The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-02 00:00:00

There is, my dear sir, no little difficulty in a large commu-
nity to keep matters straight. As commander of the ship, and
superior to all others, the providore (be who he may, and I
do think Mr. Hough a good providore) must not arrogate to
himself any right to blame his captain unjustly, for in this
instance, it is the case—"sharnefUlly so." If I have the ho-
nour to command the President another voyage, anything
that may have transpired in this matter will make no differ-
ence to me, as far as regards a just and proper support, either
to Mr. Hough or to any other person in the same capacity ;
and would be most happy to be guided by any instructions from
yourself. Mr. Hough has made an unjust complaint. Yon
are in possession of that complaint. I can only conclude by
remarking, I am too well satisfied I am in just and too gene-
rous hands to be unfairly treated, and rest upon this explana-
tion as matter of fact.—l have the honour to be, my dear sir,
your very faithful servant,
Macgregor Laird, Esq

R. J. FAYRER

The reading. of this letter was frequently interrupted by
loud applause from all parts of the room.
The letter intimating Captain Fayrer's dismissal was here
read. It was couched in the following terms :
British and American Steam Navigation Company,
2, Billiter-court, Billiter-square, London,
26th September, 1840.
DEAR SIR' —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 24th instant, which has been laid before the
directors, who have desired me to intimate to you, that, after
mature consideration of all the circumstances connected with
the voyage to and from New York, they have come to the
resolution of dispensing with your services as commander of
that vessel for the future. I hand you, annexed. the minute
upon the subject, and your account up to the Gth October
next.-1 remain, yours truly,
M. LAIRD, Resident Director.
Lieutenant R. J. Fayrer, R.N.
Extract from a minute of a meeting of the directors of the
British and American Steam Navigation Company, held on
Saturday, the 26th September, 1840 :
Resolved,—That, after mature consideration of the cir-
cumstances connected with the voyage of the President to
and from New York, and the explanations made by Captain
Fayrer, Mr. Laird do write to Captain Fayrer and acquaint
him that the directors have no further occasion for his

services

- - The reading of this letter was immediately followed by loud
and indignant cries of " Shame," hisses, and other signifi-
cant marks of disapprobation, which were several times
repeated.
The CH AIRMAN produced a note from the agents of the
President in New York. The captain had remonstrated with
the agents for putting too much dead weight into the vessel.
In the note produced they assured him that she would not be
laden so as to draw over 17 feet 6 inches. She was after-
wards loaded down to 18 feet 3 inches. The agents probably
were not aware of the quantity of water which she would sub-
sequently require for her boilers. The' chairman said as the
correspondence had been read, if any gentleman had any
observation to. make to the meeting, they should be happy
to hear him.

Mr. T. R. FORWOOD said one of the correspondents of
their house was a passenger in the Liverpool on her voyage
in which she took her final departure from Cork, and he had
spoken in the highest terms of Captain Fayrer's excellent
management and skill as a commander. He had al, o heard
many similar opinions from other parties, both from 'pas-
sengers and those who had goods shipped in the President.
Mr. J. H. 11 tcscs, of New York, said, as a friend of Captain
Fayrer, and one who was about with his whole family to
embark in the President, he had great pleasure in proposing
the first resolution.

Mr. EDWARD MANLOVE, who is also about to proceed to
New York by the President, seconded the resolution, which
was put from the chair and carried unanimously, amid great
applause.
The SECRETARY read the next resolution, which he said
had been placed in his hands. He had taken considerable
interest in this affair from the sincere regard which he felt
for an old friend and brother sailor. When he read the first
paragraph in the documents Which had been laid before the
meeting, he at once expressed his opinion that judgment and
conviction had preceded accusation. (Loud cheers.) He
was rather at a loss, as an old sailor, to know, whether a
commander was to bet blamed when he had so many placed
about him who were in authority. The engineers were in
power in their own department, and if there had.been any
inattention there, he did not know any person so much to
blame as the chief officer. Unless he could exculpate him-
self from all blame, he (the secretary), did not know how
they could place him in command, with the lives and pro-
perty of so many pesons under his care. The secretary
made some allusions to the conduct of Mr. Huff, whom he
facetiously designated Captain Huff, of the Presdent, and
concluded by characterising the whole proceeding as an insult
to the navy and to sailors generally, both American and
British.
Mr. ROSKELL seconded the resolution.
Mr. Was. RATIIIIONE, a member of the Town-en:lnca,
would not have come forward on an occasion like the present,
but that he felt it his duty to speak his high opinion of Cap-
tab Fayrer, whom he had known when in command in the
service of Messrs. Cropper, Benson and Co. and of his own
house. Such a letter as the one that had been read, proved,
not the deficiency of Captain Fayrer as a commander, but
that of the directors, to take charge of such a concern.
(Great applause, followed by three cheers.) He thanked the
meeting for those cheers.. lie was aware of the consequences
of what he had said. The directors might call him to ac-
count for the assertion, (No, no) ; but when a sense of pub-
lic duty, and of his duty to a friend called him forward, he
thought it was important that sentiments should be fearlessly
expressed. (Cheers.) Every naval man would bear him out
in the assertion, that, whatever might be desirable on shore;
if there were not something of a despotism on board ship,
there would soon be a democracy of the worst kind. In con-
clusion, Mr. Rathbone spoke of Captain Fayrer, in terms of
warm eulogy. The resolution was put and carried unani-

mously.
Mr. CASSIN said, having been a passenger with Captain
Fayrer, in the President, in company with gentlemen from
all parts of the earth, he could bear testimony how much be
was beloved and respected by all on board. He was certain
that he had carried the vessel through the water as quickly
as possible. They were certainly a little disappointed that
they had been sixteen days on the passage, but they did not
blame the captain in the least, as they were convinced that he
had done all that could be done. Mr. Cassin read and pro-
posed the resolution next in order.
Mr. JONES, another passenger by the President, and an
experienced engineer, seconded the resolution, and stated his
conviction, that if the directors wished the President to go
quicker, they must give her more power.
Mr. DANIEL. NEILSON read some statements comparative
of the relative powers of engines in steamers, from which he
deduced, that the President required at least 267 horse-
power more than she possesses.
Mr. BUCHANAN said, that the engines of the President
were only 540 horse power.
Mr. JoNas confirmed this, and added, that he had during
the voyage had frequent converse with her engineers, and he
was convinced that it was impossible for her to go fast with
her present engines. •
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. DANIEL NEILSON proposed a resolution for the pub-
lication of the proceedings of the meeting, in the London,
Liverpool, and New York newspapers, and that a copy be
also presented to Captain Fayrer.—Carried unanimously.
Capt. HACKSTAFF, commander of the New York packet-
ship Adirondack, stood forward amid great applause, and
proposed a resolution, expressive of the regret with which
the American shipmasters had heard of the abrupt dismissal
of Captain Fayrer, and of their high esteem for that officer.
(Loud cheers.)
Capt. DALHOUSE seconded the resolution. He bad been
a passenger with Captain Fayrer, in the Liverpool, and spoke
in the highest terms of the admirable conduct of the captain
during the voyage. The resolution was carried unanimously.
An American GENICLEMAN, whose name did not transpire,
said he had been one of the passengers with Captain Fayrer,
we understood in the President, though the Name of the ves-
sel was not mentioned. This gentleman spoke in very warm
terms of Captain Fayrer, and said that both he and others
would give the preference to any vessel which Captain Fayrer
commanded, and would wait several days to sail with hini.
He would mention a circumstance which it was not intended
to make public but for what had occurred. A number of
gentlemen, who were passengers, had entered into a subscrip-
tion among themselves, as American citizens, for the pur-
pose of presenting him with a silver trumpet, as a slight tes-
timony of their regard. It was now making in London. The
circumstance had not been made knoWn to the passengers
generally, because they wished it to come as from the Ame-
rican passengers to a British naval commander of a British
ship—an American tribute to British seamanship. (Great
applause.) He might mention, that he had on one occasion
heard the captain rebuke the cook for presenting him with
dirty utensils, remarking that it he (the cook) humbugged
him, he would humbug the passengers, and he was deter-
mined that they should be comfortable.
Another PASSENGER by the President expressed the high
regard which the passengers generally entertained for Capt.
Fayrer.
The Cita= AN said the business of the meeting was now
brought to a close, and it was gratifyin; to see the perfect
unanimity which had marked their proceedings.
Mr. NEmsosr, in a highly complimentary speech, proposed
a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by ac--
clavaation, and the meeting separated.

BEESTON AND PSCKFORTON.—These estates have been
purchased by John Tolleniache, Esq., the present high
sheriff of Cheshire, as rumour states, for £lBO,OOO. This
acquisition of property to his ancient family estates in
Cheshire, which are of great extent, makes Mr. Tollemache
one of the largest, it not the largest, landowner in this
county.—Chester Courant.