The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

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FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SUMMARY

The announcement by the Bank of England of the ad-
vance of the rate of interest to four per cent. on bills
having more than 95 days to run, has thrown a little damp
upon the speculation going on in this port. By some it is
viewed as a movement, by the bank, to prevent excessive
prices of corn and cotton, and as directly levelled against
a certain description of paper by which operations in these
articles have been fomented ; and it is broadly asserted
that tfie directors are determined to go on until their ob-
ject is accomplished, and business resumes its natural
state. The prevailing impression, however, amongst well-
informed people is, that the bank is only acting in self-
defence, and taking precautions in time. The dangerous
position of the Bank. of France has not been overlooked
in Threadneedle-street; and added to the necessity of
providing for a possible demand of assistance from that
establishment, the increasing importations of foreign
breadstuffs me considered as likely to create a very serious
drain of specie from this country. All these considera-
tions and circumstances, with the fail of what may be con-
sidered the national financial pulse—consols—have com-
bined to produce an uneasy feeling amongst our commer-
cial classes generally, and to enable buyers of most com-
modities to purchase upon better terms.
The announcement of the ministerial measure affecting
corn, has not had any very material effect Upon prices.
Free grain is a trile lower, having come down to meet
the price of bonded, which has not advanced, although
firm at the highest price previously realised. The arrivals
within the past few days have been large ; but it is
thought that, being already sold, they will not materially
affect the market. A change of wind, however, which
has prevailed for an unusually long period from the
eastward, and southward andeeastward, must bring in
still more heavy supplies, as a vast number of grain-laden
vessels are now on their passage and overdue.
The Cotton Market has receded during the week„ with
very little doing, even at the-reduction submitted to.
The anticipation of tightness in the money market has
affected the spirits of speculators, whilst the adoption of
short time is limiting the operations of spinners. An
important article—" A Few Facts on the State of the
Cotton Manufacture"—which will be found in another
column, will be found worthy of perusal by parties in-
.terested in this great staple.
. The effect of the announcement of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, containing the terms upon which sugar
will be allowed to be used in breweries and distilleries,
had the effect, upon its being known here, of raising the
price 2s. per cwt. Our dealers and the trade, however,
had been prepared for the adoption of such a measure ;
and some of the brewers and distillers have been ope-
rating largely by anticipation. On this account a con-
siderable rise had already taken place, which, from
Christmas to the present time, may be set down at 7s. to
Bs. per cwt. In yesterday's transactions the market was
very firm, at full prices. .

Our share market is quite prostrated; and nothing doing.

BIRKENHEAD HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARIES

TO THE RATEPAYERS OF BIRKENHEAD

GENTLEMEN,—As a bill for regulating the sanitary
condition of Birkenhead is about being obtained from
parliament, I take the liberty of calling the attention of
the ratepayers to the propriety of introducing a clause,
empowering the commissioners of the township to levy a
limited rate on its property, for the purpose of adequately
sustaining the requisite hospitals and dispensaries that
are, or may be required for the public health.
It is obviously the interest of the owners of property,
and of the ratepayers generally, to look to the health of
their locality, as a matter of first-rate importance. The
difficulties of doing this by private and voluntary s üb-
scriptions, have been felt by almost every town in Eng-
land, not excepting munificent Liverpool. It has been
feared, by some, that such an act would be injurious, by
the limitation it would fix on the exercise of private Cha-
rity ; but, he who thinks so, must take a confined view of
the thousands of opportunities which hourly arise for its
exercise ; besides it is as consistent to a commuq ity to
meet together and agree to a common act of charity in
proportion to the means of each individual, as it is for
them to give a private subscription.
Birkenhead, I believe, is the only place in. the world
where the governors have gone much a-head of their con-
stituents. I trust it will keep this pre-eminence as re-
spects the health of its inhabitants. I havp long been
persuaded that matters of such importance should be re-
garded as the business of the public, and that no-individual
ought to be called upon beyond his fair proportion of the
expense. lam convinced that such is the general sense
of justice on this point at Birkenhead, that nothing more
is necessary than to call a public meeting of the rate-
payers to obtain their sanction.

At the late annual meeting of the subscribers to the
Birkenhead Hospital, I ventured to suggest -" a rate,"
for the support of such institutions. I have since been
highly gratified to hear that Mr. W. Jackson has adopted
and publicly proposed the same idea. I trust he will
bring his weighty influence to bear i&accomplishing so
noble an object, and venture to say UAL; in five years after
its success has been proved at Birkenhead, it will. become
the general plan of the country. It would not be wise in
the inhabitants of Birkenhead to look out for precedents
—their CITY is one of the last of the world's erection, and
should sustain its character for avoiding the errors, adopt-
ing the wisdom, and advancing upon the intelligence of
past ages.
I congratulate Mr. W. Jackson on the view he has
taken of this subject, and feel no doubt that
theinhabit-
ants of Birkenhead would, if called together, triumphantly
carry it into effect. Gentlemen,

I am your fellow rate-payer,
EDW. WELCH, Architect.
P.S. I propose that the tenants of property, as in the
property tax, should deduct the hospital. rate from the
rents payable to their landlords, so that the institution
should be sustained strictly by property.

HEALTH COMMITTEE.—We understand that the paving
and scavenging sub-committees of the Corporation Health
Committee have amalgamated under the chairmanship of
Mr. Tinne. It is said that the committee have. entered
into a contract for three years with Mr. Rose, of Man-
chester, to remove the nightsoil, &c., of the borough, for
which we believe he is to pay £7,900 per annum.

THE REV. JOHN PARK, OF GLENjAIRN.—We under-
stand that this gentleman will• preach in St. Andrew's
Scotch Church, Rodney-street, on Sunday neat, and the
two following Sundays. We have no doubt it will be very
pleasing to many of Mr. Park's former flock to have this
opportunity of hearing a minister who laboured so long in
this place, and who was so &enerally beloved:

The Aigburth Relief Committee have,. we are glad to
hear, received for the destitute Irish, up to this time, very
nearly £5OO. But, as a considerable portion of this has
been already disbursed, the minister and churchwardens
(Rev. Wm. Purdon, and Edward Moon and Wm. J.
Tothlinson, Esqrs.) will, we understand, take charge of
any farther sums that may be entrusted to their hands, in
aid of the destitute Irish.

COMMITMENTS FOR TRIAL AT THE SESSIONS, AT THE
POLICE COURT, YESTERDAY.—John Mason and John
Smith, seamen of the ship Anglo Saxon, for stealing their
fellow tars' clothing, which they sold or pledged. Alice
Quick and Mary Mathews, for robbing. John Chesters of
265., in St. James's-place, on Saturday. Charles O'Neill,
for robbing Felix McGee of eleven half-crowns, on Satin.-
day : the prisoner ran off with the money, which the
complainant had laid down on the bar-table of a public
house, but was pursued' and soon after apprehended.
John Wilson, a boy, for stealing of lead from a
room in the warehouse of Messrs. Walker and Co., on
Saturday. Elizabeth Murphy, for stealing a sheet from
the house of Elizabeth Taylor, Bannaster-place, where
she had gone on Saturday night to.lodge for the night.
LAUNCH OF THE MARIAN.—This splendid ship, built
for Messrs. C. W. and F. Shand, and intended for the
Eastern trade, was launched on Tuesday last from the
yard of the builders, Messrs. Clarke and Son, Etna-street.
The weather was propitious, and the attendance of spec-
tators most numerous. The Marian is nearly 700 tons
register, n.m., and has in her model combined all those
essential requisites for which Liverpool-built ships are
famed—a clean entrance and a fine run, with a capacity
for storage, and bearings that ensure her carrying her
canvas. She has a full poop, and the. saloon and after-
cabins are fitted most splendidly but substantially ; in-
deed, in the whole ship, internally and externally, is dis-
played excellence in workmanship and material. The
daggers were removed shortly after twelve o'clock, 'and
having received her title from the fair hand of Mrs. Alex-
ander Shand ,—whose Christian name she bears—shete
moved, after a momentary pause, to the bosom of the
Mersey, where her appearance was attly me of general,
yea, universal admiration. The inviesplenlid companyco thenllation
adjourned to the model-room, where a
was set out by Mr. Fisk, of Castle-street. After the re-
moval of the cloth, the chairman proposed the toast,
"The Queen," which was drunk with enthusiasm. Suc-
cess to the " Marian" was most ably replied to by Mr.
Shand ; and that of " The Builders" was responded to
by Mr. Clarke, senior, in a most feeling and telling ad-
dress. " The Town and Trade of Liverpool," and " The
Town and Trade of Manchester," were then given, to
the latter of which Mr. Peel, a nephew of Sir Robert
Peel, replied. After a number of other toasts, the com-
pany separated, all highly delighted. The Marian is, we
believe, the last ship Mr. Clarke, senior, will build, being
about to retire in favour of his sons.
THE REv. HUGH WNEILE.—The Coleraine Chronicle
corrects several errors in a sketch of this eminent divine,
contained in a work just published, entitled " Orators of
the Day." As the sketch has appeared in a local contem-
porary, we may as well give the correction of our contem-
porary. It is as follows :—" Mr. M'Neile, we need hardly
say, is the son of a country clergyman of good estate,
from whom he inherits considerable real property in this
neighbourhood, and who was a deputy-lieutenant, and one
of the oldest magistrates of the county of Antrim, in
which, also, he served the office of High Sheriff, which
has been more recently filled by his son ; by his maternal
relatives Mr. M'Neile is equally well connected, his mo-
ther having been a member of one of the oldest and mostr
respectable families in Antrim—now represented by he
brother, the Chairman of the Ballycastle bench of magis-
trates. We do not believe it derogatory to any gentle-
man to bring up his son to either branch of the legal pro-
fession ; but Mr. M'Neile never was in an attorney's
office, nor was he ever a tutor in the family of the Arch-
bishop or any other—indeed the wealth and position of
his family rendered it improbable he would have accepted
such an office, perfectly respectable though we admit it to
be. In what manner Mr. M'Neile first became ac-
quainted with the family of the late Archbishop of Dub-
lin, we cannot pretend to say ; but as we rather believe
Dr. Magee was Bishop of Raphoe when Mr. M`Neile re-
ceived his first nomination to the curacy of Stranorlar, in
that diocese, we presume it took place in the usual inter-
course of society ; for although the position of Mrs.
M'Neile, as daughter of the Primate of Ireland, rendered
her a suitable wife for any gentleman, still it is erroneous
to suppose that Mr. M'Neile thereby attained or now oc-
cupies a higher position in society than he inherited, and
was entitled to fill, or than is occupied at present by the
eprest ntAtive of bia family iu