The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-11-13 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDAR&

and to fulfil certain other conditions." The unfor-
tunate lessees and houseowners are not consulted
in the matter; the bargain is struck, and the Works
are being carried out. An embankment is run along
in front of the entire property, from oppositeßank-
hall to the landmarks ; the neighbourhood is inun-
dated with navvies, and the property ceases to be
eligible for its original uses as marine residences,
and falls into rapid dilapidation.
Let any of our readers, who are desirous of an
afternoon's stroll, examine its condition for them-
selves. They will find that we are not dealing in
exaggeration. They will see houses, once let at
£BO to £lOO per annum, unoccupied, with windows
boarded up, or let at a third of their rental, as
navvies' hoarding-houses. It is not easy to say,
for the interests of the owners, which is the more
advantageous alternative. They will see other
houses, from which the occupants once derived
decent livings by letting them furnished during the
summer season, comparatively valueless. There is
not one of these houses which would not be worth
double their present value, if placed in the most
paltry street in the town; but, unfortunately, they
are now neither in town nor country, near a market
nor a thoroughfare, and have for their prospect only
passing barrows and accumulating mud !
In this distressing state of affairs, the owners
and occupiers of these houses naturally looked to
somebody for relief. The Dock Committee, they
found, were under no liabilities ; and they turned
to the Earl of Derby—the lessor of the land—as
the party who had injured them, and who was
morally and equitably responsible for their losses.
On Thursday last, we learn, a large and influential
body of them had an interview with the earl's
steward, Mr. Hale, with a view to learn the nature
of their position, so far as the earl was concerned.
They were met, of course, with the utmost courtesy
by this gentleman; but the result of the interview
was most discouraging. The whole facts of the
case were laid before him—the facts of the present
almost valueless state of the property, the peculiar
circumstances of some of its owners, and the
prospect that ten or fifteen years might elapse
before which it could, by the completion of the
docks in front of it, be brought advantageously
into the market for sale, or an adequate rental for
it be secured; and the question was asked—would
the Earl of Derby, in consideration of these circum-
stances, and of former practice, renew, on the usual
terms, such lives as might have lapsed ?• The
answer was, that no renewals whatever could be
granted. All that could be offered was a grant to
the owners of each house of thirty yards by ten
frontage to the shore, for 75 years, at an annual
chief rent of three pounds. Of course, such a
proposition, which was, in fact, asking an additional
payment for what had always previously been en-
joyed gratuitously, except for building upon, viz..,
the shore frontage,. was not accepted; and here at
present the matter remains. Regardina it in what
ever light we may,.we conceive that, on the part- of
the unfortunate owners of the property in question,
it is a very hard one; and we do most sincerely
trust that the Earl of Derby, who alone can do
these parties justice—they ask but for that—will,
give it his serious reconsideration:

IN this evening's London Gazett; we learn, will
appear a notice of an intended application to Par-
liament for an act to remodel the constitution of
the Liverpool Dock Committee. With respect to
the precise nature and ,extent of the powers sought
we areas yet uninformed. One of the modifica-
tions proposed, however,. is to enable the bond-
holders "of the dock estate to return eight members
to represent them upon the Dock Committee ; and
we are informed that the gist of the movement
will be to declare the docks public property, and
to take away the veto, or controlling. power, with
the privilege of appointing: the chairman, from the
burgesses of Liverpool,as represented by the Town
Council. Practically, therefore, the effect of the
measure will be to alienate altogether, and to hand
over to the irresponsihle•control •of the capitalists
and mercantile interests- of London, Manchester,
and, in fact, of the United Kingdom,-this splen.
did estate leaving to the burgesses of- Liverpool
only the privilege of supporting the- pauperism,
and punishing the crime which it creates:

We were 'Ourselves prepared for something of
this kind. Some time ago we warned the credulous
believers in the professions and wisdom of the
National Confederation that their violent rand head-
strong tactics—their want of common. prudence
and discrimination—would bring down.upon their
heads such a measure of retaliation. And here
they have it ; here is blow No. 1, following closely
enough upon their fancied victory of the Ist of
November ! Who are the precise parties-who are
setting the machinery int' motion we know not as
yet. But we have a suffiaient idea as to the strength
upon which they rely for success. Manchester has
already spoken out, and claimed this property for
the entire commercial community. She envies us
sufficiently our possession of it ; and to deprive us
of it would gladly resort to the cry of cheap dock
accommodation, or pub forth any other pretext.
The other Lancashire boroughs, and the Weit
Riding, would swell the cry ; and even. our Cheshire
neighbours would echo the prayer. There is scarcely
a foreign merchant or. shipowner who would not
endeavour to make his voice heard in favour of the
movement. Is even. our own Dock. Committee
altogether in favour, of " Townside" on this
question ? We suspect that, with._ some of the
members of that body, the prospect of decreased
rates of dockage, mingled with a• little personal
soreness at the proceedings of certain busy parties
amongst the community, has got the better already.
of their old leanings towards the local independence
and prosperity of the place of their•birth or of their
adoption.

It cannot be urged, with truth, that the opponents
of dock rating—which we presume this step is
taken to prevent have been driven to it
by any overt act on the part of the parochial
authorities, who maintain that the dock estate
should bear a. portion of parochial burthens.
Neither the Vestry nor the Parochial Rating Com-
mittee have given notice of any intention to press
the question before Parliament. These bodies have
expressly declared their reluctance to engage in the
expense of a parliamentary struggle. Nor has the
Council ever attempted to exercise a very arbitrary
spirit, or a disposition to exert the full influence of
its majority, in the selection of members to sit upon
the Dock Committee. Last year they sanctioned
the return of Mr. James.Aikin, a declared opponent
of rating the estate. This year they have contented
themselves with merely filling up vacancies, cer-
tainly with highly respectable and experienced men ;
and in one of these they have placed. Mr. G. H.
Horsfall, an anti-rater. The intended; bill is not
one of retaliation for aggression attempted against
the Dock. Committee,, for there has been no such
attempt. It bears. with it, on the contrary, all the-
evidences of a blow menaced in retaliation for one
inflicted in another quarter, or in doubt as to the
qualifications to deal with dock aeairs, of some• of
the gentlemen. returned through the influence,of
the National Confederation.

We ask of the gentlemen now moving, or intend-
ing to move, in this matter, and• we ask, too,of the
burgesses of Liverpool, what is likely to be the
result if it is successful. We- have a government
just now little scrupulous in appropriating to itself
any scraps of power, patronage, and profit which
fall in its way. How eagerly it caught up the con-
servancy of the river Mersey, during the contest for
the dock warehouse scheme ! How adroitly it filched
the oyster—the made-land on the sides of Wallasey
Pool—whilst our good neighbours were wrangling
about the shell! And they will have even more
delight in grasping into their own hands the mag-
nificent dock estate of Liverpool. Once allow it to
be admitted that this is public property; that the
burgesses of Liverpool have no right of control over
its management, or the expenditure of its revenue
and we shall very soon hear of a claim for govern-
ment control over such a public property, the more
especially as it would allow very excellent pickings
for the shoals of hungry Whiglings yet gaping to
be provided for. Perhaps the next question to
arise would be as to our right to levy town dues,
and to build Saint George's Halls, baths and wash-
houses, to erect churches, and pay clergymen,
clerks, sextons, nd bell ringers out of a tax, which
they will tell us, is levied upon the commerce of the
world. Charters and even acts of Parliament stand
very little in the way of such gentlemen.
We have called the attention of our fellow-towns-
, men to this impending movement, of the precise
direction of which perhaps a few hours will inform
'them more fully. When its features in detaiLare
'Before them, they will no doubt be enabled to
determine upon the proper course to pursue. We
think that the public feeling of the town upon the
subjeot willbe tolerably unanimous; and its expres-
sion ought at once to be invoked,

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY REPORT.

EXCHANGE NEWS-ROOM, MONDAY.
The increasing confidence displayed by the people of
France in their Presidept, considered in connexion with
the feelings of .amity w}iich subsist between that country
and Great Britain, has produced a progressing feeling of
satisfaction in commercial and monetary circles, and the
funds have improved some little in consequence. Added
to this, the other differences on the Continent are looked
upon as settled, at all events for a time; and with a large
export trade going on both in our manufactures and
colonial produce, the aspect of affairs brightens as the pros-
pect for the exertion of British enterprise and industry
widens in extent.

The Share market has been steady all week and closes
to-day with pries skewing a disposition to advance.
There is an impression spreading that the gradual im-
provement in the receipts added to the great reductions
being universally made in the working expenses must
bring a permanent improvement in prices. London
stock closes to-day 114 115 ; Mid. 48 49. Business has
been done as follow :—Lancashire and Yorkshire 60+;
London stock, 114+ ; do. quarters + p. ; do. fifths 1 I p. ;
Sheffield and Manchester 12+ (.ElOO, pd.); do. quarters
No. 1, 131 dis. ; Midland, 48+; do, halves. 21+ dis. ;
North Union A, 222; Dover No. 4, 6 6 3; Bank of
Liverpool, 16.
We were much pleased to hear a conversation which
took place between some gentlemen on 'Change respect-
ing a subject which has been too much neglected, and the
importance of which can never be too seriously regarded.
We allude to an enlarged system of colonial emigration.
At a period like the present, when comparative prosperity
reigns, and when the means could be more easily raised
than in times of depression and adversity, the safety-
v%lve might be fabricated, which would relieve society
from much of the urgency of prostration which inevitably
ensues on the partial withdrawal of demand from any of
the vast departments of the industrial production of this
country. Moreover, while the great experiment of free-
trade is in progress, to the detriment of the agricultaral
produce of the t'nited Kingdom, it is only fair, if we are to'
be a nation of manufacturers exclusively, tbatsome provision,
should be made for the discarded field labourer. More-
over, every pound laid out either by government or cor-
porations in the emigration of that redundancy of popula- 1
tion which becomes pauperised, would be invested, as a
few plain figures would show, at immense interest to the
community at large.

Since the circular of Friday there has been a steady
demand for Sugar, and° on Saturday 000 bags Bengal
were taken by the grocers at 395. for low white, to 425.
for fine; and to-day 1,500 more atsimilar rates. 100 pun-
cheons of Demerara Rum at extreme prices, and 500 tons
Nitrate of Soda at Ils. 7Ad to lls. 9d., in the warehouse.
Coffee is in good demand for export.
The principal articles of the Corn trade inthe provincial
markets of England have varied little in value since our
last, Wheat and Flour of good quality maintaining previ-
ous prices, with a fair demand' generally for consumption,
any quotable reduction being confined to inferior descrip-
tions, and that in only one instance of importance, viz.,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Irish markets are rather
firmer, except for Indian Corn, the stocks of which are fast
accumulating there : and not onlydo we hear less and less
about the potato disease, but in some parts, particularly
Limerick,.a.large quantity of turnips has been brouight to
market, and now-constitute a considerable portion of the
food of the-working classes. The• value of Indian Corn
has consequently receded since ourlast,—in Dublin lit. per
quarter ; in Thmeriek, ss. to 7s. 6d. per ton ; Cork, Zs. 611. ;
and in other places prices have declined, although the .ex-
act amount is-not specified in our alvices.
Little has transpired in Brunswick-street since Friday.
The London market, however, coming higher for Wheat
to-day, we may speculate on the probability of an im-
provement here to-morrow. Any advance of moment,
however; is unlikely at present, in the face of the large
deliveries which have to be forwarded from farmers he--
tween this and, February next.

The arrivals of Timber during the past week, from Bri-
tish America,. have been considerable, consisting of 14
vessels-9380 tons. There is very little difference to note
since our last report, the stock being now heavy. St.-
John and Quebec Tine must decline in price, though, as,
we before remarked, Quebec has slightly recovered, or at
least'acquired firmness, al late quotations.- Deals of all
kinds are improving in den the supply having fallen
off lately.

The Cotton market closes about kd. dearer to-day than
an Friday, the advance being; divided between, Saturday
and to-day. /0,000 bales were sold on Saturday," one
half on speculation and for export ; and a similar amount
has been disposed of this dayqincluding aboirtl,ooo taken
on speculation), comprising 1,500 Brazils, 1,000 Surats,
and the rest chiefly Ataericans at 6d. to 7d. per lb. Each
day is developing the extraordinary position in which the
stock of this staple is placed. Opinions are various as to
the future course-prices will take, but the general impres-
sion is in favour of higher prices; indeed, with the small
stack -on hand and the very limited supply coming forward,
a further advancain the value of Cotton seems inevitable.

LONDON- MONEY' MARKET.—YE ST E R DAY
Consols, 9343,93 i.

LONDON SHARE MARKET.—YESTERDAY.
London Stook, 114 to 1141. Midland, 48 to 49.

LONDON CORN MARKET.-YESTERDAY

The display of- Wheat from adjacent counties- has been
limited in amount to-day, which, combined with an active de-
mand from town and country millers, has enhanced the price
of• English Wheat 25., and Foreign la. per quarter. TOwn-made
Flour was held very.firmly, but the quotations she no rise.
Although the inquiry for Beans, Pease, and Barley was not
lively, prices are quite as dear as on Monday last. A rather
briak.trade has been•done in Oats, at previous rates.

English Wheat
„ Barley
„ Oats
„ Malt
I Flour

Red W

ARRIVAL

2,370 Foreign 10,725
2,112 „ 3,586
2,672 „ 16,607
3,635
4,654

Irish Oats
„ Malt

eat, 40s. to 455. White, 445. to 499.

The Earl of Sefton is expected to be present at the
Roscoe Club-dinner, on Thursday week.
The first divinity prize at the Liverpool Royal Institu-
tionhas been awarded to Mr. G. S. Yates.

The anniversary dinner of the Royal Mersey Yacht
Club will take place on the 28th instant.
The cross erected in the grounds of St. Edward's
College, Everton, as a testimonial to the late Dr. Youens,
was destroyed during the heavy.gale last week.
BEWARE of ORANGE PEn..—On Saturday evening,
a man, named Henry Gough, residing at Seacombe, in
coming out of a flour shop in -Liverpool, slipped upon au
orange peel and fractured his leg severely.
The packet-ship Constitution, Captain Britton, arrived
at this port on Friday, after a fine run of seventeen days
from New York. She brought on freight gold to the
value of X 28,000.

The East India and Chips, Association, in this town,.
have memorialised the East,lndia Company in favour of
Mr. Bourne's scheme for- navigating the Indian rivers,,
but suggesting that it should be on the "understanding:
that the like privilege should be conceded to any party;
who may.hereafter apply for a similar grant."
On Thursday, a private meetingof gentlemen was held'
to consider the propriety of organising an effort to separate
the Dock from the Corporate estate. Messrs. Mann,
Lockett, Rankin, Bold, Chilton, and Chapman were pre-
sent ;. and, with the exception of the latter gentleman, all
expressed a favourable view of the movement.

DANIKRETCY Couiu' YESTERDAY: HA RRI
Thisbankrupt was opposed by Mr. Almond, on the ground
thathe had not properly kept his books, and that his per-
sonal expenditure exceeded the limits set down by the
new bankruptcy act. His honour said that he felt inclined
to•suspend the certificate forAwelve months, but he would
not be doing justiceirithe case, if hedid not grant protection
for the whole period..
THE LIVERPOOL, CHESS. Cr).l.ll3.—The members of this
club, at a meeting held a few evenings ago, passedunani.
mously a resolution to present their late honorary secre-
tary with a testimonial of the esteem he is held in by his
confreres. It has. not yet been determined what the
testimonial shall consist of, nor when it will be presented ;
but, as Mr. Spreckley is shortly to take his leave of
Liverpool, an early day must be named.
DEATH BY DROWNING. —On Sunday night, at half-
past.,nine, a female, named Mary Wah, aged twenty-
four, in company. with her brother, was stepping from the
landing-stage on board of a Woodside steamer, when her
foot slipped nod she fell into the water and disappeared.
A. boat was instantly sent out, and in twenty-five minutes
the body was found opposite the Prince's Dock wall.
She was quite dead.

THE IsTEw SEACOMBE BOAT.—On Sunday last, the,
" Sylph" steamer commenced running at this ferry, in,
place of the " Liverpool," recently disabled. She is a
fine boat, propelled by two engiues, and worked with large
Paddle-wheels, and is not much excelled in swiftness by
the fastest on the river. Yesterday she crossed at high
water in n minutes, and against a strong tide in 5/
minutes. Her cabin accommodations, and appointments
throughout, are of first-rate description.
On Sunday morning' the newly-elected mayor, John
Holmes, Esq., in accordance with the usual custom, at.
tended Divine service at St. Peter's Church, when a ser.
mon was preached by the Venerable Archdeacon Brooks,
in aid of the Blue Coat Hospital. The collection
amounted to £7B 3s. 2d. His Worship, who looked re-
markably well, walked arm-in-arm with Alderman Bram-
ley-Moore on his right. and the Venerable Archdeacon on
his left. The procession to church from the Town-hall
was closed by a large body of gentlemen, comprising the
majority of the Town Council, many of the Select Vestry,
the Town-clerk, Clerk of the Peace, Vestry-clerk, &c.

ST. NICHOLAS' CHuncx.—We understand that his
Worship the Mayor, accompanied by many of the Town
Council and Select Vestry, will attend divine service at
St. Nicholas' Church on Thursday morning next, being
the day appointed for the National Thanksgiving. We
believe that no arrangement has been come to as to the
objects to which the collections made on that day are to
be devoted ; but it has been suggested to us that this is a
very suitable period for the establishment of a " Male
Orphan Asylum," which would afford a shelter for the
destitute orphan sons of the unfortunate persons who were
carried off by the ravages of the cholera, and for others
who may be left hereafter totally unprovided for. The
hint deserves, we think, practical consideration, and we
shall be glad if an effort is made to carry it out. We
believe that the agents of the " Female Orphan Asylum,"
whilst receiving within their benevolent fold the young
forlorn daughters of deceased parents, are grieved to pass
by equally destitute boys, whom of course they are pre-
cluded by their_ rules from assisting.