The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00

of their office.

The Sheriffs of Middlesex have also acted in a man-
ner becoming officers holding so responsible a trust.
They have done their duty nobly and conscientiously.
They have earned the sympathy, as they have entitled
themselves to the gratitude, of every true patriot. The
sacrifice of personal liberty to which they have sub-
mitted, rather than they would violate their oath, has
already been more than repaid in the warm congratu-
lations which they have met with from their fellow-
subjects. Their levee, if we may so call it, in the
prison-cells of the House of Commons, was attended,
on Wednesday last, by nearly a hundred of the most
distinguished members of the Commons, as well as by
a host of the civic officers and citizens of London.

They have reserved for them the proud triumph of
having dared and overcome the self-assumed authority
of the House of Commons.

There can be no doubt as to the opinion of the
people of England on this question of privilege. The
people will support the Judges in their honourable
career. They will not allow the laws and liberties of
free-born Britons to be trampled upon with impunity.
They will not suffer the arbitrary resolutions of the
House of Commons, unsupported by any legislative
enactment, to assume the force of laws. Thank God,
we are not come to that pass yet ; though there is very
very little doubt that the Liberal (faugh!) portion of
the Commons would be very glad to establish such a

The conduct of Sir Robert Peel and several of the
leading Conservatives in the Commons, on this ques-
tion, has given rise to much discussion. Some of our
London contemporaries are sadly puzzled to account
for his defection, in this instance, from the great ma-
jority of his supporters. Perhaps there is more in Sir
Robert Peel's conduct than meets the eye of a cursory
observer. The event will probably justify our suspi-
cions. We question the policy of resorting to such
means for precipitating the downfal of the Ministry.
We shall anxiously await the result of Mr. Richards'
application yesterday for a writ of habeas corpus on be-
half of the Sheriffs of Middlesex. The issue of this
application may render an immediate dissolution of
Parliament a probable event. There is no other alter-
native excepting a prorogation; and by a prorogation,
for the sake of liberating the Sheriffs, the House of
Commons will show that it has been forced to succumb
to the majesty of the law.

The elections now in progress are exciting an extra-
ordinary degree of interest. Upon their issue, in very
great measure, depends the fate of the Ministry. If
only five of them are won by the Conservatives, the
Ministerial majority will be annihilated, if not converted
into a minority. The result of the pending elections
will also afford a tolerable indication of the state of pub-
lic feeling, and thus exhibit the chances which Mini-
sters will possess in the event of a general election,
consequent upon a dissolution. \Ve must, however,
protest against any general conclusion front the result
of the struggles now going forward. Circumstances
are greatly in favour of Ministers in almost every one
of these elections.

Newark, of course, is the principal centre of attrac-
tion at the present moment, and the greatest source of
anxiety to the ministry. The loss of Serjeant Wilde,
Solicitor-General, would be of greater consequence to
ministers, than the mere deduction of a vote from their
side of the House. We are not, therefore, surprised
that the most strenuous and unrelaxing efforts, are being
made to secure his return. The means resorted to for
this purpose, wile they indicate a strong deterrai-

nation to carry the field, per fas cut per nefas, show
also the desperate condition to which the ministerial
faction is reduced. We are informed that "if the fate
of the Ministry itself depended on this election, no
greater efforts could be made to obtain success."
Treasury gold is said to be abundant in the town.
This accounts for divers' and sundry sudden and ex-
traordinary conversions which are said to have taken
place there within the last few days. Intimidation is
also unscrupulously practised by all the Whigs who
have the slightest influence. Combinations are also
entered into by the liberal workmen themselves, to ex-
clude their fellow-workmen from being employed, un-
less they vote for the Whigs. Owing to these unjusti-
fiable and tyrannical measures the race may be much
closer than was anticipated : but we have no doubt of
the patriotic fidelity to the constitutional cause of the
great mass of the Conservative electors.
The election for Southwark is also looked to with
considerable interest. It will afford some criterion of
the state of public feeling in the Metropolis. The tri-
umph of so independent a gentleman as Mr. Walter
would indeed be a " heavy blow and great discourage-
ment " to the cause of Whiggery. Whatever may be
the issue of the Southwark election, we believe the day

is not distant, when the Conservatives will obtain the
ascendancy even in the Metropolitan districts. Mid-
dlesex is a sure card in the hands of the Conservatives.

If fair exertions are made, we believe that the city of
London also may be wrested from the hands of the
Radicals. Alarylebone already returns one Conserva-
tive member. We hope to see the representation di-
vided, at least, in the Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Fins-
bury, 'Westminster, and Southwark, whenever a general
election takes place.

The election at Birmingham possesses compara.

tively little interest. The Conservatives have been too
quiescent on the subject. They ought to have taken
the field at the moment Mr. Attwood's resignation was
made known. Perhaps they thought it more prudent
to reserve their strength and their resources for the
approaching general election.

At Devonport, and Penryn and Falmouth, despite
of government influence, we think the Conservatives
will carry the day. Conservatism has been astonish-
ingly on the increase in the West and South of Eng-

land. The recent Chartist disturbances in South Wales
have, no doubt, had the salutary effect of still more
effectually weaning the people of Cornwall, Devon,
Somerset, Wilts, Gloucestershire, &c., from liberalism,
of which Chartism is only the full type and develop-
ment.

The election for the county of Rutland, we fear, will
give the ministry an additional vote. Lord Barham's
influence is very extensive in the county. The vacancy
has, indeed, been created for the very purpose of
strengthening the ministerial ranks. The conservatives
have been taken too much by surprise in the county,
to allow of any adequate preparations for a contest.
We entertain very little doubt of the result of the
election at Ripon. The chances are strongly in favour
of a Conservative candidate. Indeed, throughout the
whole of Yorkshire Chartism has had its beneficial
effects. The peaceable electors have been terrified at
the ultimate workings of Reform. Good has thus
sprung out of evil.

At Edinburgh there is no opposition to " the man
wot dines with the Queen," and dates his notes from
Windsor Palace. Auld Reekie is doomed once more

to be rode rough-shod over by a thorough-going Whig,
in the person of Mr. Macauley. What are the Con-
servatives about ? We hope that our contemporaries

of the Evening Post, Advertiser, and Scottish Standard,
will not cease to agitate until the Modern Athens has,

at. least, the honour of possessing one Conservative
representative, to prevent any further Whig jobbing in
that part of the kingdom.

We perceive that a deputation, representing the in-
terests of British Guiana, consisting of Mr. M`Garel,
Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Mr. Rainey, of Glasgow,
and Mr. Colville, transacted business at the Colonial
Office, on Friday last. We presume that the object
which they had in view was, the promotion of immi-
gration into that important Colony—an object in fur-
therance of which we have already used our humble
endeavours, and in the prosecution of which we shall
not relax our efforts until it is accomplished, and jus-
tice is done to British Guiana, as well as to the other
Colonies in the West Indies.

The subject of immigration into the West Indies,
and especially to British Guiana, is one of urgent and
paramount importance. The West India Colonies are
rapidly sinking into ruin. The planters are unable to
carry on the cultivation of their estates. The crops
are diminishing every season. There is no time to be
lost. Labourers are wanted, and must be had, if those
Colonies are to he preserved. Labourers are to be
found, in hundreds of thousands, ready, willing, anxi-
ous to be employed. All that is wanted is permission
to transfer them from their present state of abject
misery, to the plenty and happiness which awaits them
under the protection of British laws.

We perceive, from our Birmingham correspondent's
report, that Sir Charles Wetherell has been nominated
as the Conservative candidate for the representation of
that important town. A better choice could not have
been made. His powerful understanding, fervid
eloquence, and sound attachment to constitutional
principles, eminently qualify him for the successful
discharge of the duties of a Member of the House of
Commons. His return would prove a source of im-
measurable mortification to the ministry. We shall
endeavour to procure a statement of the polling for our
second edition.

Every true-hearted Conservative must look forward
with no ordinary degree of interest to the result of
Sir John Buller's motion in the House of Commons,
which comes on for discussion on the 28th instant.
That the Government have lost, in the fullest sense
of the word, the confidence of the country, is a matter
so notorious, that even Ministers themselves cannot,
and dare not, attempt to deny it.
It is not improbable but that it may he desirable to
call a meeting of the Conservatives of Liverpool at an
early period, to express their distrust and entire want
of confidence in our present rulers ; a course which,
we have reason to believe, has already been adopted
in Glasgow, and will no doubt be speedily followed in
every part of the kingdom.
Let the Conservatives of Liverpool, therefore, be
ready ! They have a duty to discharge to their coun-
try—to themselves. We say again, " Watch and be
ready !"

WRECK OF THE WILLIAM HUSKISSON-THE
HUDDERSFIELD-THE CITY OF DUBLIN
COMPANY.

The following letter, addressed to Messrs. Charles Hors-
fall and Son, by Mr. Perry, the agent of the City of Dublin
Company, is highly creditable to the company, and must be
gratifying, not only to the owners, but to the captain and crew
of the Huddersfield :

Water-street, January 18, 1840.
Gentlemen,—ln reference to the unfortunate loss of the
William Huskisson, steam-vessel, the directors of the City
of Dublin Company have been anxious to express their ac-
knowledgment to Captain Clegg and the crew of the Hud-
dersfield, for their valuable and efficient services in saving so
many human beings from a watery grave ; but, as it was ne-
cessary for the subject to be brought under the consideration
of a board of directors in Dublin, it was not until yesterday
that this could be done.

I have now the satisfaction to state, that the directors have
instructed me to place in your hands the sum of fifty guineas,
which they request you will have the kindness to hand to
Captain Clegg, as a small acknowledgmet of his valuable ser-
vices in the cause of humanity, and an additional sum of fifty
which you be pleased to divide amongst the crew
guineas,
ofnthesHuddersheld in such proportions as you may think
proper.
Had the company not have experienced the loss of the
vessel, but had been successful in getting her into some port,
the directors would have felt themselves at liberty to more
adequately reward the captain and crew of the Huddersfield ;
however I trust Captain Clegg will receive the acknowledg-
ment conveyed to him through your hands, in the same
spirit with which it is given.—l am, gentlemen, yours very
respectfully,

SAML. PERRY,
Agent to the City of Dublin Company.
Messrs. Charles Horsfall and Son.
The subjoined is a copy of Captain Clegg's letter to "Air.
Perry :

Liverpool, January 21, 1840.
SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of fifty guineas,
which I have received from Messrs. Charles Horsfall and
Son, in accordance with your letter to them. May I request
that you will do me the favor to convey to the directors of the
City of Dublin Steam-packet Company my warmest thanks
for this liberal mark of their approbation of my conduct on
the recent loss of the William Huskisson. Having upon
that occasion done only what it was my duty to do, and what
every man actuated by the common feelings of humanity would
have done, under similar circumstances, the satisfaction to my
own mind, in having been, under Providence, the instrument
of saving so many of my fellow-creatures from a watery grave,
was in itself a sufficient recompense for my trouble, and the
danger or anxiety which I experienced.—l remain, sir, your
obedient servant, JOHN ARDEN CLEGG.
Samuel Perry, Esq.

The actual expenditure of the United Kingdom for the year
ending October 10, 1839, exceeded the revenue by the sum
of £803,463 17s. 4d.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WOODSIDE.

We lament to have to state that two elegant stone man-
sions, belonging to Mr. R. W. Prichard, of the firm of
Messrs. Lodge, Prichard, & Co. merchants, of No. 1. India-
buildings, Water-street, were totally destroyed by fire on
Tuesday last. One of the houses was occupied by Mr.
Prichard himself, and the other by Mr. John Smith, of the
firm of Messrs. John and Charles Smith. They had been
inhabited only about a month, but so great is the devastation
caused by the raging element, that it is, at present, expected
they will have to be almost entirely rebuilt.
It will be seen from an account in another column, that on
Tuesday a furious wind prevailed from the west. The houses,
being new, some of the rooms were not perfectly dry, and
consequently a fire was kept in the attic or servants sleeping
room in Mr. Smith's house. Whether any ashes escaped
from this fire, or whether the flames were extended by some
other means, it is impossible to say, but the probability is,
that the high winds had blown in some pane of the window,
and scattered the live ashes over the floor. About three
o'clock an alarm was given that the bath room underneath
was on fire. So rapid were the flames that a lady who hap-
pened to observe them from a house at some distance, de-
scribed them, fanned as they were by the prevailing wind, as
resembling a flash of lightning, rather than a waving but
compact body of fire. Indeed their progress in destruction
confirms this impression, for the fire instantly extended to
Mr. Prichard's house, and Mrs. Prichard had but just time
to place the children in a neighbour's house, and to save the
plate in immediate use, before the whole house was filled
with fire and smoke. She had not even an opportunity of
saving any portion of her wearing apparel, beyond that which
happened to be on her person. The work of destruction was,
as may be expected, equally rapid in Mr. Smith's house.
The Woodside engine was sent for immediately on the
alarm being given, but owing to the high wind, and to a de-
ficiency of water, it was of comparatively little service in
arresting the flames. Indeed, from the inquiries we have
made, it would appeaethat no engine, however powerful,
could have accomplished that object. In the mean time, as
much of the furniture as it was possible to get at, was re-
moved from both houses, but it amounted to a very small
portion. The roof fell in about au hour after the arrival of
the engine, with a tremendous crash, and in its fall carried
with it nearly all the floors ; those which remained were soon
afterwards destroyed by the fire, as were the window frames
and the fixtures in the different apartments. It is but just
to state that the constable of Woodside, and the men work-
ing the engine, exerted themselves to the utmost in suppress-
ing the flames. After the lapse of a few hours, the entire
building, as may be seen by any one one who pays a visit to
the place, was reduced to a complete shell, nothing but the
bare walls remaining.
We understand that Mr. Prichard is fully insured, both as
to building and furniture, in the York and London and Scot-
tish Union Offices. The loss must be very considerable, as
nearly the whole of the furniture was destroyed, and none of
the plate was saved except that in daily use. Mr. Smith,
we understand, was also insured. Much of his furniture was
removed before the fire could reach it, as well as some por-
tion of the plate. Some was entirely lost ; but we were told
yesterday that several silver spoons and forks, supposed to
have been destroyed, were found among the ruins, in such a
state as to render them useless.
Both Mr. Prichard and Mr. Smith's families found a ready
shelter for the night in the Rev. E. Ohin's house, adjoining,
who, together with many other kind friends, were most anxi-
ously solicitous to bear some part in administering to their
immediate necessities

We should also add that J. D. Case, Esq., one of the ma •
gistrates for Cheshire, exerted himself very actively during
the fire, and that his services were of the greatest utility in
preventing depredations, which, we ate sorry to say, were
considerable, notwithstanding the danger, particularly in the
cellar. Some of the offenders, we hear, are in custody.

PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-MAYNOOTH
GRANT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—The question has at times been asked, What does the
Protestant Association do?

A practical answer can now be given by stating, that it
calls upon every Protestant in Liverpool, at this time, either
to record his protest against the grant of £9,000 per annum
to support the iniquitous College of Maynooth, or deserve
no longer to be called by that name.
It calls upon every Churchman, who values and loves the
pure and undefiled doctrines of his own church, to exert him-
self to the utmostin discountenancing the blasphemous errors
of the Church of Rome; therefore he—will sign the petition.
It calls upon the Wesleyan Methodists to lend their power-
ful aid in washing out this disgrace to a Protestant land, and
to adhere strictly to the doctrines of their founder, by one
and all—signing the petition.
It calls upon members of the Church of Scotland. as they
love the truth, to enter their solemn protest against the ini-
quity of Maynooth, by—signing the petition.
It calls upon members of the Society of Friends, (who
hesitate not in protesting against church-rates, or any grants
to support the Church of England,) to shew their consist-
ency in protesting against the support of that church, the
doctrines of which must clash terribly with a sound consci-
ence ; by—signing the petition.
It calls upon Dissenters of every Sect, who delight in the
voluntary system ; by the very arguments upon which they
profess to dissent, to avail of this opportunity of carrying out
their principle, and shewing to the world that they are de-
serving of the name of Protestant Dissenters., This they will
do by—signing the petition.
It calls upon every Jew, who abominates idolatry, to give
vent to that righteous hatred, by protesting against the idola-
trous Church of Rome. This he can do by—signing the
petition.

It calls, and calls most solemnly, upon all who would dis-
entangle our most gracious and beloved Sovereign from the
charge of allowing her government to give encouragement to
that church, against which, she as head, and they as mem-
bers are pledged to protest.
These, then, are the practical answers to the question, and
I would urge upon every one who glories in the name of Pro-
testant, to consider whether he has hitherto gloried in the
name only, whether he does actually protest against the
damnable doctrines of the Church of Rome ? If not, let him
now enter his ',solemn protest by—signing the petition.—
Your obedient servant, PROTEST.
'Liverpool, 22d January, 1840.