The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INQUISITION.

IT has long been said by foreigners that the English
language is full of contractions, and beset by philological
anomalies. The moral habits of the people, and the in-
stitutions of the country, have likewise been charged by
the same authorities with similar inconsistencies. Many
of these charges are too true to admit of denial ; while
others of them have become so familiar to us, by usage,
that they have long ceased to present even the appearance
of singularity to oar observation. If the structure of our
language, and the peculiarities of our every-day customs,
are open to such remarks as those we have referred to,
what must be the spectacle presented to the consideration
of intelligent strangers, while perusing the narratives
which from time to time flash upon them, in relation to
the multiform and conflicting functions of our legislature ?
Quo day engaged in the promulgation of laws, and the
next declaring their inapplicability to common forms of
immoranty, and their inadequacy, except through legal
twisting, to punish even a flagitious offence against the
public. A week has scarcely elapsed since we were as-
sured by a member of the highest legal tribunal in the
country, that, unless through the complicity of more
than one agent, it would be impossible to inflict punish-
ment on the furnishers of forage to our army, for supply-
ing rubbish of so detestable a character as to justify the
application of the term miscreant to its provider. A con-
spiracy must be established, otherwise, in the eye of the
law, no one is to blame. In other words, unless the
perpetrator of the fraud could be reached by something
very like a Action, he must get clear off. To-day our
legislature is loud. in asserting the vast extent, of its
powers, and eloquent in proclaiming the moral purity of
character which, as a body, attaches to it. On the
morrow its powers are defied its ingenuity baffled; and
at the same time it is seen curiously and pertinaciously
unravelling a skein of mysteries, the thorough disentangle-
ment of which must go to prove that many of its members
are actuated by motives which honest men would blush to
own, and have attained their position by means, the use
of which a gentleman would scorn to employ for personal
considerations of any kind. Now it is engaged in a
crusade against the delinquencies of acknowledged gam-
blers and cheats—anon, its genius and its energies are
strained in forwarding some scheme in which thousands
of individuals are to risk their all, of fortune and of repu-
tation, with a dangerous celerity, and a total disregard of
consequences, compared to the magnitude of temptation
and risk of which, the fascinations of all the gaming-
houses, properly so called, in the kingdom offer nothing
like a parallel. Often, also, under the pretext of guarding
our free institutions, it is guilty of severe oppression, or
made the instrument of most inquisitorial proceedings. .
Few of these senatorial vagaries display themselves in
tc.rnv so palpable, and often Co =MAIM: as Wilen enacted

in the character of committees of inquiry. One of these
judicio-legislativedramashas for some time past been in the
course of development, in relation to what, probably for
want of a better name, has been denominated " The Irish
Brigade." Certain charges were made against the Irish
members generally, much too monstrous to be fully
credited, yet supported by so much effrontery and seeming
truth as to justify a searching inquiry. A committee was
chosen for the purpose of this investigation, and the in-
quiry was pushed so far as to embrace nearly every pos-.
sible and impossible contingency. The charge was broad
and general against Irish members of parliament, that,
for personal and pecuniary aggrandisement, they openly
trafficked in, and disposed of, government places and patro-
nage. As already said, the charge was too sweeping and
too monstrous for credence ; still as the exact sums alleged
to have been paid, in hard cash, for government appoint-
ments, together with the names of those who paid and of
those who were said to have received the money, were
freely bandied about, to evade inquiry would have
only resulted in fixing the stigma indelibly. An
investigation, both particular and desultory, has taken
place ; and it is only fair to add that, out of the very
extensive accusation, only a very little and a very indefinite
amount of suspicion has been established, and much even
of that is based on loose conversation, and conjectural
inferences. Still, the committee, in the course of its pro-
ceedings, did not a little to justify an opinion as to the
anomalous character of its nature and proceedings.

Members of such committees enjoy the duplicate and
somewhat unreasonable prerogative of acting as jurymen
and judges; yet, seemingly dissatisfied with the latitude
which this duality of function conferred upon them,
some, in all probablity, availing themselves of that recent
enlargement of the law of evidence, which enables parties
to a suit to become witnesses in it also, took upon them-
selves the office of witnesses for the prosecution. Some
of them, indeed—of course they were of the most truly
liberal spawn —after extorting a sort of negatively conclu-
sive evidence from a witness, obligingly assumed his place,
and supplemented his tale by notes of hearsay evidence,
picked up under circumstances which should not go far in
raising their value as testimony.
One of the members of that committee, and a very in-
quisitive one, was Mr. BRIGHT; and one of the witnesses
was Mr. MOWBEAY 3lonnis, manager of the Times news-
paper. Indeed, the committee laboured hard to make it
appear that the inquiry proceeded entirely upon an accu-
sation published in that journal. Many people will consider
it neither a singular nor an unnatural curiosity which
prompted Mr. BRIGHT to make minute inquiries into the
conventional responsibility assumed by the Times, in
divulging or keeping secret the sources of its information.
If Mr. SOMERVILLE, " who whistled at the plough," and,
for anything Mr. BRIGHT cares, may now whistle where
he pleases, can be believed, the honourable member for
Manchester in his day has had experience as to manage-
ment in reference to some newspapers. At page 42 of his
" Cobdenic Policy," Mr. SOMERVILLE says
"Mr. BRIGHT said, if I wrote, certain articles and gave
them to him, I need not know nor care what became of
them. He got them in private from my own hand. I
knew no more until I saw them in north country papers,
signed, A Farmer who Sells his Corn at Newcastle.'
From the agricultural papers they were reprinted by the
League, as genuine farmers' letters, and circulated univer-
sally vs such." [To see the full force of this, it is neces-
sary to bear in mind that SOMERVILLE had refused to be
a participator in this deceptive game of letter-writing.]

There are not wanting parties who assume Mr. BRIGHT
to have, even yet, more than a mere accidental interest in

the moral machinery of the newspaper press ; some even
going so far as to insinuate that the pecuniary as well as
the moral machinery of a journal, which boasts to be the
rival of the Times, is not quite a matter of indifference to
that honourable gentleman. What, then, could have been
an object of more natural or more disinterested solicitude,
to such a one, than the mode in Which they manage these
things in Printinghouse-square P As no one ever saw a
Quaker who cared one straw for Obtaining an insight into
his neighbours' affairs, the dove-like simplicity of Mr.
BRIGHT'Ej questions is remarkable:—

Mr. BRIGHT.—The Times circulates some enormous
number, I believe. By a recent parliamentary return, it
shows something like 40,000 a day ? Mr. Morris.—l am
not prepared to make any statement as to the circulation
at this time. I believe the parliamentary return shows
about that number. Mr. BaiGnr.—Then, you are not
prepared to lay before the committee any fact whatever on
which the conductors of The "Times undertook to circu-
late through 40,000 copies of -their journal in one day so
grave and insulting a charge, not against one individual
only, but against the whole body of Irish representatives ?
Mr. Morris.—When I say I am not prepared to do it, I do
not wish it to be understood that it would not be possible,
but simply that I do not think it consistent with my duty
to do it. Mr. Baion.r.—Would you lead the committee
to infer that you could give us information affecting 100
needy men, leaving only five of the whole representatives
of the Irish people ? Mr. Morris.—That question is not
easy for me to answer, 'except in an indirect manner, and
perhaps this is the proper time for me to state the reason
why I have refused to answer any questions Involving what
I consider the secrets of the paper. With all respect to
the committee, I submit that the question here involved is
the independence of the press. I think that the press of
this country—there being no censorship established by
law—is amenable to no authority whatever except that of
the courts of law, and that not ,even a committee of the
House of Commons has a right to question the conductors
:of the paper as regards the opinions they have expressed,
:and that there is no tribunal except the courts of justice
which can compel them to do so ; I think I should sacri-
fice the interests of The Times, and do a grievous injury
to the press of this country, if I answered the question.
The warding off of these interrogatories was dextrously
effected ; the stand against invasion of prerogative be-
coming the occasion. While thanking the Times for the
proper resistance, which, through its manager, it has made
to this inquisitorial attempt at extorting unnecessary
informationtwe cannot shut our eyes to the gross injustice
often inflicted by means of information obtained through
Parliamentary
interference. In point of fact, it is noto-
rious that Parliamentary agency is now often made a
means of obtaining information, the publication of which
is afterwards made an engine of annoyance and of injury.
The insinuated condemnation, directed by Mr. BRIGHT,
against the delinquency of circulating nnauthenticated
accusations, taken in connexion with the above quotation
from Mr. SOMERVILLE'S book, comes with so peculiar an
air of simulated virtue, as strongly to conjure up the idea
of a reproof of sin from the originator of iniquity.

THE OPENING OF TILE _MERSEY
STEEL AND • IRON COMPANY'S
NEW WORKS. •

THE opening of these works took place on Saturday
last, with great festivities. As some description of the
works may not be uninteresting to our readers, we give
the following brief sketch :—The machinery is planted
after the most approved plan, no expense having been
spared in rendering it in all respects complete. The
works have been bullt from the plans and under the
superintendence of William Clay, Esq., the manager; the
engine and machinery being supplied by Messrs. Thomas
Perry and Sons, Bilston. The roof, which is in three
spans—two of 60 feet, and the centre one of 40 feet—is of
a light and graceful character. The 'huge engine, occupy-
ing a central position in the works, is of immense strength,
as is also the ponderous machinery to which it is attached.
The engine is of 80-horse power, nominal, but of 200
effective horse power, and drives a hammer, a squeezer,
two trains of 18-inch forge rolls, a 21-inch boiler plate
train, besides a blowing cylinder for a refinery. We were
much pleased with the arrangement of the furnaces, 24 in
number, which are arranged in parallel lanes, so that
a current of fresh air passes completely through the works
in all directions. It is also proposed to lay down a large
pair of shears for shearing bar and bolt iron up to 9 by
2A- inches, as also boiler plates of any breadth, in 10 to
12 feet lengths, and upwards of an inch thick, at one
stroke.
To celebrate the opening of the works, the men, to the
number of about 500, met on Saturday last, between 9 and 10
o'clock, and preceded by the band belonging to the works,
with flags and banners flying, formed into procession, and
striking into Park-hill road, down Peel-street, filing
before the house of Mrs. Wainwright, then proceeded
without the boundary of the town to Larkfield, the resi-
dence 'of George Henry Horsfall,Esq., where, after being re-
galed with ale, and giving hearty vent to their feeling by
loud hurrahs, and the band playing appropriate
airs, returned homewards, and passing down Beresford-
road stopped a short time opposite the residence of W.
Clay, Esq., the manager, and thence to the works' model-
room, where a sumptuous dinner was provided for up-
wards of 500 persons, who sat down to it shortly after one
o'clock.
We may state that the whole of this dinner was cooked
in the cuisine of W. J. Horsfall, Esq., the worthy princi-
pal, whose domestics had volunteered to perform this by
no means easy task, and who vied with each other in its
direction, and furthering their worthy master's wishes.
The dining-room was splendidly decorated with ever-
greens, and the mottoes " Success to the new works,"
" God save the Queen," " Town and Trade of Liverpool,"
were tastefully wrought in, white letters on red and blue
silk. The chair was tastefully festooned, and had an
archway of rare flowers and evergreens suspended over it
in a most graceful manner.
W. J. Horsfall, ESq., the worthy principal, presided,
and the vice-chair was occupied by W. ClaS, Esq., the
manager.
Among the gentlemen present were the following :
Messrs. G. H. Horsfall, James Bland, of the.firm of Jones,
Bland, and Co., Hilton Halhead, (town councillor), James
Lord, of the firm of Halhead, Fletcher, and -Co., James
Johnson, o? Wolverhampton, F. Halhead, W. Grierson,
T. D. Anderson, E. Cookson, Thomas Robinson, jun., of
the firm of Anthony and Robinson, T. N. Simpson,
W. B. Jones, J. R. Hughes, G. Noakes, Dr. Denton,
J.S. King, R. L. Clay, Capt. Smith. J. Smith, J. Torn-
kinson, J. Richardson, 31-. Stenhouse, of Newcastle,
W. Leyland, Robert Duff, &c.
After the tables were cleared, the chairman gave the
usual loyal toasts, which were received with three times
three.
The CITA-MIKIS next gave "The Army and Navy," and
said that he had no doubt but that they would be found
ready when any emergency should call them to action.
Mr. STEP/10175X and. Captain Sxila responded.

THOMAS ROBINSON, Jun., Esq., in proposing "Success
to the new works," said he regretted the absence of their
excellent representative, T. B. Horsfall, Esq. He had no
doubt, however, but that bis time was occupied in London
in furthering the interests of this great commercial com-
munity. Of- the family of the' Horsfalls they had all
known sufficient from the high position and standing they
held in the town. When T. B. Horsfall, Esq., held the
highest position, the office of chief magistrate, he had, by
his talents and impartiality, gained the res-peet of his
fellow-townsmen ; and such now was his position in Par-
liament, that when he spoke in the house, he was replied.
to by one of the Cabinet Ministers. He felt proud that
he had been invited to witness the cordiality and good
feeling which were exhibited between employers and em-
ployed, and he should go home much improved from what
he had seen. After a few further observations, he pro-
posed the " Health of the Messrs. Horsfall, and success to
the new works."
G. H. HonsrALL, Esq., said he was sure there was not
one in that meeting, who did not heartily join in the toast,
" Success to the new works. Though the motives which
'influenced those present might be various, still he believed
that all heartily joined in the interest of the toast. To
him the new works had a peculiar interest. On the day
his only son was christened the works were commenced,
and, in commemoration of that
.event, the vast engine,
which drove the machinery, hafflpeen called after his son's
name. He could only hope that they both would prove
serviceable to the community, and that his son at some
distant period would take his place. He doubted not the
day would come when he and they who should succeed
those present would re-assemble again and again to cele-
brate the work they had that day begun. The success of
the undertaking depended on them all, and there was not
one more than another on whom the success did not de-
pend. He urged them, in conclusion, not to be satisfied
with simply drinking the toast, but day by day to do all
they could towards the success which they had that day
entrusted to them. (Loud cheers.)
W. CLAY, Esq., also spoke to the toast.
Mr. BENJAMIN EASTWOOD (foreman) begged to pro-
pose the health of W. J. Horsfall, Esq., and stated that
he had for 37 years been connected with the iron trade,
and had never had occasion to ask a day's work. He said
he had the happiness of always having had good masters,
but he felt bound to say be had had none better than his
present one, W. J. Horsfall, Esq. He begged to propose
his good health. (Loud cheers, which were again and
again renewed.)
Band—" Annie Laurie."
W. J. HORSPALL, Esq., rose to reply, and stated that the
great length of the room prevented his hearing much
that was said of him, but from what he did gather he felt
certain that a great deal too much had been said of him.
He expressed himself gratified with the warmth of their
feeling, and sat down amidst most enthusiastic cheering.
Mr. J. R. Huunrs here stated that Mr. John Griffiths,
a working puddler, volunteered an extempore poetical
effusion. Calls were then made for Mr. Griffiths, who
presented himself, and being requested to stand on the
centre table so that all might see and hear him, gave the
following extempore lines with inimitable effect :

Fellow-workmen, one and all,
With one accord obey my call ;
Let's altogether join to raise
The sound of Squire HORSFALL'S praise.
(Loud cheers.)
Many hundreds—men and boys,
Clerks, and agents,—he employs :
His motto is—and never grudges—
Fair day's work for fair day's wages.
(Bravo I Griffith:.)
Against the sots he bars his gates,—
Sloth and idleness he hates ;
Whereas, he will do all lie can
To aid the sober working man.
(Great applause.)
I'm also in duty hound to say,
That honour's due to Mr. Clay;
Who, by his co.reful superintendence,
Brings forth the tin, in great abundance.
(Caiita/.)
Some have gone to distant lands to roam,
For what we daily get at home;
Were there more Horsfalls, Clays, &c.,
They could dispense with California.
(t7heers.
Australians, too, are boasting bold,
That from the Clay they get the Gold;
So we will say, from our Clay
We'll soon get sov'reigns every day.
(Tremendous cheers.)
In the new forge we've made a start :
These are the wishes of my heart—
For men and masters to agree,
In bonds of love and unity.
(Hear, hear.)
When the new mill's likewise begun
Then we'll expect Australian fun ;
By digging down beneath our Clay,
For George and Dragon every day.
(Bravo! he's quite a philosopher.)
'Tie known the wheels are centred well,
As'all her steady turnings tell;
No doubt but " Giant Hodson', will
Well spin them round to drive the mill.
(Cheers.)
'Fie Mr. Johnson, without doubt,
Is the best engin-er out ;
The likeliest one, throughout creation,
To bring about perpetual motion.
(Loud laughter.)
To the proprietors of these works,
Directors, agents, and the clerks,
Let all unite to give a free
Hearty hurrah—three times three.
(Uproarious checrs,ringled with hurrahs, and convulsions of

laughter)

G. H. HORETALL, Esq., in reply to his brother's health
`being proposed by Mr. Simpson conjointly with his own,
said, he felt it quite natural to have to respond to that of
his brother's health now, inasmuch as he had plenty of it
to do in the year past. (Laughter.) He was sure his
brother would have felt. gratified in being with them had
the nature of his duties permittdd. (Hear, hear.) He
thanked them, also, on his own behalf, for the kind recep-
tion of his name; but Mr. Simpson having pronounced his
speech eloquent, and himself a very Demosthenes, he said,
amidst some laughter, that he really could not lay it to
himself that he had ought of impediment in his speech.
After again thanking them for the honour they did him,
he proposed to them the health of 'Mr. Johnson, whom
Mr. John Griffiths had just characterised
" --Without doubt,
To be the best engineer out."

(Hear, hear and laughter.)
Mr. JAMES Jonsisosr, in reply, said, he felt obliged to
his kind friend, G. H. Horsfalls Esq., for the honour he
did him in proposing his health, and to those present for
their hearty reception of him. As he was on his legs, he
would, by the kind permission of the chairman, make one
or two observations in keeping with the object of their
meeting that day. They had met to commemorate the
starting of new works, the honourable proprietors of which
were the Mersey Steel and Iron Company. They and their
far-famed works were well known through the length and
breadth of the land, and he ventured to say over the length
and breadth of the sea. By the aid of their massive well-
wrought paddle and screw shafts, vessels of the largest
dimensions had been safely propelled through the Atlantic,
Pacific, Baltic, North Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, and all
other seas. Their paddle-shafts have for many years re-
sisted the heavy surges of the ocean, and have been pro-
nounced by the most eminent engineers of our day.to be
the first in the world ; and as for cranks, axles for loco-
motive and other purposes, their forgings and taper bars
for shipbuilding purposes, they stand first and foremost
on the list, and command better prices than any other
house in the trade ; their patent 'taper bars having,
moreover, taken prizes anywhere and everywhere they
have been sent. The new works have been constructed
for a somewhat different branch of the trade, viz., the
manufacture of boiler and boat plates, angle iron, &c. He
would venture to say no works could be better adapted for
it. The boiler-plate mill is of the largest size; and of the
best and most approved construction ; and it is proposed
to attach to it a pair of the late Mr. G. B. 'l'horney-
croft's patent shears, the patent right of which: this
honourable company have purchased. They will shear at
one stroke plates of 12-ft lengths, and any breadths, and ,
in a very few strokes would shear a plate as long as from
here to the river Mersey, as straight as an arrow, and as
sound and clean on the edge as if done bya planing machine.
Now, gentlemen (he said), you will agree with me in saying
that with the large amount of capital possessed by this
company, and their great facilities for the manufacture of
iron, under the judicious superintendence and direction of
William Clay, Esq., your manager, you will he able to !
turn out plates in great abundance, and of the first quality.
I beg to thank Mr. G. H. Horsfall for so kindly proposing ;
my health; and if at any future period my services be
required, I should deem it a duty and privilege to do any-
thing in my power to serve them. (Loud applause.)
Mr. JOIINSOif again rose, and said he had great pleasure
in proposing the health of a gentleman, whose name and
whose
'person were dear to all. The gentleman whose
health he was about to propose had, by his own rare
talents, his close application to business, and his great
mechanical skill, raised himself far above the ordinary
range of mechanical men, and was justly entitled to rank
with engineers of the very first class. It is the health of
their excellent manager, William Clay,Esq. (Loud cheers.)
Band, " Pottery Flags."
WlLLisx CLAY, Esq., thanked the company for their
kind feelings, and felt flattered by the manlier in which
he had been spoken of that day. Mr. Johnson, in speak-
ing of his patent taper bars (which, though somewhat
tautological, he might say was patent to them all), had
stated to them that he proposed bringing out another
patent of another sort. That was true. He still could
not say of it that it was " an accomplished fact ; " it was
yet in embryo, and might turn out a failure. He pro-
ceeded to say, that many schemes beautiful and good in
theory had yet failed in practice, owing to accidents and a
thousand unforeseen incidents. His might prove so in the
present instance ; but he believed, and confidently believed,
that his would answer. (Hear.) Mr. Horsfall had ap-
proved of the principle, and it would prove of advantage to
' the Mersey 'Company if it did answer (hear, hear) ; if
it should turn out otherwise, however, he wouldn't cry
about it. (A laugh.) He thanked them all, and proposed, ,
ere he sat down, that the old works should not be for-
gotten
in their enthusiasm for the new works, and gave,
_" Prosperity to the Mersey Steel and Iron Works."
(Loud cheering.)
Band, " Auld Lang Syne."
JAMES LORD, Esq., begged them to fill up their glasses
again ; and observed, that good measures required pro-
posers and seconders, and he felt it great pleasure to have
to second that. (Laughter.)
W. J. HORSFAXL, Esq. said they must needs be pros-
perous, inasmuch as they had it proposed to them twice and
two glasses of toddy into the bargain. (Loud laughter.)
He appreciated their kind 'wiShes. (Hear.)
G. H. HORSFALL, Esq., proposed to the men the health
of their foreman, Mr. B. Eastwood, who, he said, knew a
fair day's work and a fair day's wages as well as most folk.
Mr. B. EAST*OOD briefly returned thanks.
STENHOUSE, Esq., of Newcastle, proposed "The
town and trade of Liverpool." .He said he could not, as a
stranger from another town, be expected to have statistics
at his fingers' ends ; :but he could tell them that since he
knew Liverpool, only 15 years ago, vast changes had taken
place in the general aspect of this great port. The docks
he first knew comprised the central docks; but within a
very short time they had ranged from north to south in
wonderful ratio. He could tell them too. that after hav-
ing been in most of the large ports of the world, he had
always found a preponderatin gnumberof Liverpool shipping
in every instance. He Concluded a very excellent speech

by proposing " The town and trade of Liverpool," coupled
with Mr. Bland's name.
JAMES BLINA Esq. said he would lump the statistics,
and observed, that our trade was the most important in
the world, not yielding even to the great metropolis itself.
(Cheers.) He concluded an animated speech by assuring
the workmen present that he had received a lesson while
among them which he could not forget, which was in the
mutual good feeling that existed betwixt their employers
and themselves. (Hear, hear.)
Songs and sentiments prevailed after the esteemed
employers and visitors had retired, and the hilarity was
kept up till a late hour.