The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-07-06 00:00:00

currency is contracted, and so obviate the ruinous and
lasting effects of such temporary diminution on general

mercantile classes watch the sky ; that rain for a month
in autumn gives a serious shock to credit, and that stock
of all kinds rises or falls with the barometer ! The
Banker's Act of 1844 should be styled—' An Act- for the

more effectual trar.sferring of panics from agriculture to
commerce, and for perpetuating commercial catastrophies
in Great Britain.' "

age wit

fleet that a bad h

actually taken place
;t has occurred, and

screw put on—v

there are few

,1 melt in the country w'
ling that Sir Robert Pi

ho will not

free with

as the philosoph

1 had really accepted
D is to it

this CI

ten dift

amazement

ympus, c
ff bur th -rn

preserver
him of 3s

'lore hE

by the 1

M 4

EXAMINATIONS OF MASTERS AND MATE S

OF VESSELS.

We all along entertained considerable doubt as to the
general and efficient_operation of the act sought for some
time ago, requiring masters and mates of vessels to sub-
ject themselves to examination as to nautical qualifica-
tions ; our impression (in which many practical seamen
concur) being, that replies to the series of questions to
be put might, for the most part, be prepared catechisti-
cally, or by rote, without being dictated by experience,
and that thus a very superficial knowledge of sailing
tactics, or spherical and astronomical calculation, might
enable a candidate to pass muster. We furth
ict us on
that no series of

estions, however framed, would ade-
quately prove aptitude in practice in managing a vessel,
entering or leaving a difficult port, or in handling her
mechanically, under the multitudinous
t emergencies attendant upon a seafaring
ion of which, nothing short of seeing
effect, on board, can
The contemplated corn-
was withdrawn, as being obnoxious to men of
n the profession, on whose
ing doubt ; and in its
Trade have issued a

-ot the po

.ect or

exp erienc

ustly int
•ds of 131

rred a moil
vy Council

ters and mates to pass
in order to obtain CE

lasses to be awarded. I

3 amount of qualifies-

nor the

many most important poin4-
;ation ; so that the ordeal

con-
though

of steamers short of tat

a successful examination,

Many maste

appreciated, accord-
:ontemplate memorialising their lordships
and th

ad their merits be dt

on the

Ippeal (the heads of wh
ned) is highly honourable to themselves

in place

of aiming at the avoidance of an examination on essential
points, it invites a more strict and enlarged sphere of
qualifications applicable to themselves.

They express their willingness and anxiety to be ex-
mined according to the present system, being fully
ware of the importance attached to the subject, which

recommendatory paper do not embrace the duties required
of persons commanding steam-vesssls, which differ
materially from sailing vessels. They also state that the

present board of examiners, (who are principally teachers
of the theory of navigation, and not practically acquainted
with steam vessels,) are not capable of judging of the quali-
fications requsite in the management of steam-ships. They
agree that parties commanding vessels trading to foreign
countries should be well acquainted with the theory of
navigation, with reference to lunar observations, chrono-
ThPlers. ...aa

such qualifications are not requisite in the coasting trade,
particularly when the passage is short, or under 24 hours.
They submit a list of qualifications' which they consider
requisite in any person having charge of a large steam-
ship ; and !Ng their lordships, if the memorialists sug-
gestions be approved of, to sanction, without delay, the

appointment of skilled and competent Boards of Examiners
at the principal steam ports. The qualifications which
they point out appear to us to be so sensible and compre.
hensive, that we make no apology for inserting them at

Ist.—The party must have been at sea at least ten years, and
not less than three employed in steam, nor less than one year
a first tiffirer nn nrnhatinn

2nd.—Must be-able to read and write legibly.
3rd.—Must be a first-rate coasting sailor, well acquainted with
the rocks, shoals, lights, soundings, and various sets of tides,
on the lines he is usually employed upon, and to have a gene-
ralknowledge of most lines on which steamers are employed.

and to be able to conduct hiivesseisWiot,VtCoutCrepnd.

th.—Should be able to produce first-rate testimonials as to
character generally, sobriety in particular; must be cool,
cautious, persevenng, and collected, in the discharge of his
various duties
t

—Should be well acquainted with the principle, as well a 5.
the working of the steam eugine, and a good judge of cause

want of experience in this bi•anch of steam navigationl'
h.—Must be able to prick off courses, take cross bearings, and
understand the nature and uses of charts generally.
As the undoubted object of the Lords of the Council

and voyaging public that security
from loss of property and life which adequate talent, ex-

tee to the commer

perience, and good conduct in commanders and mates
can alone supply, we hope and trust that these reasonable
suggestions will be sanctioned by their lordships. and

been required since steam navigation became so general
we should have been spared the pain of recording, over

few years, many di

s, the result of incom-

firmly established, for the benefit not only of the owners
but of the public at large. There need be no "compulsory"
examination, as all competent captains will willingly pre-
sent themselves for examination ; and we shall know in
what light to regard those—few we imagine—who shall
decline the test.

IMPORTS OF FOOD INTO LIVERPOOI

A walk through

An of all kinds, rice; meal, and Other arti'cles of food,
discharged from the American and other vessels which line
them. We regret to say, however, that there is not the
evidence of a corresponding export of British manufactures.
A cargo of emigrants and ballast is the ruling one, the
shipowner being anxious only to get back for more imports
and the excellent freights which are being paid for food.
CRICKET MATCH.—On Wednesday last, the 30th ult.,
a match was played between the St. Helen's club and the
f 01- -f this - the ground of the latter, in

;own, on
37/1

one innings, with 100 runs to spare. The batting of the
Olympus wrs decidedly superior, Mr. Ryall having scored
87, Mr. Williams 28, and others a round number, making
a total of 206 ; while the St. Helen's, owing to the
effective bowling of Messrs. Bright and Ryall, managed to
get only 49 runs, and 17 byes and wide balls in their first
innings, and 32 runs and 8 byes in their second, making a
total of 106. The return match will be played at St.

Helen's in a short time
HEALTH OF TOWN

—During the last week, parties have
the town in measuring all the ground

—floors, back yards, &c., of the whole of the pren;ises in
the respective streets, for the information of the Health
Committee. The questions arise, -.vith respect to old
buildings on valuable sites that have not area sufficient for
due ventilation, whether the owners are to be required to
pull down or condense their houses and enlarge their yards,
or- whether the committee will do this for them, or by
merns of jack-screws extend their walls ? In lieu of, in

most instances, the useless cost of such a survey, we would
suggest that the act relating to nevi buildings should be
rigidly enforced, and that the window-tax should be greatly
reduced or entirely abrogated, so that the winds of heaven
may pass freely through buildings densely packed.
STREET ROBBERY.—A degraded looking character,
named Robert Howlett, was yesterday brought up and
charged with committing a violent assault and robbery on
the person of one John Lee. The prosecutor stated that
he went into a public house in Vauxhall-road on Saturday
night to have a gill of ale, when he was followed by the
prisoner and another man, the former of whom demanded
a gill of the ale for himself and his friend. To this
demand the prosecutor complied in the hope of getting
rid of them, and left the house ; but he was followed from
thence into Sawney-pope-street, and on into Fontenoy-
street, where the prisoner knocked him down with a " life

)led him. He then robbed
6d. in silver and copper. Shortly after which

or " colt,

dy. COnhmitted for f
—Yesterday a young

with forcibly entering ti

in Duke street, and steali

which wa

a meerchum pipe, a cap
The constable, in statir.

.efused to come forward and prosecute, and there
ould only pro•r..e one branch of the case. It ap

peared that the Constable heard of a robbery about half-
past 8 o'clock on Saturday night, and on going up Duke-
street about half an hour afterwards, he saw the prisoner
)ing into the kitchen of a man named Cronan, where he
Mrs. Hughes, on being examined, stated
rties who robbed her house must have enter
door at an

ly hour on Sunday morning
had been late in going to bed the fig!

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.