The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-20 00:00:00

EXCLUSIVE DEALING AND INTIMIDATION

The Albion of yesterday devotes a long leading article to
the expression of its affected abhorrence at what it terms
" recommendation on the part of an undergraduate at Oxford,
"to the members of the University, to give the benefit of
" their custom and patronage to those tradesmen and shop-
" keepers whose views meet their Own." Our contempo-
rary need not have wandered so far from Liverpool to have
discovered specimens of a similar description ; and, as he
appears rather anxious to find out characters answering his
purpose, we will endeavour to gratify his anxiety, and pre-
sent him with some exercises of liberality on the part of a
few radical gentry who figured conspicuously during the late
election. We merely give them as samples of a multitude of
cases which we could produce with readiness if any useful
purpose could be answered by it.
Before the election, an ex-alderman, an American mer-
chant, (a liberal, of course,) called his warehouseman into
his private office, and told him that he expected that he
would, at the forthcoming election, vote for the liberal can-
didates ; the man, who is a staunch conservative, told him
" that he could not conscientiously do so," when his master
replied, " then you must leave my employ." The man was
accordingly dismissed, and the liberal gentleman, not con-
tent with this, made an open boast of it upon 'change, justi-
fying himself for the proceeding upon the ground that his
warehouseman always neutralised his vote.

A few days after the election, an ex-tow- n-councillor, also
a liberal, called upon a respectable tradesman in Dale-street,
who, prior to the late election, had always voted for the re-
formers, but who, from a conscientious change in his senti-
ments, had on the late occasion voted for the conservatives.
The tradesman was desired by him to make out his account
by the following day ; he did so, and, at the hour named,
this gentleman again called, and the amount was paid.
Fearing from his manner that offence had been given, the
tradesman asked him if Ile had done anything to offend.
" No," was the reply ; " but you voted against us at the
last election, and we are determined not to support those
who do not support us."
A. veterinary surgeon, not a hundred miles from Shaw's-
brow, having ascertained that a workman in his employ
voted for Lord Sandon, gave him instant notice of dismissal,
and had the indecency to avow his reasons for such conduct.
We have the poor man's letter now before us, addressed to
a gentleman of this town, soliciting some employment in
consequence of being so summarily discharged from his re-
cent employment.

,
What says our contemporary to these instances of intimi-
dation on the side of his party ? We recommend him in
future to keep his pen to chronicle the " varieties" of Lyt-
ton Bulwer, Silk Buckingham, and others, which amuse the
old maids who patronise his labours.

It is understood that Lord Howick has made arrangements
to spend the remainder of the summer and the autumn on the
Continent. A seat in the Commons is not at present the
object of the noble lord's wishes.

REPORTING.—On Friday last, the 9th current, a gentle-
man appeared at the nomination of candidates, in the town
of \Vigtown, Galloway, in his capacity as one of the report-
ers to the London Times; and expressed the same evening
a brief report of the proceedings, which would reach the
metropolis in time to appear in the leading journal of this
day (Monday, 12th July,) notwithstanding of the inter-
vening distance of 400 miles. The individual alluded to
forms one of a band of fifteen artistes, who have been scatter-
ing themselves all over the country of late; and bad been so
fatigued by constant travel during the last three weeks, that
he was about to enjoy a few days' repose. In communicating
with head-quarters, the reporters employ, not pre-paid let-
ters, but coach parcels, which they enclose within printed
addresses, prepared for the purpose, making on the corners
the sums charged for carriage at the different offices, with a
liberal allowance for porterage to insure dispatch. The ser-
vants connected with the London coaching establishments
recognise these packets at a single glance, and, encouraged
by the prospect of a handsome fee, lose not a women.-'in
hurrying to the Times, or any other office within the wide
range of London. Perfect as the organization of the post-
office is, a good deal of time is necessarily consumed in
sorting multitudinous letters, and even a single hour or two
gained is of vast importance to a daily, and still more espe-
cially a morning journal. We often hear of the high prac-
tical utility of railroads, the steam-engine, spinning-jenny,
and other machines which form the main stay of national
aggrandisement ; but perhaps the greatest wonder of the
whole is the machine which imprints a whole volume of mat-
ter at the rate of thousands of copies per hour—an instru-
ment which may be likened to a huge galvanic battery, and
the public to patients who all touch the same wire ; for
whether the shock be healthful or otherwise, it is at once so
sudden and simultaneous that they who are nearest the cen-
tre of action can boast but little advantage over him whom •
fortune has placed at the extremity of the line.—Dumfries
Courier.

CORRESPONDENCE

REACTION-

-A DELUSION

" Be just and fear not;
Let all the ends thou ains'st at be thy country's,
Thy God's, and truth's."—llENav vitt.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SlR,—The result of the elections has called forth a vast
deal of unmeaning declamation on what mistaken individuals
are pleased to designate reaction. The conservatives have
triumphantly asserted that men in general have forsaken the
Whig opinions they formerly professed, and acknowledged
the superiority of conservative doctrines. While the whigs
on their part seem pleased to admit " the reaction," and
console themselves for their disappointment by asserting that
the change will be as transient as they believe it to be sudden.
I humbly conceive that both these great parties are mistaken.
The mighty events that have cheered every English heart
throughout the land are to be accounted for on far more de-
sirable grounds than any sudden vacillation of opinion ; and
a glance below the surface will convince the obstinate dema-
gogue that time, instead of restoring to him any position of
ascendancy in the English nation, will, for the same reasons,
reduce him to a state, if possible, more miserable and power-
less. The notion of reaction is a delusion ; " there is no
such thing." The pride of momentary triumph may induce
the supposition and the mortification of defeat, compel the
vanquished party to admit the same as the last galling reason
for their overthrow. But let circumstances that are open to
all alike decide the question, and those who in this the ele-
venth hour still cherish the delusion, must, we submit, be
deficient of eyes to see and ears to hear.
The reform bill was supported and carried by a people who
wish well to England and her institutions. No doubt many,
' and those wise ones, were startled at what they considered
the prelude to a general confiscation. The majority, how-
ever, of sound. thinking men saw and knew that the altera-
tion proposed would, in a literal sense, place power where it
would be safest, and make the English people themselves the
guardians of their English institutions. That this sacred
trust could at any time be betrayed, perverted, or abused,
those who had studied the English character knew to be
utterly and entirely impossible. On the other hand, the
most noisy, but, as circumstances live since proved, the
minority of the people looked upon the reform bill, to use a
favourite phrase of the time, " only as the means to an end."
In other words, they expected to use the power the alteration
would create as a lever whereby the chuich and monarchy
might be lifted from their foundations. The machinery of
registration introduced in the practical working of the law
induced numbers of those who heretofore had possessed the
franchise to forego the privilege rather than undertake the
trouble necessary for its acquirement. Many also of those
attached to old-fashioned institutions absolutely refused to
partake in any manner of the benefits the new-fangled system
was intended to convey. The consequences are matter of
history. The first reform parliament was elected by the
most dissatisfied and turbulent members of the community.
The characters of the members elected, their parliamentary
conduct, and the measures attempted to be passed, justify
this assertion; but, it is a base libel to say that they repre-
sented the real opinions of the English nation. On the
contrary, I assert, fearless of contradiction, that this par-
liament that figures so darkly in English history was
returned by a minority of the bona fide electors of the
period. The proof of this is easy. Observe within the last
few years the vast addition of names to every register through-
out the kingdom, and from what class of the community is
the increase most conspicuous ? From the respectable mid-
dle class, those who have wives they honour, children they
love, and a God they trust in to protect and bless them.
These honest and industrious men, the muscles and sinews
of England's greatness, have generally stood aloof from the
mischiefs of political dissentious. But when the iron hand of
reform attempted to grasp not only the institutions that gained
their civil liberties, but the Church in which they and their
fathers worshipped in heart and in truth, from one end of the
kingdom to the other these men enrolled themselves in the
registers, and there can be no doubt that when the poll books
of the present election are examined, the voters who elected
conservative members will be found to exceed in numbers and
respectability any that ever before recorded their names at
English elections.

Liverpool furnishes a striking confirmation of this fact.
The bold assertion that a few drunken freemen could at any
time decide the election for either party hat received a satis-
factory contradiction. Only a small number, and those the
most respectable, of the freemen voted, and it will be fonnd
that the greater portion of the householders who form the
majorities never voted before, and were composed of that
class to which I have before alluded. This is not reaction.
It is simply the people declaring the opinions they always en-
tertained, but never before expressed. The poll books of all
the large constituencies will furnish evidence equally satis-
factory and manifest the absurd pretensions of the demagogue
and the agitator.

The real strength of the conservative party in England was
pointed out some time since in Frazer, Magazine, and it
would be a useful tribute to the talented author of that paper
to re-publish his valuable statements, for there can be no
doubt, that great as the conservative victories confessedly
are, the constitutional or conservative party have not yet put
forth the utmost of their Rower.

Neither can the defeated and prostrate whig-radicals " lay
the flattering unction to their souls" that these triumphs are
the result of ignorance, or have been effected by any undue
influence or intimidation. It is when the people are the
most free and the best informed that the conservative majo-
rities are the greatest. Opinions and principles such as these
are not subject to change or vacilation. Those who have put
their hands to the plough will not readily turn them back.
Education, based upon religion, is striking deep foundations
over the land. The most highly gifted clergy that ever a
country possessed at the head of the Diocesan Boards, are
marshalling the powers of everlasting truth, before which the
demoralizing and shattered forces of liberalism must speedily
be driven from the land. Again, it is not re-action. It is
training up the rising generation in the way they should go.
It is letting a light into the minds of men who before knew
not the truth, bnt who, seeing and hearing and understand-
ing, willingly embrace the precious jewel and scatter whig
fallacies to the winds.

Cast a look to unhappy Ireland, and observe the melan-
choly illustration of this assertion. There the bloated rep-
tile of agitation sat secure in the paradise of his gains, end
gloating over conquests yet to come. But suddenly touched
by the ithuriel spear of conservatism, behold he has sprung
up into a demon of bloodshed and desolation ! Can the
most ferocious democrat he so blinded by his zeal as to think
that the conservative majesty of England will look unmoved
at the scenes that are acting at the Irish elections ? Will not
the entire system of representation be regarded only as dust
in the balance when weighed against the christian blood that
has been shed ? Verily the mandate of England must go
forth to forbid any portion of her wide dominions, to be
ruled by the strong hand of the bludgeon and the brickbat.
and take away a privilege that makes mothers widows, and
children fatherless, until the principles of religious educa-
tion shall so have touched their hearts, that the franchise
may be exercised without periling their own souls, and with
safety to their helpless fellow creatures.
Numerous and glorious as are the incidents that grace our
English history, there is not one that gives greater dignity to
the English character than the high moral feeling that has
emphatically marked the late elections. The whole influence
of the government was employed to seduce tne Englishman
from his freedom and religion. To a starving people bread
was offered. Did it avail ? Not an atom. The repeal of
the corn laws and sugar duties was regarded only as an in-
terlude in the mighty drama that was acting. The minds of
men were fixed on the real subjects in dispute, and the
tempting inducement of bread, at half the present price, was
passed by fathers of families unheeded, when placed in com-
petition with the religion and institutions of their country.
To the ruler and the ruled it has taught alike this useful
lesson, that the only huma❑ being who can really retain in-
fluence over the English nation, " is he that leadeth an un-
corrupt lie, and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh
the truth from his heart."—Yours, &c.,

CONSERVATOR.

SUGGESTED RAMBLE OR •RIDE THROUGH THE
PRINCIPAL STREETS OF LIVERPOOL, FOR
THE GUIDANCE OF STRANGERS ATTENDING
THE MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICUL-
TURAL ASSOCIATION.

Taking it for granted that most of the strangers in the
town will domicile on their arrival in or near the centre of
business, we would suggest that they should first visit the
splendid suite of rooms in the Town-hall, and ascending to
the balcony below the cupola, take a view of what was com-
paratively recently only an inconsiderable fishing village.
They may next see Nelson's Monument, in the Exchange
area, the Exchange News-rooms, and the Underwriters'
Room over it. The Royal Bank, top of Dale-street,
immediately adjacent is worthy of inspection. The Northern
Docks may be next visited. In the Prince's Dock may be
seen the finest of our American line-ships, and in the Clarence
Dock many splendid Irish and Scotch steam-vessels.
Returning through Castle-street, after seeing the Public
Baths on George's Quay, they may look at the New Custom-
house, and proceed thence, to the Southern Docks. In the
King's, Queen's, and Brunswick Docks there are many fine
vessels, home as well as foreign. On the west of the King's
is the Queen's Tobacco warehouse. In the Coburg Dock,
(close to the Brunswick,) they may inspect that huge steamer
"The British Queen." In the line of the docks, and proxi-
mate to them are many tine public and commercial build-
ings, including the churches of St. Nicholas and St. George.
From the Southern Docks they may proceed to St. James's
Walk and the Mount Cemetery behind it, a spot at once
picturesque and deeply interesting. There are some fine
Streets near it. Not far thence to the eastward is
the show ground of the society at Windsor. From
the cemetery northwards they may visit the Mechanics'
Institution, and go along a fine line of streets northward,
including Rodney Street, Clarence Street, Seymour Street,
and St. Anne's Street. Near the end of the latter, a short
distance to the eastward is Everton, the Hague of this me-
tropolis of the west. In the immediate neighbourhood of
the Pavilion is the excellent Institution for the Blind.
Taking a wider circuit round the town, the Dingle and
Aigburth present many attractions on the south. The Bo-
tanic and Zoological Gardens eastward, and Walton, (includ-
ing Mr. Skirving's tine nursery grounds,) on the north. A
trip would also be found agreeable to one or other of the
ferries on the Cheshire shore, whence a fine view of the town
is obtained without a fatiguing journey. Bohl-straet,
Church-street, Lord-street, and Castle-street, contain many
splendid shops. St. Luke's Church, at the top of the first-
named street, is a fine Gothic structure in the florid style,
and near it, at the end of Great George's-street, is a beauti-
ful new chapel, now rabuilding for Dr. Rattles, of the Grecian
order.

CORN LAWS AND FREE TRADE.—Last evening there was
a public discussion in the Queen's Theatre, Christian street,
between Mr. Benjamin Dix, of this town, and Mr. Andrew
Wardrop, a chartist, who was lately nominated as a repre-
sentative of the Dumfries district of burghs. The question
was, whether "the corn laws are just in principle as a part
of a great protective system, the whole of which is essential
to the well-being of the nation," Mr. Dix undertook to
establish the affirmative of their proprietors ; Mr. Wardrop
the negative. In the absence of Mr' C. Watson, who was
announced to preside, Mr. Lloyd was called to the chair.
The :conditions of the discussion were, that Mr. Dix should
commence ; the disputants to be allowed half an hour each
for their first speech, and a quarter of an hou, for each ad-
dress afterwards ; that upon the second night (Tuesday) Mr.
Dix should commence, and that should it close the second
night, Mr. Dix to have the last speech, he undertaking to
ntroduce no new matter. The discussion last night was
not without interest, but nothing new was said on either
side. It was ultimately adjourned to this evening.
The mills, machinery, cottages, and land, late the pro-
perty of Mr. Aaron Lees, and which cost £120,000, have
lately been sold for £35,000. Some three years ago £BO,OOO
was offered for this identical property, but which offer the
assignees refused; in some twelve months afterwards, during
which time the assignees worked the • machinery, and lost
considerably by so doing, it was offered for £65,000, but no
higher bidder came forward ; a private offer was, however,
made of £55,000, but this was also refused. It was again
put up to auction, but still there was no bidder. Some six
months ago, on its being announced for auction a third
time, a day or two before the day of sale a bargain was con-
cluded for £3s,ooo.—Leeds Mercury.
On Sunday evening, at half-past 8, as the Maid of Erin,
river steamer,
was coining up the channel close to the na-
vigation wall, a fishing yawl, in which were ten young per.
sons, came in contact with her, and instantly overturned,
precipitating the entire party into the water. The steamer's
boats were lowered, and every exertion used to save the per-
sons now struggling with their fate. Seven out of the ten
were picked up, some of whom were nearly exhausted, but
three were drowned.—cork Reporter.