The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-29 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

mirt lines of " A Self-educated Lad " do credit to his head and
lieut. but they must be improved before they are suitable for
publicati on.
yrc should have been most happy to have inserted the letter of
" Expositor " had vie received IL earlier. He will find else-
Where a communication somewhat on the same subject.
Vibe letter of "i. e.",j is smart and painted, but as our previous
correspondent had not made use of any argumentum ad
fiamiken, we think he should not be replied to exclusively in
that way.
• Ma absence of the Mayor from the Agricultural Society's
D nne r, is satisfactorily accountedjor by the fact, that le
was unavoidably out of town.

Cbc Eibtrpoot g§tanDarb.

TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 29, 1846.

Our contemporary, the Albion, is determined,
apparently, to push us to extremities, with respect
to the relative advantages of the Birkenhead and the
• Liverpool Docks, as available for merchants and
shipowners, or as offering security for parties wish-
ing to invest by way of loan. We have no wish to
press the controversy. What we have said already,
, ia defence of the Docks of Liverpool, we should be
quite ready to leave to the judgment of an impartial
public; but we must correct a few statements into
-attach the ignorance of our contemporary has led
The Albion comments upon our supposition that
1330,000 would pay the expense of working the
docks of Liverpool, independent of repairs. We
need not say to any party who has read our article
that it was a mere off-hand supposition, meant only
to show our contemporary how small was the
. alliance of any docks, which merely charged tonnage
• dues, paying decent interest for the outlay required
in their construction. How he makes out that

£82,000 are the cost of the repairs of this year,
"from the Dock Accounts just published," he will
perhaps be good enough to tell us.
With respect to the surplus revenue of our docks
ior the present year, which we said would be little
short of £lOO,OOO, we must endeavour to enlighten
eur contemporary, whose arithmetical faculties ap-
pear to require it. s. d.
On the 24th June, 1845, the Dock
Estate owed the sum of.. 2,357,090 7 2
.- This year the Estate has borrowed 324,323 13 0

£2,681,414 0 2
From this we have to deduct the
sum of
paid off during the year ;
which leaves £2,665,289 0 2
am the liabilities of the present
year, against £2,357,090 7 2

,Showing an increase of a debt of.. £308,198 13 0
To set against this, we have, from the published
accounts, expended upon new works as follows :
New south works £3,887 0 5
River wall central works 19,478 17 5
Ditto; tiew north works
New north works 186,326 3 4
Landing stages (new works)
Parliamentary expenses (new act)
Albert Dock 9,404 19 1
Property purchased for new works 31,911 3 10
Albert Dock Warehouses
Balance due to bankers reduced 13,419 16 7
Excess in materials on hand

£391,129 7 8

Increased revenue.... £82,930 14 8

Oar contemporary, who is evidently unacquainted
-arith figures of arithmetic, however apt he may be
at figures of Billingsgate, will say this is not s sur-
plus of £lOO,O 0. He may also complain of the
deductions we have made; and particularly the de-
ductions of the expenditure upon the Albert Dock
and Warehouses. So long as these have not their
income brought into the accounts, they have a
right to be taken as new works, not within the
reach of the ordinary expenditure of the Dock
. Committee. We have also a right to deduct the
interest on Dock Bonds given for the payment of
-the Albert Warehouses and the other new works in
progress, which will make out the surplus revenue
at the working docks to be fully one hundred
4-thousand pounds. When, -moreover, we have she
-- Albert Warehouses paying twelve and a half per
cent., which the Albion's friend, Mr. Eyre Evans,
assures us they will pay, we shall have more of this
surplus, and may defy all competition.
We shall neither bother ourselves nor our readers

about Adam Smith's productive and re-productive
expenditure. Vie sever studied dictionaries much,
nor Adam Smith either. We leave such abstruse
. .
matters to men of genius like our contemporary.
We know, happily, that two and two make four,
and that is sufficient for our present purpose.
When we want more learning to enable us to reply
- to our powerful contemporary, we shall be content
to quit our present avocations and go to school
again.

Some proceedings have just taken place in
the City of London Registration Courts, which
ceariy show the necessity, on the part of the Re-
vising Barristers, to check the efforts made year by
year by societies, such as our Anti-Monopoly Asso-
chtion, formed for the express purpose of working
the registrations. We give a brief extract of the
proceedings with respect to one case, as reported in
the London Times of Saturday :
" A. witness proved that he had served a claim to be
rated on the overseer on behalf of Mr. Bates. He had
tendered payment of the rates due from Mr. Bates, but
' the overseer informed him that he did not know whether
anything was due or not.
"Mr. ARsoLn.—At the time you tendered the money
did you intend. land fide, to pay any rates that might be
due? don't know how far 1 am obliged to answer that

question, as the case has not arisen. -
The witness, in reply to questions from the Revising
Barrister, said, I cons dered that, in making the tender,
I was fulfilling the requirements cf th • Reform Act. I
• had no instructions to do more than make a tender of the

money. I generally received my instructions from Mr.
Sidney Smith. If the overseer had told me what amount
was due from Mr. Bates, I should probably have with-
drawn the claim, but the case did not arise.
" Mr. A.IiNOLD.—Did Mr. Smith ever direct you, in
terms, to make a payment ?
"The witness, after fencing some time, replied—l can-
not say that he instructed me to do more than to make a
tender with the service of each claim.
" The witness continued,—l considered that I complied
with my instructions by producing the money. I have
tnade a good many tenders of the same kind—some in
every parish in the city. I never had occasion to make a
payment. I have withdrawn claims more than once,
when the overscrs have told me what was the great
amount due for rates. I generally informed Mr. Smith
of these cases, and h approved of the discretion I had
exercised. The money I tendered was in all cases my own."
Here, it will be admitted, is a direct case of, at
least, meditated fraud upon thn Constitution. A
hired agent, instructed by the solicitor or some other
officer of a registration society, waits upon the over-
seer of a parish, probably at the last hour, and pro-
- clueing a hundred or two hundred claims, requires
to know what rates John Noises or Thomas Styles
owes, and produces a sum of money in his hand
sufficient to meet the possible amount required, and
a. makes a sham t nder of it. If the overseer, in the
absence probably of the collector, cannot say at the
moment what each of these large number of claimants
owes, the case goes before the Revising Barrister.
If, however, the overseer can turn to the account at

once, the claim is dropped like a red hot brand. Our
cunning hireling had no idea of paying. He was
Maly to make a tender 69
The law of the case, and the decision of the court,
was thus given by
the Revising Barrister :
"Mr. Arnold observed, that, under the 30th section of
the Reform Act, persons whose names were on the rates
were entitled to claim to be registered; but the section
required that they should actually pay or tender the full
amount of the rates then due or owing for the premises in
respect of which they were rated. The Legislature evi-
dently contemplated an actual payment, or Lona fide
tender of the rates. The authority which had been given
to Mr. Sidney Smith by a claimant, and which was pro-
- dueed on Monday, did not adept the words of the 30th
• section of the Reform Act; it did not authorise Mr.
Smith to " pay " or " tender " the amount due, but
'merely gave an authority to tender payment. He (Mr.
Arnold) had given effect to that and similar authorities
in several cases, in consequence of the statements of
the claimants, that they considered they authorised Mr.
smith, or his agents, to pay the rates on their behalf.
What he had heard to-day, however, had led him to
regret that he had placed those claimant., on the list,
for he feared he had registered a great many persons
who were not entitled to the franchise. It appeared
from the evidence of Mr. Mum that his intention was
merely to make a tender, without making an actual pay-
scent. Mr. Aime had stated that he would probably have
-withdrawn claims with respect to which he had tendered
payment of rates, if the overseers had informed him of the
amount due; and he bad also admitted that he had ac-
tually taken this course on more than one occasion.
Under these circumstances, he (Mr. Arnold) could only
come to the conclusion that the tender was not made
bona fide with the view of paying the rates if any had
been due, but that the tender was altogether fraudulent
and fictitious. He considered that the 30th section of
gig Moral Act had not been complied with—that a NO.

ficient tender had not been made by the claimant or any
auttiolised agent on his behalf. He would, therefore,
disallow the claim. _ _

" Mr. Wansey hoped the Court would grant a case.
"Mr. Arnold.—Certainly not. If I did so, I .hould
state to the Court of Common Pleas that the tender was
fictitious and fraudulent."

Our readers are aware that the incumbency and
prncipalshin of St. Bees College have been bestowed
upon one—the Rev. R. Parkinson—learned, no
doubt, and eminent for his talent and ministerial
zeal and usefulness, but already holding high pre-
ferment as Rector of Manchester, and Fellow of the
Collegiate Church of that town—a clergyman with
already as many duties to perform as any one man,
however able and indefatigable, can get through,
with advantage to the large and populous parish
placed under his pastoral care.
We must not be understood to maintain the
slightest objection to the fitness of the reverend gen-
tleman upon whom this preferment has fallen. We
are aware that his learning and excEllence as a
mi ister of the Gospel are undoubted, and rightly
appreciated by the large body of his parishioners,
who, by the resolutions entered by their church-
wardens a week ago upon the parish journal, object
to his appointment apparently upon the same grounds
as ourselves, viz.,—that it is inconsistent with the
proper discharge of his already numerous duties:—

" Memorandum,—The churchwardens of Manchester
being informed that the Rev. Canon Parkinson has ac-
cepted the presidency of Saint Bees, with the incumbency
of that parish, and that he intends to hold these prefer-
meets in addition to that of rector of Manchester, feel
bound to record their opinion,—
" That it is of the highest importance to the spiritual
interests of the parish, that the clergy of the Collegiate
Church should be resident in Manchester.
"That the additional duties which the Rev. Canon
Parkinson bas undertaken, will require his residence at
St. Bees for the greater part of the year, and that his
energies will naturally be directed to that scene of his
labours.

" That however earnestly the Rev. Canon may strive
that the parish shall not suffer from this step, it is impos-
sible but the parish will suffer.
" The churchwardens deeply regret the loss thus sus-
tained, and feel that the large parish of Manchester re-
quires an increase rather than a diminution of clerical
superintendence.
"Resolved,—That a copy of this memorandum be for-
warded to the Rev. Canon Parkinson, and to the dean
and chapter." . _ .

These objections are moreover infinitely more
telling, at a time when the church is urged to seize
unon the revenues of a poor see now vacant, for
the purpose of erecting a bishopric in Manchester.
That large parish, we are told, and the manufac-
turing district around, require increased pastoral su-
perintendence, and are save the mark ! too
poor to pay for it, without the extinction of a
bishopric in Wales. Yet, with this plea upon the
lips of Government, and acceded to by a portion of
the church, the pastoral superintendence of a rector
is permitted, if the memorandum of the Manchester
churchwardens be well founded, to be withdrawn
from Manchester, and his learned and pastoral la-
bours are henceforth to be pursued in a remote
parish upon the western borders of Cumberland.
We grieve sincerely to see our Church, by ar-
rangements such as this, putting weapons into the
hands of her enemies for her own overthrow as an
establishment. This appointment of the Rev. R.
Parkinson would no doubt have been excellent in
itself; but it ought never to have been permitted to
be held along with his rectory and fellowship. One
result, however, the perseverance of the rev. gentle-
man in his present design so to do may bring about,
which we shall scarcely regret. If the parish of
Manchester can dispense with the residence of its
rector, it might, probably, not be very inconvenient,
but, on the contrary, greatly to the benefit of its
vast population, if the large revenues now drawn
from it by the clergy of the Collegiate Church were
dispersed more equally amongst the clergy of the
parish, or devoted to the endowment of additional
places of worship. It is far from our wish, as lovers
of our venerable establishment, to direct against her
the hand of innovation, already anxious enough to
be dealing with her revenue and privileges. Ei her,
however, every reasonable excuse for her enemies to
assail her must be removed, or the task of setting her
affairs in order, and rJrnoting her increased useful-
ness and efficiency, must be taken in hand by her
friends.

The condihion to which Ireland has been reduced
by the almost total failure of the potato crop is
becoming, day by day, more appalling; and so
practically injurious is the operation of the measure,
hastily adopted, to provide a remedy fir the distress
of the labouring classes, that it is now almost a
matter of certainty that Parliament must meet,
within a few weeks at furthest, to divine some
efficacious legislation upon the subject. A perusal
of the reports of the presentment sessions, which
at present almost fill the Irish papers, is quite
sufficient to satisfy a man of ordinary perception
that whilst we are pauperizing the minds of the
Irish peasantry by our present system of relief, we
are at the same time opening the door wide for
every species of jobbing, and winking at an enor-
mous waste of money, expended upon works which
can never return a shilling to either the Government
or the Irish people. A few samples of the pro-
ceedings of these presentment sessions may not he
uninstructive to the English reader. We should
premise, however, that these sessions are equivalent
to our meetings of justices and county ratepayers,
assembled to vote money for public works, to be
assessed upon themselves. This will account for
the struggle made by different parishes or baronies
to get a large slice of the grants, for outlay upon
their own particular localities. Take the following,
then, from the proceedings of the Miltown Malbay
Sessions, Thomas J. Morrony, Esq., J.P., in the
chair :
" After some further discussion, public works were pre-
sented for in the parish of Kilfarboy to the amount of
8940. It is worthy of remark, that the chairman cried
down some presentments for useful works in this parish,
and affixed his signature of rejection to them, th.iugh a
poll was demanded by respectable cess-payers.
" Chairman—l think we had better now proceed with
the parish of Killard.
`• Sir Burton M`Namara—l would wish to take the
sense of the cess-pavers as whether we proceed next with
Killard—(cries of Kilmurry ! Killard! Kilmurry! Kit-
lard ! chair, chair. order, poll, poll, great uproar, and
shouts of laughter.)
" Chairman—' Come a'on; Jusey,' let us hate a poli
for it. (Laughter.)
"Mr. Singletim—lf I were the chairman, I would not
be put down by clamour in this kind of way. The chair-
man should decide as to which parish we go on with.
(Renewed uproar.)
" A poll having been called for, the numbers were in
favour of Kimura y.
" (Here, among other voices in the body of the court,
a country schoolmaster bawled out, ' The Kilrnurryenians
have it ! Bravo, Sir Burton !' (Laughter.)
" Public works were granted for Kilmurry, to the
amount of £104118; and to the parish of Killard, to the
amount of £9OOO.

" Among the presentments sought for in the parish of
Kilfarboy, was a fever hospital for Mil:own ; and this
presentment was thrown out. though the Rev. Mr. Hill
stated that sixty persons at least died of fever every year,
for the want of an hospital."—Limerick Examiner.
Or the following, from the proceedings of the ses-
sions at Cahir, the Earl of Glengall in the chair :

" The next presentment was to make a line of road be-
tween Ardfinan and Brien's-road.—Co,t, £2036.
" Lord Glengall—z£2o36! Oh! nonsens'.
" Mr. Butler Lowe, J.P.—My lords awl gentlemen, I
most strenuously urge on you the necessity of passing
this presentment. Nothing can exceed the distress of
the unfortunate people in that locality. I think lam
not mistaken in saying that this meeting was convened
for charitable purposes, but laying even humanity
aside, I think the necessity for this road demands of
you to pass it. (Hear, hear, bear.) The county of
Waterford have completed their portion of this road,
which, if you now pass will be one of the most perfect in
the country. I say, my lord, that the people of that lo-
cality deserve employment, for the manner they have
borne their misfortunes. They came to my gate in hun-
dreds the other evening in the most peaceable manner,
and begged of me to get them employment, as they were
actually starving, and I promised to do all in my power
for them.

" Counsellor MULCAHY bore witness to the utility of
this undertaking, and the good character of the inhabi-
tants of the neighbourhood. The learned gentleman con-
cluded by saying. I call on the mapi,trates and cess pay-
ers to pass this preFeutment, or when we go borne the
people of the district will say that you were unable or un-
willing to assist them."

What, we ask, is likely to be the utility of works
thus decided upon ? Are they at all likely, except
by some unforeseen chance, to be profitable?
Kilfarboy has got £8,940; ergo, Killard must have
£9,000. But Kilmurry demands to be served first ;
and " the Kilmuryenians had (it," to the tune of
£10,418. The parish of Ki?farboy wanted a fever
hospital for Miltown ; but a fever hospital the far-
mers and other cess-payers would not tax them-
selves for, although " sixty persons, at least, died
of fever every year for want of an hospital."
Again, what is the main argument used for a
line of road between Ardfinan and Brien's Road,
the cost of which was put down at the Cahir ses-
sions at £2,036 That " nothing can exceed the