The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-15 00:00:00

quated imbecility," and it is becoming evident
that, whatever may be the successes of the Turk-
ish forces in Wallachia, or whatever may be the
position assumed by other States of Europe, the
power of Infidelity is inevitably destined to decay
and final extinction. A short road to its consum-
mation would be the conversion of the Sultan and
his adherents to Christianity ; but every believer
in the truth of prophecy must look for the realisa-
tion of the glorious promise that " the earth shall
be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters
cover the seas."

THE democratic triumph by which General
PIERCE was raised to the Presidency of the United
States of America seems already to be on the eve
of a defeat, owing to the administrative incapacity
of the men whom he has appointed to office. It is
one of the evident defects of republican institutions
that what is called the popular will, but which, in
reality, is the voice of the least intelligent, because
the most numerous class, too often selects for its
idol the individual least fitted for the duties of the
situation to which he is elevated. This now ap-
pears to have been the case with General PIERCE,
who was chosen because he was believed to be the
representative of democratic notions, which largely
prevail in the Congress as well as in the constituent
body, and also out of oppositon to General SCOTT,
whose ideas were too Conservative. There is
is often,lowever, a wide difference between an ab-
stract theory and the practical application of it.
Democratic principles have been put to the test
in the United States, and, linked as they usually
are with a deficiency iu ordinary intelligence, they
are losing favour even with their quondam sup-
porters, because they do not produce the fruits
which were expected of them. General PIERCE
has begun to show his incapacity for the perform-
ance of responsible duties, and in his failure he will
also demonstrate that Radicalism is incompatible
with national prosperity. His defeat should be a
reproof to democratic ambition ; but all the blame
should not be visited on him, for failure is less dis-
credit where success would have been almost im-
possible. The evil is inherent in the principles
which were triumphant at the hustings, and the
only remedy will be a practical denial of them by
prudently taking timely warning, dismissing the
Ministry, which, like our own, is a clique of inca-
pables, and selecting men whose best claim to
office is not their democratic tendencies, but their
ability to perform the duties which devolve upon
them.

THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL.

No. IV.

Ix our last article on this subject, we stated what had
been done when the grand attempt was made to raise
Birkenhead into a place of importance, but the completion
of which was checked by the difficulties in the money-
market, consequent upon the reaction of the railway
mania, and the want of support from Liverpool, owing to
the absurd jealousy of Birkenhead proving a dangerous
rival in commercial business. It is to be hoped, however,
that such feelings are for ever set at rest, and that those
who are entrusted with the management of the magnifi-
cent Liverpool Dock Estate will see the propriety and
advantage of extending their operations on the western
side of the Mersey, instead of multiplying their difficulties
by endeavouring to perform impossibilities on the eastern
side. The extension of docks at the north end, whether
judiciously designed or otherwise, is now an accomplished
fact, and therefore beyond the range of comment ; but as
they are almost equally beyond the range of easy access
,for commercial purposes, any further extension is open to
:animadversion. The timber trade of Liverpool requires
further accommodation, which can only be afforded by
incurring an enormous expense, or obtaining the requisite
space at such a long distance from the centre of traffic as
to destroy all idea of its being any accommodation at all.
A proposal has'recently been made to go still further north
than the Huskisson Dock, which is itself beyond the verge
of shelter from the winds that sometimes set in with great
violence fromlhe Irish sea; but the only objection raised
to the proposal seems to have been excited by the immense
outlay reciliired,•amounting to -no less than two millions.
This is paying rather too dear for the whistle, if it be only
to indulge the wish to retain all Liverpool business on this
side of the 'Mersey, when so many facilities are offered on
the other side at much less cost and with far greater
advantagesin every respect.
The large sheet of water which was formerly called
Wallasey Pool, and is now known as the Great Float, pre-
sents an area of about 150 acres, and on the Birkenhead
side has been bounded by a stone wall of substantial
masonry, extending from the -dock-gates to -the head of
the Pool, a distance of about two miles, and presenting an
extent of quay capable of affording accommodation to an
immense amount of business. It has also the further
advantage of being skirted by.s line of railway communi-
cating with the Birkenhead, 'Lancashire, and Cheshire
Junction line, and thence with all parts of the kingdom,
the rates of transit of heavy goods to Manchester and other
great centres of manufacturing industry being considerably
lower than: by the railways on this side the Mersey, while
the access is more easy—beingelese to the quay side—than
is ever likely to be attained ' between the Liverpool docks
and the various railway termini. The advantage of this
arrangement on the Birkenhead side has been several
times pressed upon public attention by Messrs. HoLma,
SLATER, and Co., the eminent timber brokers, in their
trade circulars, and it is one which is becoming-of such
importance that no doubt other -houses in the same trade
will avail themselves of it.

On the south-eastern corner of -the Great Float are
several large stacks of lofty wareheuses,of most substantial
.erection, one of which has beenoonverted into the Govern-
anent Dept .-'for Emigrants, who embark themselves and
'their goods into vessels alongside the ~quay, in the most
.convenient manner possible. :Between each stack of
buildings is a branch of the railway, with the most emn-
ete machinery:for communicating • one -with the other,
and with the main line, so that in the loading or unloarling
ofTessels, cartage,tis rendered almost unnecessary. Abe %e
the warehouses, en the water side, are the extensive iron
ship-building premises of Mr. Jonzr LAxan, whence the
largest steam-ships are launched into the Crest Float,

with a facility which can rarely be met .with in any
other ,locality. On the inner side, adjoining -the line of
railway, are the extensive mahogany sheds of Messrs.
Houma and Co., perhaps the most spacious of till kind in
the world; and the immense amount of business transacted
by this firm, as was evident by the great attendance at
their sale.on Friday last, will show the manner in which
the facilities for business .at the Birkenhead Docks are
:appreciated!liy the trade generally.
Farther up the pool is a spacious yard, of several acres
in ,extent, and bounded by a abstantial brick wall, which
at present forms a depository :for the huge iron pipes in-
tended for the conveyance of water from Rivington Pike
for the supply of Liverpool; and beyond this is a large
extent .of ground at present unoocupied. Farther on, a
spacious area has been recently taken for Mr. HEMMING'S
extensive manufactory of houses for Australia, which be
has been eoxnpelled to remove from near Woodside Ferry,
owing to the land there, which belongs to the Corporation
of Liverpool, having been let for shipbuilding purposes to
Messrs. Cx.arrox and Co., and Messrs. Czkrnn and Co.
The immense amount of business which is now being done
by Mr. ITE3oanc4, in the construction of dwellings for
Australian colonists, will almost exceed belief; indeed, he
has already a small-sized town on his premises, small
houses being built within the frames of larger ones, to save
room, and numbers are being every day packed up for
exportation.
Above Mr. HEMMING'S premises is a small dock branch-
ing out from the Great Float, and upon the whole of one
side has been erected an extensive range of buildings for
the manufacture of locomotive engines for the Canada
Great Trunk Railway. The buildings, which belong. to
Messrs. BRASSEY and Co., the eminent contractors, are
nearly completed ; part of the machinery has been erected,
and they will be enabled, through the facilities afforded
by the dock, to ship the engines direct from the manu-
factory on board the vessels which will convey them to
Canada. We understand that they have also extensive
orders for engines from English railway companies, so
that that side "of the Great Float will shortly present a
busy scene of manufacturing industry, and lead to still
further extension of traffic.

The head of the Great Float is crossed by a bridge lead.
ing to the village of Poulton, and having an opening for
the passage of vessels higher up the pool ; and up to this
point the dock wall extends, with occasional turns in the
masonry for the entrance of smaller docks, should they
be found necessary. Between the bridge and Messrs.
BRA.EBZVE3 premises is also a large extent of ground at I