might be formed as far as the materials presented in
this case, as would enable them to judge upon the sea-wor-
thiness or liability to casuality of vessels of such large dimen-
sions as the President. I feel•somewhat persuaded that. such
a committee might be formed, without the exercise of any
other authority than the respectful request of the public ex-
pressed through some public officer—the chief magistrate for
instance. And Liverpool at this time contains gentlemen
who seem particularly qualified, by their superior knowledge,
for giving intelligence upon this all-absorbing question, al-
ready we have been favoured by some of them with their
opinions. _

I am, sir, your obedient servant,
R. V

P.S. It is high time, I think, that the " catch penny" fra-
ternity should be stopped. How often have our ears been
wounded by their lying reports?
Liverpool, 29th April, 1841.

LIVERPOOL AND THE WEST INDIA COLONIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stn.,—Permit me, through the medium of your excellent
paper, to call the attention of the merchants, tradesmen,
and others interested in the prosperity of this town, and
more particularly those connected with the trade of our
West Indian colonies, to a subject which seems most unac-
countably to have escaped their notice. I allude to the
choice of the•port of departure for the steam-ships which,
in August next, are to convey the mails and passengers to
and from this country and those colonies. The grounds on
which our own great port is entitled to lay claim to the pre-
ference, have been so ably stated in an address on the sub-
ject, accompanied by a chart of the route, put forth several
months ago by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, that I
need only refer those who wish for a clear perception of the•
merits of the question to the document itself, and would
earnestly solicit for it that attention to which its merits so
justly entitle it.
It does seem very strange, that when a subject of such
vital importance to their interests was so ably discussed by
a neighbouring community, the Liverpool public neglected
to afford it that co-operation which could alone render it
available for the object in view ; and that when the preten-
sions of rival ports in the English Channel were keenly agi-
tated in parliament by the parties interested, neither of our
members (so far as I can learn) ever raised their voices in
favour of the undoubted claims of Liverpool. I do not,
however, blame them, as, from the apparent apathy mani-
fested here by the parties most interested, the subject was
not properly impressed upon them. In consequence of this
glaring neglect, the claims of Liverpool were never exa-
mined, and the contest lay between the ports of Southamp-
ton, Dartmouth, and Falmouth ; and three commissioners,
to whom was entrusted the duty of deciding on the compa-
rative merits of each of these stations, gave in their verdict
in favour of Dartmouth—a choice which seems to have taken
everybody by surprise. On that point, however, I will not
now enter; but as I observe by the debate in parliament on
Tuesday evening, that a select committee to re-open the
subject, and again examine its merits, has been obtained, I
take the opportunity of urging on he public of Liverpool
the importance of making a struggle—better late than never
—to have their claims brought before the attention of the
house. For this end I would suggest that the West India
Association should, as soon as possible, take the subject into
consideration, and that they should call a public meeting of
the merchants, and others interested, to take the steps best
adapted for carrying out this very desirable object.
1 sincerely wish that a subject of such vast importance to
our local interests had the advantage of abler advocacy than
can be dedicated to it by the humble individual who now
solicits for it the attention of this great mercantile commu-
nity ; but the subject " needs not the foreign aid of orna-
ment," and has only to look to its own intrinsic merits for
support.—l am, sir, your most obedient servant,
ME RCATOR.

THE CORN-LAWS,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—In the Liverpool Times newspaper of Tuesday last
I observe a leading article pretending to be a reply to a letter
from our highly-esteemed townsman, Mr. Gladstone, on
the subject of the corn-laws. The article itself is worthy of
notice only in one respect, and that is, to contradict the
statement there made, that Mr. Gladstone has " of late years
become an extensive landowner," as a charitable reason
for his venturing to advocate the principle of the corn-laws.
It seems now to be rather late in the day to contradict the
calumnies week after week issped by the radical press
against this gentleman and those connected with him ; but
in reply to what Mr. Gladstone's interest might lead him to
think, I may state, knowing the country well, that he is not
an extensive landowner, and that the property he has in
Scotland is not a corn-growing district, nor is any wheat
raised within seven or eight miles of it.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant, SCOTI U S.

28th April, 1841

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ALBION

Sir,—There appeared in your paper of Monday last an ac-
count of " Frauds on Emigrants," in which a young man, in
our employ, of the name of Beckett, was summoned for
booking two passengers for the Silvanus Jenkins, or Princess
Victoria, instead of, as the passengers stated, the Patrick
Henry, or Birmingham; and that the passengers having
sworn to these facts, Mr. Rushton would not hear any evi-
dence or explanation from the young man, or allow him to
be sworn. but at once concluded from the ex parte statement
of the passengers that all stated by them was correct, but
which, and so far as any person in our employ was concerned,
was concerted, deliberate, and malicious falsehood. And it
will be readily admitted, unless self-interest is involved, that
a man would not willingly put himself in the power of law to
infringe upon that interest, or to jeopardize his character
where his reputation would be tarnished in the opinion of
his masters.
Now, from the foregoing statement it may be fairly asked,
what interest could Mr. Beckett, our apprentice, have in en-
gaging these two passengers, or in leading them to suppose
he was booking or engaging them for some other ship, when
his employers had three or four of their own sailing at or about
the time when those passengers wanted to embark, and there
being at this time also hundreds of passengers in town, and
hourly arriving? He was entirely a disinterested party, and
common prudence, as well as common sense, would indicate
to him the due fulfilment of his own as well as his employers'
duties. We cannot, we presume, be cognizant, much less ac-
countable for any conversation the passengers may have had
with the person who brought them to our office to engage
their passage, but the individual who did so was before Mr.
Rushton, the magistrate, and denied having stated what the
passengers swore to • and Mr. Beckett, as well as another
person of respectable character who was in the office at the
time these passngers engaged their passage, would, had they
been permitted, have been ready to swear and to prove, that
these passengers in question never mentioned, whilst in the
office, either the Patrick Henry or the Birmingham, and that
moreover, the ticket which they received was read over to
them and by themselves also, and the money paid accord-
ingly; but an explanation not being allowed, a belief would
e ern to be induced upon the minds of the public that Mr,
Beckett had imposed upon the passengers, but which, in re-
ality, was not the fact. The passengers, however, found
their way to the office of the Government Emigration
Agent, Lieutenant Henry, a highly honourable and disin-
terested man, and, in returning from thence, came again
down to our office, when they were informed by Mr. Robin-
son, that Mr. Beckett was not then in but he was on board
the Silvanus Jenkins, and that if either of the passengers
would go to that ship for him he would go with them to the
government agent, and that both parties might make their
statement, and that whatever he thought right would be
agreed to.
But this did not serve their purpose, and an attorney was

employed, and the matter terminated as stated in the Albia
by its displaying an article apparently highly prejudicial
the character of a respectal?le young man; and what aggr

vates the circumstance of this arbitrary proceeding, andren-
ders it obnoxious, is, that no explanation should be allowed.
Surely it was at least reasonable to have permitted the young
man to speak in his own defence ; and, as surely consistent
to have heard both sides of the question.
The generality of passengers that are in so great a hurry to
get away, are those that have never taken leave of their
friends or creditors, and their evidence should be looked
upon with very great suspicion, as well as those who can
neither read nor write, as it will be readily admitted that
ignorance and wickedness are twin brothers, and not, as in
the present case, that because• they happen to be emigrants,
that prejudice, compassion, and charity should overrule
justice.
It will be perceived, from the foregoing observations, that
in this case, as well as nearly all others—when investigation

takes place, that the frauds and impositions practised m
emigrants—dwindle into false representations and inconsisten•
misstatements, neither worthy the attention of a court, no
the credence of any just and impartial person.—We arc, sir
your obedient servants, _

J. and W. ROBINSON

Liverpool, April 27, 1841

CHURCH ACCOMMODATION.—A noble effort is about to
be made at Hull, to procure an extension of church accom-
modation ; this is much needed, as there is not convenience
in the churches for one-seventh of the population. We sin-
cerely hope that the spirited conduct of Manchester and Li-
verpool will be followed by the friends of the church in Hull.

WALTER

LARPENT
• 264
▪ 748
• 929
1117
. 1287
. 1499
. 1722

9 o'clock

552
1063
1252
1423
1575

COUNTRY FIATS IN BANKRUPTCY.—By a return to an
order of the house of commons, moved by Mr. Mark Philips,
and ordered by the house on the sth instant to be printed,
we perceive, that the total number of country fiats in bank-
ruptcy opened during the four years ended the 15th March,
1841, was 3,174, or an average of 793 per annum. The total
number of country fiats issued during the same period was
4,591, being a yearly average of 1,447. It appears, by the
same return, that there are 140 lists of bankruptcy commis-
sioners, and the total number of commissioners is 721. The
total number of fiats opened before the Manchester commis-
sioners (three lists) in the same period, was 452 ; by the Li-
verpool commissioners, 291 ; and by the Leeds comm►ssion-
ers, 224 ; giving yearly averages respectively of 113, nearly
74, and 56 fiats.

NOTTINGHAM ELECTION.—This election closed on Tues-
day afternoon, at two o'clock, by the resignation of Mr.
Larpent, the whig candidate, in favour of Mr. Walter, well
known as a zealous conservative and opponent of the new
poor laws. The following was the state of the poll from the
commencement to the close

1
2 (the close) 2OlB .
Majority for Walter ...... 296.
Great excitement prevailed in the , a
townnd the r
teminatio
of the election was a surprising discomfiture to the " liberan l"
party. Treasury gold was more plentiful than the .good na-
tives of Nottingham were wont to behold; but notwithstand-
ing all that could be done in that way, and the appearance of
government agents, the unfortunate " rejected" of Ludlow
gave in" very discreetly when he found that the polling of
all the remaining electors could not bring him a majority.
As a proof that this signal victory notes Sri we may
mention that in the morning large bets of 4 and 5 to 1 in fa-
vour of Larpent were moving about. What will the whig-
radical government say to this—two defeats in as many days?