The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-06 00:00:00

THE NEW POOR LAW,*

HIGHLY GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL To JOHN WALTER, ESQ,
LATE M. P. FOlt BEIiKSHIRE.
The Hampshire Advertiser of Saturday furnishes us with an
account of an extremely gratifying and not less deserved tribute
John Walter. Esq., by the poor
of esteem and approbation to
of the parish of Droxford. We know of no man who has dis-
played more active zeal and taleat in opposition to the barba-
rous and attrocious system of
,parochial relief (!) erected by
the new poor law, than Mr. Walter; and if his absence front
parliament is to be regretted for one reason mote than another,
it is because It deprives the poor of a powerful, humane, and in-
defati,ahle advocate in the councils of the nation. Hour space
would" warrant us in pursuing such a course, we should very
.gladly copy the whole of the account of the interesting
oc-
currence furnished by the paper which we have already quoted;
but we must content ourselves with an abridgement.
Mr. Walter, late M.P. for Berkshire, it is well known dis-
tinguished himself by his advocacy of the just rights of the
poor, • and contended, with unflinching perseverance, in the
now poor law committee, on the side of humanity, against the
array of whig and radical economists, by whom the poor are
considered as only parts of the machinery of production, which
should be subject to the governing 1a,.%s of capital, and when
useless or worn out, rejected and thrown aside with indiffer-
ence as to wliat becomei -of them.- M i-:' Walter's exertions
were attended with great pecuniary es;pcuse and injury to his
health : but he has the consolation of k sewing that his labours
are justly appreciated by the wise and • the good, and that the
poor. whose cause he advocated, feel the'deepest gratitude for
his efforts on their behalf. The poor of the Droxford Union,
anxious to mark their sense of his servir.es to them, determined
to subscribe the bumble sum of one penny each family, in or-
der to purchase a testimonial, which they. .might present to el r.
Walter as a proof of the sincerity of their feeling towards hint.
A richly bound Bible was the approdriate testimonial chosen,
and on 'Monday last a very numerous meeting was held at the
Schoolhouse of Soberton parish, at which the ceremony of pre-
sentation took place.

The Hey. Mr. Brock, Rector of Bishop's Waltham, pre_
s
ided, and opened the business of the occasion, in affect speech,
in which he eulogised the benevolent and humane exertions of
Mr. Walter in behalf of the poor who had that day provided a
suitable acknowledgment. 1-le was followed by the Rev. S.
Butler. who, as the chosen representative of the contributors,
presented the testimonial. In the course of a very able speech,
the rev. gentleman stated, that though no general canvass lied
been instituted, Net the number of subscribers had -amoonted
to near 500; and even in those parishes where the law was said
to have worked well for the interests of the poor, and where
persons of influence bold strong opinions as to the excellence of
the act, the saute ardour and willingness had been inanifemed
on the part of the poor Co contribute their halfpence. The rev.
gentleman concluded by presenting the Bible, which bore the •
following simple, but highly gratifying inscription—

" Presented
To JOHN WALTER, EsQ..
By the Poor of the Parish of Droxforil,
In acknowledgment of his humane effurts in
their behalf."

Mr. Walter replied, in a very feeling and powerful speech,
thanking, his poor friends for the valuable token of their esteem
and approbation. The meeting was subsequently addressed by
the Rev. E. Dewduey, Mr. Cile, and the rhaitu►an, anti then
separated.

THE SHIPPING INTEREST.-1I may interest some ofourcom-
mercial readers to be 'mule acquainted With the system pursued
in France in navigating their vessvls, an that country the
merchant and the shipowner are distinct parties. The leonine-
tation of the crew is not a fixed 'mtini lily sum, but is contingent
on freight. After all expenses are paid, victuals included, the
frieght is thus divided•:—The ships takes two-thirds, and the
crew one third is appointed in the following Manner :—The
captain receives two shares, the mate one share and a half, and
each of the sailors one share. By this plan the captain of a
vessel of 150 tons makes an annual income of about i;150. This
system identifies the crew with the interests of the employers,
cOnstituting in fact a quasi partnership, and to it, in a great
measure, may be ascribed the prosperous couditiuu of the
French mercantile marine.—Jersey paper.